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Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 8:24-27

Whatever were the views of Gideon in this ephod, is not easily determined. Aaron had fallen into a similar transgression, in the time the church was in the wilderness. Alas! what are the best of men for a moment, if not upheld by grace? Exodus 32:1 . read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 8:24

Request. It was not then thought dishonourable to ask nor to receive presents. The most precious part of the booty had been already presented to the general, according to the custom of the heroic times. But, as the people wished to make Gedeon king, he consents to receive the earlets, as a memorial of their affection. --- Earlets. Hebrew and Septuagint (Menochius) may also signify, "each an earlet," as if he would only accept one from each soldier. The original signifies also, the rings which... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:22-28

22-28 Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 8:22-35

The Consequences of the Campaign v. 22. Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy son's son also, they wanted to establish a hereditary kingdom with their great deliverer at their head, as the founder of a royal dynasty; for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. v. 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. Gideon did not feel himself called upon to found... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 8:22-32

Gideon refuses to be king. Prepares an ephod, which is followed by evil consequences. Gideon’s death and burialJudges 8:22-32.22Then [And] 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. 23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord [Jehovah] shall rule over you. 24And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that you... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Judges 8:13-28

the Snare of Success Judges 8:13-28 Clearly Gideon’s family had passed through some terrible tragedy previous to this war of emancipation. He had not learned our Lord’s teaching of forgiveness and acted on the usual maxims of his age. Possibly, also, he felt that he was the executioner of God’s vengeance upon these chiefs, whose names, “Immolation” and “Trouble,” were derived from their desperate deeds. As they stood anticipating death, they uttered a memorable sentence, “As the man is, so... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:1-35

Following the deliverance from the oppression of Midian, Gideon had to deal with internal troubles. The people of Ephraim objected that he had not called them to his help. The men of Succoth and Penuel had refused help in an hour of crisis. Gideon's method with Ephraim was conciliatory and that with the men of Succoth and Penuel was severe. The last things we read about Gideon are full of interest: one is characterized by great nobility, the other is a revelation of weakness which issued in... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:24

‘ And Gideon said to them, “I would desire a request of you, that you would give me, every man, the earrings (or nose-rings) from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings (or nose rings) because they were Ishmaelites).’ Ishmaelites were rated as Midianites, possibly as a sub-tribe (see also Genesis 37:28). Here Gideon wanted their earrings/noserings because they symbolised the enemy and he wanted to create a memorial to their destruction, no doubt also incorporating the crescents and golden... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:22-35

Judges 8:22-Daniel : . Gideon Refuses a Kingdom, and Erects an Ephod.— Long before the Israelites had any human kings. Yahweh was regarded as their Divine King, and Gideon, like Samuel ( 1 Samuel 8:7; 1 Samuel 10:19; 1 Samuel 12:12; 1 Samuel 12:17; 1 Samuel 12:19), expresses the view that the Divine kingship leaves no room for a human sovereignty. This view became prevalent in the eighth century B.C., when a succession of wicked kings was ruining the northern kingdom ( Hosea 8:4; Hosea... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 8:24

Object. They are called Midianites before. Answ. Here seems to have been a mixture of people, Judges 6:3, which are all called by one general name, Ishmaelites, or Arabians, who used to wear earrings, Genesis 35:4; but the greatest, and the ruling part of them, were Midianites. read more

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