Judges 8

The Ephraimites murmur against Gideon, but are appeased by him, ver.1, 2, etc. be pursueth the two Kings of the Midianites beyond the Jordan, where those of Succoth and Penuel spitefully refuse to refresh his men, 4. He falleth upon and taketh captives the two kings of the Medianites and scattereth the rest of their army 11. Returneth back he punisheth those of the Succoth and Penuel 13 putteth the two kings to death viz. zebah and Tsalmunna 18 refuseth to rule over Israel 22 demandeth a present of the spoil and maketh thereof a scandalous Ephod and placeth it at Ophra 24 Gideon children, wives, death and burial 30 Israel revolteth again from God and is ungrateful to Gideon’s family 33.

1. Then said the man of Ephraim unto him [see the annotate on the last verse of the former chapter] what crime [ [Heb. thing matters] is this that thou haste done to us that thou didst not call us when thou wentest forth to fight against the Medianites? And they contended strongly with him.

2. He on the contrary said unto them what have I now done like ye? [that is which may be compare with your did or act are not the gleanings of Ephraim [he understandeth the pursuit after the flying army of the Medianites and the taking of the two princes captive this he compareth to the gleaning of the grapes which were left in the vintage and that which did to the vintage itself.] better then the vintage of Abiezer? [That is whole work done by me my house for he was an Abiezrite see above chapter 6.11.]

3. God hath delivered the princes of the Medianites Oreb and Zeeb into our hands what could I do like ye? [it seemeth that Gideon at this time had not as yet slain the two kings of the Medianites zeeba and Tsalmuna] then their anger [Heb. spirit courage] cease from when he spake this word.

4. Now when Gideon was come to Jordan he passed over with the three hundred men that were with him being weary and pursuing [viz. the enemy.]

5. and he said unto the men of Succoth [lying next beyond Jordan in the inheritance of Gad by the brook or river Jabbok see hereof Genesis 33 on verse 17 Psalms 60:8 and 108.8and of another Succoth exodus 12.37 Numbers 33:5] give I pray to you some loaves [others pieaces] of bread unto the people which follow my footsteps [Heb. which are or at my feet that is follow my footsteps or are in my service or under my conduct compare Exodus 11:8] for they are weary and I persue under Zebah and Tsalmuna kings of the Medianites.

6. But the princes of the Succoth saith [Heb. said in the singular number to wit each of them or as the president in the name of all] is then the palm of the hand of Zelbah that we should give bread unto thine army ?[that is hast thou unto their strength or mighty in thy power ? they not only refuse or deny to grant the request of Gideon but they also vilify him and flout at him as one that would too soon become a conquerour singing as we say triumph before the victory is obtained they conceive that it will fall otherwise out and therefore will have nothing to do with Gideon.]

7. then said Gideon however when the Lord shall deliver Zebah and Tsalmuna in mine hand I will then thresh your flesh [that is your bodies punishing the unfaithfulness and division in a special manner which shall extend to your contempt and shame] with thorns of the wilderness[which lay between Succoth and Penuel by the brook Jabbok which Jacob passed over when he had wrestled with God and before had seen the armies of angels and had said of that place that is Gods field calling the place Mahanajim that is the two armies Genesis 32:1,2,22,24hence this wilderness lying nearby said place is called the wilderness of Jahanajim as appears from 2 Samuel 17:27,29] and with briers.

8. And he went up thence unto Penuel [see genesis 32.30 and 1 Kings 12:25] and spake unto them [viz. those of Penuel] in the like manner and in the men of Penuel answered him according as the men of Succoth hath answered.

9. Therefore he also spake unto the men of Penuel saying when I return in peace I will cast down this cover [on which perhaps they relied as on a strong hold and therefore spake the most disdaintfull and proudly.]

10. Now Zebah and Tsalmunna were at Korkorand their camps with them about fifteen thousand all that were left of the whole camp of the children of the last and those that fell [viz. that were before slain were an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword [Heb. drew in the singular number that is everyone of them hath been sitteth and traineth up for the war this serveth the more to argument and increase Gideon’s victory see also this phrase of the drawing of the sword below chapter 20 on verse 15, 17,25,40 2 Samuel 24:9 2 kings 3.26 &c.]

11. And Gideon went up by them that dwell in tents [viz. of the Arabians who from thence are called of the Sinitae as if we should say tentners or tent inhabitants] towards the east of the Naboh and Jogheha [these two places lay also beyond Jordan towards the east] and he smote the camp for the camp was careless [or secure quietnot imagining the Gidoen with his men being wearied with chasing and persuing the enemy would be able so soon to get over Jordan and so on by the way towards the east to overtake them.]

12. And Zebah and Tsalmunna fled but he pursued after them and he took captive both the kings of the Medianites Zebah and Tsalmunna and affrighted all the camp [because he fell upon them unaware they were affrighted and slain as they fled or at least quiet routed and scattered and altogether enfeebled.]

13. Now when Gideon the son of Joas returned from the battle before the rising of the sun [or from that emmediately after or towards the rising of the sun for he without taking rest he wearied with his men and had pursed the enemy others from by the rising of Heres or from the sun rising that is from the east wither he had pursued from the Medianites others after the ascension of the sun that is towards the time that it began to descend.]

14. he took captive a boy or servant of the Succoth and examined him the same described unto the princes of the Succoth and their eldest threescore and seventeen [that he gave unto Gideons the names of the princes in writing that he might punish none but those that were guilty.]

15. then came he unto the men of Succoth and said behold there Zebah and Tsalmunna concerning whom ye scornfully upbraided me saying is the palm of the hand of Zebah and Tsalmunna already in thine hand that we should give bread unto men that are weary?

16. And he took the eldest of that city and the thorns of the wilderness and briers and by the same made the men of Succoth understand it [viz. therein they had offended that is this punishment or special chastisement he left an example for to unteach those of Succoth such pride and high mindedness as appeared in them whether they were slain as those of Penuel or whether with this despicable chastisement they left alive here is no mention made.]

17. And threw down the tower of Penuel and flow the men of the city [understand the governors of the city and all guilty persons as from the former example may be gathered.]

18. Afterwards he said unto Zebah and Tsalmunna what manner of man where they ye flew at Thahor ?[a mountain lying in Zebulon towards the sea close by the brook Kison on the south side of the mountain over against the valley of Jesreel where the Medianites had had their camp when this was done is not here mentioned its supposed to be that they did it in expedition as well in respect of the situation of the place as because it seemeth to have known that some of his brethren were slain and that these kings had slain upon this mountain certain persons of note and quality without knowing who they were although he suspected them to be his brethren]and they said as thou art were they of like form as the sons of a king.

19. Then said he they were my brethren the sons of my mother so truly as the Lord liveth if had not let them live would not slay you.

20. And he said unto Jether his first born rise up slay them but the youth drew not the sword for he feared because he was yet a youth.

21. Then said Zebah and Tsalmuna rise thou up and fall upon us for according as the man is so his strength then Gideon rose up and slew Zebah and Tsalmuna and took the little moons [viz. those golden neck ornament which in the Hebrew had their name from the moon because they were round like the full moon] which they were on the necks of their camels.

22. Then said the men of Israel [Heb. the man that is one among the people] unto Gideon rule over us as well as thou and thy son, sons [Heb. also thou also thy son also thy son, sons.]

23. But Gideon said unto them I will not rule over you neither shall my son rule over you the Lord shall rule you [from these words and below verse 29 appeareth plainly that those that are called Judges in this book were no kings governors in these countries or ordinary judges or rulers of the people but were in a special and peculiar manner called for the deliverance defense help and service of Israel preserving and maintaining the freedom and order of their commonwealth see above chapter 2 on verse 16.]

24. Moreover Gideon said unto them I would desire a request of you give me but each of you a fore head ornament of his prey [or the forehead ornament which he hath taken for a prey Heb. a forehead ornament or ear ornament of his prey the Hebrew word is used of both as well of golden ornament on the forehead as on the ears see Genesis 24:22,47 and 35.4] for they [viz. the enemies] had, had golden ornament because they were Ishmaelite [see Genesis 37 on verse 25 13 &c.]

25. And they said we will willingly give them [Heb. giving we will give] and they spread abroad a garment and cast thereunto every man a forehead ornament of his prey.

26. And the weight of the golden ornament which he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold [see genesis 24 on verse 22 and Numbers 7 on verse 14] besides the little moons and chains [others golden vials boxes cafes wherein they carried along with them sweet smelling of precious ointments to be used in the swooning sicknesses and diseases as also for the wounds and sores] and purple garments for which the kings of the Medianites had wore and besides the neck-bands or collars that had been on the necks of the camels.

27. And Gideon therefore made an Ephod [see Exodus 28 on verse 4] and put it [viz. upon an high staff pole or some such things for a memorial of this victory but the same was after his death much abuse as some gather from verse 33] in his city at Ophra and all Israel went thither a whoring after it [commiting with the spiritual whoredom that is idolatry and superstition see Leviticus 17 on verse 7 and 20 on verse 5 as they did with the brazen serpent set up by Moseh 2Kings 18.4] and it became a snare unto Gideon and his house [compare Exodus 20.33and 34.12 Deuteronomy 7:16 the meaning is that it was counted unto Gideon as having given occasion unto the people who were very prone to idolatry for sin and tended to the ruin and destruction of his house see the following chapter.]

28. Thus the Medianites were subdued before the face of the Israel and lifted up their hands no more [ Heb. added not or went not on to lift up their head and the land was quiet forty years in the land of Gideon [that is as long as Gideon lived.]

29. And Jerubbaal [that is Gideon see above chapter 7.1] went his way and dwelt in his own house [not taking open him the government of his own people which was offered him yet serving him with his authority and countenance for the maintenance and preservation of the religion and defense of their liberty as from verse 28 and 33 may be gathered quite otherwise did his illegitimate so Abimelech chapter 9.]

30. Now Gideon had seventy sons which came forth out of his thigh [see genesis 46 on verse 26] for he had many wives.

31. And his concubines [of concubines see Genesis 22 on verse 24] which was at Sichem [situate on a mountain in Ephraim not far from Samaria westward from Ophra were Gideon dwelt see Genesis 12 on verse 6 and 33.18 it was one of the cities of refuge Joshua 20:7 hereabout also were Josephs bones buried Joshua 24:33] she bare him also a son and she called [Heb. made set] ] his name Abimelech [whom the Sichemites after Gideon’s decease made king passing by yea murdering all the legitimate sons of Gideon save Jotham who hid himself see chapter 9.]

32. And Gideon the son of Joas died in a good old age [Heb. grayness hoariness see Genesis 15 on verse 15] and he was buried in the sepulcher of his father Joas at Ophrah of the Abi-Ezrites [see above chapter 6.11.]

33. And it came to pass when Gideon was dead that the children of Israel turned themselves about and went whoring after Baalim and they made Baal Berith[that is the Lord of the covenant of the same God who had oftentimes clearly and in highest measure and degree forbidden them to do it although they persuaded themselves that this might well consist when they comprised the name and covenant of God therein and pretended the same to be done to the service and honor of God see also of this idol below chapter 9.4 and of the Baals Judges 2 on verse 11] their God.

34. And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hand of their enemies round about them.

35. And they shewed no kindness to the house of Jerubaal that is of Gideon according to all the good which he had done unto Israel [see below chapter 9 verse 5,16,17,24,56,57.]