Jdg 8:1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
The men of Ephraim said - To Gideon, when they brought him the heads of Oreb and Zeeb; taking this to be a proper opportunity to expostulate and chide with him, when they had done so much service: The success of Gideon’s enterprise mortified the pride of Ephraim, as the chief tribe, seeing that they had played a subordinate part. This account is no doubt displaced; for what is mentioned here could not have taken place till the return of Gideon from the pursuit of the Midianites; for he had not yet passed Jordan , Jdg_8:4. And it was when he was beyond that river that the Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to him, Jdg_7:25.
why hast thou served us thus - neglected them, overlooked them, which they took as a reproach to them, and as if he had bore them ill will. These were a proud people, puffed up with a conceit of their number and strength, and the preference which Jacob gave them above Manasseh, of which tribe Gideon was, who by this act had seemed to advance his own tribe, and to depress theirs.
and they did chide with him sharply - used rough words and ill language, and threw out many keen and biting expressions, which discovered great anger and wrath, envy and ill will.
the men of Ephraim said unto him - Where this complaint was made, whether before or after the crossing of the Jordan , cannot be determined. By the overthrow of the national enemy, the Ephraimites were benefited as largely as any of the other neighboring tribes. But, piqued at not having been sharers in the glory of the victory, their leading men could not repress their wounded pride; and the occasion only served to bring out an old and deep-seated feeling of jealous rivalry that subsisted between the tribes (Isa_9:21). The discontent was groundless, for Gideon acted according to divine directions. Besides, as their tribe was conterminous with that of Gideon, they might, had they been really fired with the flame of patriotic zeal, have volunteered their services in a movement against the common enemy.
Jdg 8:2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better - That is, the Ephraimites have performed more important services than Gideon and his men; and he supports the assertion by observing that it was they who took the two Midianitish generals, having discomfited their hosts at the passes of Jordan.
What have I done now in comparison of you--His mild and truly modest answer breathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm, collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes. It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters (Pro_16:1), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial, it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit and glory than belonged to himself (1Co_13:4; Phi_2:3).
what have I done in comparison of you - A civil war with the great tribe of Ephraim would soon have turned Israel ’s victory into mourning. Gideon therefore soothes their wounded pride by confessing that Ephraim had done more, though they had joined him so late in the day, than he had been able to effect in the whole campaign. The grape-gleaning of Ephraim was better than the whole vintage of Abi-ezer. He and his men, he signifies, had only blew trumpets, broke pitchers, and held torches; it was the Lord that did all, and set the Midianites one against another to slay each other; and in the pursuit as yet he had only picked up and slain some common soldiers, they had taken two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and had brought their heads in triumph to him:
is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better - the meaning is, that whereas he began the fight, which may be called the vintage, and they had finished it, which was like gleaning; yet what they did last was much preferable to what was done by him at first;
Jdg 8:3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
Then their anger was abated - A soft answer turneth away wrath. He might have said that he could place but little dependence on his brethren when, through faint-heartedness, 22,000 left him at one time; but he passed this by, and took a more excellent way. This conduct of Gideon showed him to be a wise and humble man.
God hath delivered into your hands - A high honor this conferred upon you, and with which you may be well contented: Gideon signifies that he was not capable of doing anything worth mentioning without them; the glory of finishing this conquest was reserved for them:
Jdg 8:4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
he and three hundred men that were with him - at the defeat of the Midianites in the valley of Jezreel ; so that neither at that nor in the pursuit of them hitherto, had he lost one man:
faint, yet pursuing them - they were faint with being up all night, and continually blowing their trumpets; and had been upon the pursuit of their enemies ever since the defeat; and yet, though they were so faint, they did not leave off the pursuit, but were eager at it.
Jdg 8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
Give, I pray you, loaves of bread - As Gideon was engaged in the common cause of Israel , he had a right to expect succor from the people at large. His request to the men of Succoth and Penuel was both just and reasonable.
And he said to the men of Succoth - this was a city on the other side Jordan, and in the tribe of Gad and was inhabited by Israelites, Jos_13:27 it had its name from the booths or tents which Jacob erected here, Gen_33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Jdg 8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
And the rulers of Succoth said - The princes of Succoth, however, showed so little sympathy and nationality of feeling, that instead of taking part of the attack upon the enemies of Israel , they even refused to supply bread to refresh their brethren of the western tribes who were exhausted with the pursuit of the foe.
Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand - that is, are they taken prisoners, and handcuffed, or their hands bound behind them. In these words there is not only an expression of cowardice, or fear of the vengeance which the Midianites might take when they returned upon those who had supported Gideon and his host, but contempt of the small force which Gideon had, as if it were impossible for him to accomplish anything at all against the foe; and in this contempt they manifested their utter want of confidence in God. It was an insolent reply because it implied a bitter taunt that Gideon was counting with confidence on a victory which they believed he would not gain; and it was time-serving, because living in the near neighborhood of the Midianite sheiks, they dreaded the future vengeance of those roving chiefs.
that we should give bread to thine army - for they feared, should they do that, these kings would hear of it, and they should suffer for it, and their bondage be harder than it was before; so selfish and diffident in themselves, so cruel and uncompassionate to their brethren, and so ungrateful to their deliverers, which stirred up the spirit of this humble and good man to great resentment.
Jdg 8:7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
therefore when the Lord hath delivered - of which he made no doubt, having the promise of God that he would deliver the host of Midian into his hand, on which his faith rested.
with the thorns of the wilderness - which grew in a wilderness near this city, and from whence it had its name; the word "Succoth" being used for thorns in Job_41:7. Some scholars think this refers to a cruel torture, to which captives were often subjected in ancient times, by having thorns and briers placed on their naked bodies and pressed down by sledges, or heavy implements of husbandry being dragged over them.
Jdg 8:8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
And he went up thence to Penuel - A place not far from Succoth, and to which also Jacob gave name, from the Lord's appearing to him there face to face, Gen_32:30 but here was nothing of God in this place now: Succoth was in the valley or Ghor of the Jordan Jdg_8:5, and Penuel apparently in the mountain. . It was south of the Brook Jabbok, and on Jacob’s way to Succoth. Another city beyond Jordan ; both were in the tribe of Gad.
and the men of Penuel answered him - denied him his request in the same jeering manner as the men of Succoth had answered him.
Jdg 8:9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
I will break down this tower - Probably they had not only denied him, but insultingly pointed to a tower in which their chief defense lay in which they placed their security.
And he spoke also to the men of Penuel - In a threatening way, as he had spoken to the men of Succoth.
Jdg 8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor – It is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture.
Jdg 8:11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
Gideon went up by the way of them that dwell in tents - That is of the sons of the east, who dwelt in tents for the sake of feeding their flocks; he did not pursue them in the direct road, but went a roundabout way, where these people dwelt, that he might surprise the host of the kings of Midian at an unawares: and he came upon them:
on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah - the first was in the tribe of Manasseh, and the latter in the tribe of Gad, and both it seems were on the confines of those tribes. Nobah took its name from an Israelite who conquered it. Num_32:42 And Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah after his own name.
for the host was secure - having got over Jordan, and at night very probably, they thought themselves safe from Gideon's army, who they could have no thought that they would come up with them so soon, on foot, weary, and fatigued.
Jdg 8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled - Their host being smitten and thrown into confusion by the sudden approach of Gideon's army; and who probably attacked them in somewhat like manner as before, blowing their trumpets, and calling out the sword of the Lord and of Gideon; which were such terrifying sounds to them, that they fled at once: A third conflict took place. His arrival at their last quarters, which was by an unwonted path, took the fugitives by surprise, and the conquest of the Midianite horde was there completed.
Jdg 8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, (KJV)
Jdg 8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash turned back from battle before Mount Heres. (MKJV)
Jdg 8:13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. (NASB)
Before the sun was up - The translation of the words is doubtful, because of the rarity of the word rendered “sun” (cheres). Many suppose it to be the name of a mountain pass, and render it from the ascent of Heres. The word sun is Strong’s H2775 ḥeres: I. A masculine noun used for sun; Heres. It refers to the sun (KJV, Jdg_8:13; Jdg_14:18; Job_9:7), but others read a proper name in Jdg_8:13 (NKJV, NASB, NIV) referring to the ascent or pass of Heres. II. A masculine noun indicating a skin disorder, an itch. It is listed among the curses as one of the skin diseases the Lord will bring on Israel if they disobey the Sinai covenant (Deu_28:27).
Jdg 8:14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
He described unto him the princes of Succoth - The young man probably gave him the names of seventy persons, the chief men of Succoth, who were those who were most concerned in refusing him and his men the refreshment he requested. The chief magistrates of the city, who they were, what their names, and their places of abode: Succoth was likely governed by a sanhedrim or council of seventy elders, with perhaps seven others of superior rank called princes.
He described unto him the princes of Succoth - in this Gideon showed great wisdom, and strict justice; being desirous to punish only the delinquents, and not the innocent with the wicked, the people with their rulers; for though he asked bread of the men of Succoth, the answer was returned in the ill natured manner it was by the princes.
Jdg 8:15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
And he came unto the men of Succoth - a general expression for “elders of Succoth” (Jdg_8:16); and elders a general term applied to all the representatives of the city, including the princes.
Jdg 8:16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
And he took the elders of the city - All of them, especially those of them who had been most guilty, and had them to a proper place, where they might be made public examples of:
he taught the men of Succoth--By refusing his soldiers refreshment, they had committed a public crime, as well as an act of inhumanity, and were subjected to a horrible punishment.
Jdg 8:17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
And he beat down the tower of Penuel - The punishment inflicted by Gideon upon both the cities was well deserved in all respects, and was righteously executed. The inhabitants of these cities had not only acted treacherously to Israel as far as they could, from the most selfish interests, in a holy conflict for the glory of the Lord and the freedom of His people, but in their contemptuous treatment of Gideon and his host they had poured contempt upon the Lord, who had shown them to be His own soldiers before the eyes of the whole nation by the victory which He had given them over the innumerable army of the foe. Having been called by the Lord to be the deliverer and judge of Israel , it was Gideon's duty to punish the faithless cities.
The men of the city - Perhaps only the rulers, as he did in Succoth, who likely had possession of the tower or citadel, and so could tyrannize over the people. Gideon killed the great men, and beat down their towers, but did not injure the inhabitants.
Jdg 8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? - We have no antecedent to this question; and are obliged to conjecture one: it seems as if Zebah and Zalmunna had massacred the family of Gideon, while he was absent on this expedition. Gideon had heard some confused account of it, and now questions them concerning the fact. They boldly acknowledge it, and describe the persons whom they slew, by which he found they were his own brethren. This determines him to avenge their death by slaying the Midianitish kings, whom he otherwise was inclined to save. He might have heard that his brethren had been taken prisoners, and might have hoped to have exchanged them for the kings now in his hand; but when he found they had been all slain, he decrees the death of their murderers.
What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor - The sense is merely gathered from the tenor of the answer. Gideon doubtless knew that his brethren had been killed by Zebah and Zalmunna, and the desire of avenging their death was one motive for his impetuous pursuit and attack. His question was rather a taunt, a bitter reproach to his captives, preparing them for their fate. Zebah and Zalmunna, in their answer, did not give evidence against themselves. Their hope was by a flattering answer to soothe Gideon’s wrath.
What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor - After punishing these cities, Gideon repaid the two kings of Midian, who had been taken prisoners, according to their doings. From the judicial proceedings instituted with regard to them (Jdg_8:18, Jdg_8:19), we learn that these kings had put the brothers of Gideon to death, and apparently not in open fight; but they had murdered them in an unrighteous and cruel manner. And Gideon made them atone for this with their own lives. This was one of the countless atrocities which the Midianite chiefs had perpetrated during their seven years' lawless occupancy.
Resembled the sons of a king - Not for their garb, or outward splendor, but for the majesty of their looks: by which commendation they thought to ingratiate themselves with their conqueror.
Jdg 8:19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
The sons of my mother - A much closer relation than that of brothers by the father only. In all countries where polygamy prevails, "the son of my mother" implies a closeness of relationship and a warmth of affection never awakened by the looser term, "brother." This is the only hint preserved of the transaction. We cannot say exactly when the slaughter of Gideon’s brethren on Mount Tabor took place, whether before the outbreak of the war Jdg_6:33, or in the retreat and flight of the Midianites Jdg_7:22.
The sons of my mother - the sons of my mother is added, to show that he did not mean brethren in a large sense, as all the Israelites were, but in a strict sense, being so nearly related as his mother's children:
if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you - for not being Canaanites, he was not obliged by the law of God to put them to death, and by the law of nations, as they had surrendered themselves, and were made prisoners of war, they ought to have been saved; but as they appeared to be murderers, and had slain the Israelites in cold blood, they deserved to die; and the persons they had slain being Gideon's brethren, he was the avenger of blood, and it became him to put them to death.
Jdg 8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
He said unto Jether his first-born - By the ancient laws of war, prisoners taken in war might be either slain, sold, or kept for slaves. To put a captive enemy to death no executioner was required. Gideon slays Zebah and Zalmunna with his own hand.
And he said unto Jether, his firstborn, up, and slay them - It was Gideon’s place to act the part of the “avenger of blood.” Being the near kinsman of his father's brethren, whom these kings had slain, he was a proper person to avenge their blood on them. The nearest of kin was the blood-avenger; but a magistrate might order any one to do the work of the executioner; and the person selected was always of a rank equal or proportioned to that of the party doomed to suffer (1Ki_2:29). Gideon intended, then, by the order to Jether, to put an honor on his son, by employing him to slay two enemies of his country; and on the youth declining, he performed the bloody deed himself.
Jdg 8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise, thou, and fall upon us - It was disgraceful to fall by the hands of a child; and the death occasioned by the blows of such a person must be much more lingering and tormenting. Since they must die, they chose rather to die by the hand of so great a man and valiant a commander as Gideon, which was more honorable than to die by the hand of a youth.
The ornaments that were on their camels’ necks - The heads, necks, bodies, and legs of camels, horses, and elephants, are highly ornamented in the eastern countries, and indeed this was common, from the remotest antiquity, in all countries.
for as the man is, so is his strength - signifying, that as he was a stout able man, he had strength sufficient to dispatch them at once, which his son had not, and therefore they must have died a lingering and painful death.
Jdg 8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son - That is, Become our king, and let the crown be hereditary in thy family. Some time after his return, the chief men of Israel having met in a body, and consulted matters among themselves, sent a deputation to Gideon with an offer of the government of them: Israel is starting to desire to be like other nations and have kings rule over them.
Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
The Lord shall rule over you - Few with such power at their command would have acted as Gideon. His speech calls them back to their first principles, and should have excited in them both shame and contrition.
And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you - Not that he declined the government of them as a judge, to which he was raised of God, but as a king, for which he had no authority and call from God; the choice of a king belonging to him, and not to the people:
neither shall my son rule over you - he may have spoken as a prophet, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; for after his death neither Jether his eldest son, nor any of the rest of his legitimate sons, ruled over them; for they were all slain by Abimelech, the son of his concubine, who was made king:
Jdg 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Give me every man the earrings of his prey - Gideon resisted the temptation to put an earthly crown upon his head, from true fidelity to Jehovah; but he yielded to another temptation. In this desire for gold Gideon falls to the level of ordinary men, and we may see in it the first decline of his glory, leading to a sad tarnishing of the luster of his bright name. The idolatrous honor paid to Gideon’s ephod was probably a source of revenue to his house.
Give me every man the earrings of his prey - The spoils taken from their enemies in this warfare. This is a transaction very like to that of the Israelites and Aaron; when they brought him their golden ear-rings, out of which he made the molten calf, Exo_32:2, etc. Whether Gideon designed this ephod for an instrument of worship, or merely as a trophy, is not very clear. It is most likely that he had intended to establish a place of worship at Ophrah; and he took this occasion to provide the proper sacerdotal vestments.
because they were Ishmaelites - so the Midianites and Ishmaelites are spoken of as the same, they being mixed and dwelling together, or very near each other, Gen_37: 27-28 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him. For he is our brother, and our flesh. And his brothers listened. And men, Midianites traders, came by. And they drew up Joseph and took him out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. The Midianites are called Ishmaelites because they were the sons of Keturah, and Keturah was another wife of Abraham, after Sarah died. Midian and Ishmael were half brothers of Isaac.
Jdg 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Gideon made an ephod thereof - The ephod was that particular part of the high priest’s dress which was necessary to be worn when he inquired of God by Urim and Thummim. It seems that Gideon being now the civil ruler, desired to have an ephod of his own, kept in his own city, to he worn by the priest whenever Gideon might summon him to inquire of the Lord for him. His relations with the tribe of Ephraim probably made him unwilling to resort to Shiloh .
Gideon made an ephod thereof --That no idolatrous use was in view, nor any divisive course from Shiloh contemplated, is manifest from Jdg_8:33. Gideon proposed, with the gold he received, to make an ephod for his use only as a civil magistrate or ruler, as David did (1Ch_15:27), and a magnificent pectoral or breastplate also. It would seem, from the history, that he was not blamable in making this ephod, as a civil robe or ornament merely, but that it afterward became an object to which religious ideas were attached; whereby it proved a snare, and consequently an evil, by perversion, to Gideon and his house.
All Israel went thither a whoring after it - This form of speech often occurs, and has been often explained. The whole Jewish nation is represented as being united to God as a wife is to her husband. Any act of idolatry is considered as a breach of their covenant with God, as an act of whoredom is the breach of the marriage agreement between man and wife. God calls himself the husband of the Jewish nation, and their idolatries acts of whoredom, adultery, and fornication. All Israel paid idolatrous worship to the ephod or sacerdotal establishment made by Gideon at Ophrah, and this is called going a whoring after it.
which thing proved a snare to Gideon and to his house - it was a snare to him since it led his family into idolatry, and was the ruin of it, as well as it reflected great discredit and disgrace upon so good and brave a man: he being so good a man himself, it is not thought that he could be ensnared into idolatry itself; though it is apparent that men as wise and as good have fallen into it, as particularly Solomon.
which thing proved a snare to Gideon and to his house - The germs of Gideon's error, which became a snare to him and to his house, lie unquestionably deeper than this, namely, in the fact that the high-priesthood had probably lost its worth in the eyes of the people on account of the worthlessness of its representatives, so that they no longer regarded the high priest as the sole or principal medium of divine revelation; and therefore Gideon, to whom the Lord had manifested himself directly, as He had not to any judge or leader of the people since the time of Joshua, might suppose that he was not acting in violation of the law, when he had an ephod made, and thus provided himself with a substratum or vehicle for inquiring the will of the Lord. His sin therefore consisted chiefly in his invading the prerogative of the Aaronic priesthood, drawing away the people from the one legitimate sanctuary, and thereby not only undermining the theocratic unity of Israel, but also giving an impetus to the relapse of the nation into the worship of Baal after his death. This sin became a snare to him and to his house.
Jdg 8:28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
Forty years in the days of Gideon - The Midianites were so completely humbled that they could make head no more against Israel during the forty years in which the government of Gideon lasted. The land of Canaan was free from wars with Midian, or any other people, and enjoyed undisturbed peace and tranquility.
in the days of Gideon – For as long as Gideon lived.
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel - By the hand of Gideon humbled and brought under, their power over Israel was broken, and they delivered out of their hands: That is, they recovered not their former strength or courage, so as to conquer or oppress others.
so that they lifted up their heads no more - in a proud and haughty manner to insult them, and in an hostile way to invade and oppress them; such a blow was given them that they could not recover themselves, nor do we read of any effort of theirs ever after of their giving or attempting to give any disturbance to Israel or any other nation.
Jdg 8:29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
And Jerubbaal the son of Joash - That is, Gideon, Jerubbaal being another name of his; Jdg_6:32 And on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him because he has thrown down his altar went and dwelt in his own house; which was at Ophrah, as appears from Jdg_9:5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons, upon one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was still left; for he hid himself; not that he lived altogether a private life there, but as a judge in Israel .
Before the account of his death, a few other notices respecting his family are introduced for the purpose of preparing the way for the following history of the doings of his sons, in which the sin of Gideon came to a head, and the judgment burst upon his house. Note the change, from the heat of the war against the Midianites to the quiet retirement of domestic life. Instead of accepting the crown that was offered him and remaining at the head of the nation, the celebrated Baal-fighter retired into private life again. In addition to the seventy sons of his many wives, there was a son born to him by a concubine, who lived at Shechem and is called his maid-servant in Jdg_9:18, and to this son he gave the name of Abimelech, i.e., king's father. It appears that Abimelech may have received this name from Gideon in recognition of his character, and therefore not at the time of his birth, but when he grew up and manifested such qualities as led to the expectation that he would be a king's father.
Jdg 8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
And Gideon had seventy sons of his body begotten - Not after his victories, for it is plain he had children before; mention is made of Jether, his firstborn, as a youth able to draw a sword, and slay with it, Jdg_8:20 but this was the number of all his sons, both before and after, and a large number it was; and the phrase "of his body begotten", or "that went out of his thigh" is used to show that they were his own sons, begotten in wedlock, and not sons that he had taken into his family by adoption, or that he was father-in-law to, having married a woman or women that had sons by a former husband; but these were all his own:
for he had many wives - which, though not agreeable to the original law of marriage, was customary in those times, and even with good men.
Jdg 8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
His concubine - A lawful but secondary wife, whose children could not inherit. Abimelech’s mother was not reckoned among the wives, possibly being one of the Canaanite population in Shechem: neither was Abimelech himself reckoned with the 70 other sons of Jerubbaal Jdg_9:24 so that the cruelty to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and upon the men of Shechem who helped him in the killing of his brothers. This concubine of Gideon's seems not to have been taken into his house at all, but lived at Shechem, perhaps in her father's house.
Whose name he called Abimelech - That is, my father is king, or my father hath reigned. He gave him either in memory of the offer made him to be king of Israel, or through foresight of what this son of his would be; or he might be moved to it by the mother from pride and vanity, and which name might afterwards inspire the young man to be made a king, as he was; and the account given of his name is because of the narrative of him in the following chapter.
Jdg 8:32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age - Having lived it seems forty years after his war with Midian, blessed with a large family, much wealth and riches, great credit and esteem among his people, and in favor with God and men:
buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites - a city which belonged to the family of the Abiezrites, who were of the tribe of Manasseh, in which Gideon lived, and his father before him; and where there was a family vault, in which he was interred.
Jdg 8:33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
Turned again - Doubtless Gideon himself had no doubt prepared the way for this apostacy by his unauthorized ephod. The Law of Moses, with its strict unity of priesthood and altar, was the divinely-appointed and only effectual preservative from idolatry.
Baal-bereth - The god of covenants or sworn treaties. Literally, the lord of the covenant; the same as Jupiter faederis, or Mercury, among the Romans; the deity whose business it was to preside over compacts, leagues, treaties, covenants, etc. Some of the versions understand it as if the Israelites had made a covenant or agreement to have Baal for their god. The center of this fresh apostacy was at Shechem.
A whoring after Baalim - the gods of the Phoenicians and Canaanites, the several Baals of other nations, the lords many which they served; these they committed spiritual whoredom with; that is, idolatry.
A whoring after Baalim - This was the general name including all their idols, one of which here follows. Baal - berith - That is, the Lord of the covenant; so called, either from the covenant wherewith the worshippers of this god bound themselves to maintain his worship, or to defend one another therein; or rather, because he was reputed the god and judge of all covenants, and promises, and contracts, to whom it belonged to maintain them, and to punish the violaters of them.
Jdg 8:34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
Jdg 8:35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal Gideon - They were both unthankful and unholy. Though they had the clearest proofs of God’s power and goodness before their eyes, yet they forgot him. And although they were under the greatest obligations to Gideon, and were once so sensible of them that they offered to settle the kingdom on him and his family, yet they forgot him also. On the contrary, great unkindness and cruelty, slaying his seventy sons, as related in the following chapter.
Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon. - This is improper; it should be Jerubbaal Gideon, as we say Simon Peter, or call any man by his Christian name and surname.
according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel - in exposing his life to danger for their sake, in delivering them out of the hands of their oppressors, in administering justice to them, in protecting them in their civil and religious liberties, and leaving them in the quiet and peaceable possession of them.
