Judges 8: 1 – 35
Enough Already
Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply. 2 So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that. 4 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. 5 Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” 6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” 8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!” 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen. 11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army. 13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. 14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. 18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” 19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. 21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” 24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. 28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.
We have a lot to cover so let’s go at it.
Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply.
If you are just joining us let me quickly get you up to speed. Because of the Israelites sins of rebellion against Jehovah Yahweh, He allowed a foreign nation, the Midianites, to rule over them. After the people recognized their sin and cried out to God, He then raised up a ‘Judge’ or deliverer to cast out the Midianites from the land. The man He selected was Gideon.
In chapter 7 we read about the great deliverance God had done for the Israelites where He used 300 men to battle against 15,000. Well, they really didn’t battle, all they did was light a torch and scream. The Lord caused confusion among the enemy where they wound up fighting against each other.
So, today we begin our story with the mop up. The chapter begins with the tribe of Ephraim coming to Gideon and is very angry at him. The leaders felt left out. They most likely received a portion of the spoils yet what they felt more irritated at was the fact that they lost out in the glory of the victory.
I am sure that you have experienced this at work or in your private life. If what you do is a success then everybody wants the glory. If it is a failure everyone get away from you as fast as they can.
I remember when I worked for the US Postal Service at their Headquarters in Washington, DC. As a young and up and coming eager beaver I was selected to work with another guy to develop a new service for the Postal Service. At that time second class mail which consists of newspapers and magazines were very expensive to ship overseas.
These companies had basically two choices;
1. One send by boat, which was cheap but took forever
2. Send by air, which was very expensive.
The Postmaster General picked me and a computer expert to develop a service that would provide faster service at a cheaper rate.
So, the two of us went about creating a service that was never done before. We adapted a whole new way of thinking for the mailing industry. We created one way reinforced plastic bags to replace the expensive silk air mail bags. We arranged with all air lines to be a drop shipper for these companies.
If you ever worked for the government then you know of all the dead beats. We found blockages with every department that we came in contact with. However, having the support of the top guy these evil people succumbed to our persistence in implementing this new way of mail deliver. In just the first year alone the new service produced over 220 million in new revenue.
And just like the tribe of Ephraim, the same people who fought everything we tried to do, after the program proved to be successful they lobbied to oversee the new service under their department. These beauties managed to steel away the management of this program from me and my assistant Lou. But we did not go away empty handed. The US Postal Service gave us each a plaque and a whopping cash award of $500 less taxes.
2 So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.
We come upon a great ability that Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – had instilled in Gideon and that is the gift of diplomacy. Through a smooth presentation, Gideon convinced the leaders of Ephraim that in fact they were the greater heroes. Look again at his statement which is repeated twice, ‘in comparison to you.’ They had accomplished even greater feats than his own clan, the Abiezerites. Gideon and his men did not capture any Midianite royalty whereas the men of Ephraim had capture two of the enemies Generals which left the Midianite army in disarray.
4 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.
Why do you think Gideon, even though exhausted, went in pursuit of the fleeing Midianite chieftains? I will tell you the answer now even though we will come across it shortly. You see from verse 18, we find out that these Midianite chieftains had previously killed Gideon’s brother’s in prior raids.
5 Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” 6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” 8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!”
Succoth was in the region apportioned to the tribe of Gad. This area was closer to the Midianites and the Israelites living there were afraid of repercussions from the enemy if Gideon was not successful. However, in refusing food the people of Succoth were violating the tribal covenant of help. A noble characteristic displayed here by Gideon is that he was interested in the welfare of his men. Please note the emphasis of them being ‘faint’. All these guys had not eaten since the beginning of the battle.
In the book of Romans in chapter 15 we read this, “ 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.’
As we study the Scripture we need to derive how the truth that is given can be personally applied in our lives. We are just wasting our time if we just look at this as a story.
Gideon had been obedient to the Lord’s direction. Yet, at the same time I see that trouble in at work in his mind. The first hint at this cancer of the mind occurs in chapter 7 of the book of Judges when we read of the initiation of the battle. Look at Gideon’s battle cry which he had the men scream out, “20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!”
Do you see anything wrong here? I do!. Our Precious Holy Ruler deserves all the Glory at all times. Our Holy Master, our Lord Jesus Christ gives us this valuable lesson about my point in the Gospel of John chapter 7 verse 18, “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”
Now, the second sin that Gideon is committing is in pursuing the Midianites. Look and see if you find any direction from the Lord in going after the fleeing Midianites. No, what we see is Gideon’s desire for revenge. This greatly contributes to his intense desire to come back after he gets the enemy and deal with the men of Succoth and the other surrounding towns.
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen. 11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.
The Midianites did not expect the Israelites to pursue them into the desert. Here they were able to re-gather. Although there were 15,000 troops, they were also exhausted from running away. I was watching two Mexican boxers fighting. When the one said, ‘No Mas’ which means ‘no more’. You can see that these Midianites did not want to fight because they were spent.
In the military a term bantered about is ‘payback is a b…[bad]’
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. 14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
Penuel means ‘the face of God’ which makes this even more impacting. Not only had they refused their brother’s who were protecting their freedom, they were in fact had turned their backs on God.
18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” 19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. 21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.
‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’, or in this case no need to shed a tear for these two evil men. The name Zebah means, ‘slaughter, sacrifice.’ And the name Zalmunna means ‘shelter withheld’.
These two guys knew that their goose was cooked. Gideon’s son was not a child. What it is referring to more importantly was that he was not a veteran soldier. These two guys wanted their lives to be ended real quickly not drawn out by an incompetent swordsman.
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” 24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.
Is anyone sensing something wrong going on here? I see a lot.
First of all I perceive a mock humility on the part of Gideon. He was asked as a war hero, kind of like George Washington, to be the ruler of the country. At first it looks like Gideon is too modest to accept their request. He says in effect, ‘If nominated, I will not accept. If elected, I will not serve.’ - 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”
I believe the following statement of Gideon reveals what is really going on in his thinking, “24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.”
“Oh, I want God to get all the glory’. Oh, really? Please notice that he does not refer to our Holy Master as ‘Yahweh’, only generically as God. I like watching the NASCAR races. I am always anxious to hear the person pray. I applaud the few who are brave enough to actually mention our Lord Jesus Christ’s Name at the end of their prayer.
In fake modesty, Gideon just asks for only the ear rings. These alone amount to over 42 pounds of gold. But more importantly there are the good from the horses and look how he wants the royal robes of the chieftains that he killed. Are you starting to sense something else is at play here?
27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. 28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.
Now remember that Gideon said that he did not want to rule over the people of Israel. Do you know what the name of the boy that he had by the woman he had on the side in Shechem? He called the boy Abimelech. Now here is the clincher, the boy Abimelech means ‘My father is king’.
Our Holy King knows our very thoughts how much more is He offended when we are hypocrites. He knew all along what Gideon was doing. May we learn from his life and not do the same evil ways.
I want to end on this note. I want you to understand what a ‘Great Holy El Shaddai – God Almighty – we have. When you look at Gideon’s involvement, you see throughout that the Lord did all the mighty acts. Can you not? Gideon to a large degree just went along for the ride. But now let us look at the book of Hebrews and see the Great Awesome Grace of our Lord in giving credit to Gideon for his brave deeds. Wow! In chapter 11 we read of the bible’s hall of heroes and guess what, there is Gideon mentioned.
“30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
