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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:1-3

No sooner were the Midianites, the common enemy, subdued, than, through the violence of some hot spirits, the children of Israel were ready to quarrel among themselves; an unhappy spark was struck, which, if Gideon had not with a great deal of wisdom and grace extinguished immediately, might have broken out into a flame of fatal consequence. The Ephraimites, when they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon as general, instead of congratulating him upon his successes and addressing him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:1

And the men of Ephraim said unto him ,.... 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: 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: that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites ? that he did not call them first, when he called other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:2

And he said unto them ,.... In a very mild and gentle manner, giving soft words, which turn away wrath: what have I done in comparison of you ? 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:3

God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb ,.... A high honour this conferred upon you, and with which you may be well contented: and what was I able to do in comparison of you ? what he had done in defeating and pursuing the army of Midian, in slaying and taking any of them prisoners, was nothing in comparison of what they had done; nay, he signifies that he was not capable of doing anything worth mentioning without them; the glory of finishing this conquest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:1

The men of Ephraim said - 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, Judges 8:4 . And it was when he was beyond that river that the Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to him, Judges 7:25 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:2

Is not the gleaning , etc. - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:3

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. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:1

The success of Gideon’s enterprise mortified the pride of Ephraim, as the chief tribe, seeing that they had played a subordinate part. Compare Judges 12:1. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:2

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. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 8:1

Judges 8:1. Why hast thou served us thus, &c. Why hast thou neglected and despised us in not calling us in to thy help? This they considered as very contemptuous treatment, since Gideon had sent to other tribes, that were meaner, and not so able to assist him as themselves. 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... read more

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