Judges 8

1 they did chide with him sharply. The conduct of the Ephraimites, on this and on other occasions (see xii. 1-7), seems to show that they claimed the leadership of the tribes. Hence their rivalry with Judah, so conspicuous in later times, referred to in Isa. vii. 5, 6; ix. 21; xi. 13. Had their arrogance not been met with the tact which Gideon shows in his courteous answer, the deliverance of Israel might not have been completed.

2 is not the gleaning, etc. A proverbial mode of commending the smallest action (the gleaning) of one, as superior to the greatest (the vintage) of another. On the spirit of Gideon’s answer compare Prov. xv. 1.

6 the princes of Succoth said, etc. Seeing that two kings of Midian with many thousand men had escaped, the princes of Succoth may have thought that Gideon’s little band would after all be unequal to the contest, and that they, lying east of the Jordan, would be exposed to the vengeance of the Midianites. Still, their unbelieving and inhuman refusals of supplies, with bitter taunts, to those who were acting under the direction of Heaven was treason against their country and their Divine King; and, as such, it deserved exemplary punishment.

11 by the way of them that dwelt in tents. “By the caravan route” (Moffatt).

13 before the sun was up. Or, “from the ascent of Heres” (R.V.).

16 he taught. Heb., “lacerated” or “threshed.”

18 whom ye slew at Tabor. This refers probably to some barbarous massacres which had been committed by the Midianite chiefs during the oppressions related in vi. 2.

resembled the children of a king. An Oriental expression, denoting extraordinary comeliness.

27. Gideon made an ephod. Gideon appears to have aimed to form a sacerdotal establishment at Ophrah. The ephod was the part of the high priest’s dress worn when he inquired of God by the Urim and Thummim. Perhaps here it was an image with the representation of the priestly ephod. The great purpose, no doubt, of Gideon was to prevent resort to Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim. Though intended for the service of Jahveh, it was unauthorised and improper, and opened the way to superstition.