Judges 8:22-28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:22-28

Here is, I. Gideon's laudable modesty, after his great victory, in refusing the government which the people offered him. 1. It was honest in them to offer it: Rule thou over us, for thou hast delivered us, Jdg. 7:22. They thought it very reasonable that he who had gone through the toils and perils of their deliverance should enjoy the honour and power of commanding them ever afterwards, and very desirable that he who in this great and critical juncture had had such manifest tokens of God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:22

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon ,.... 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: rule thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy son's son also ; by which they meant, that he would take the kingly government of them, and which they proposed to settle in his posterity for ages to come; for, as a judge in Israel, he had a sort of rule and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:23

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 ; which Abarbinel thinks he spake 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:24

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you ,.... Which he thought they would scarcely deny, and it was now a fair opportunity to make it, since they had offered him a crown, or to be king over them: and the favour he asked was: that you would give me every man the earrings of his prey ; or, "an earring of his prey"; for it is in the singular number; every man one earring, as Abarbinel interprets it; for though they might have more, yet only one ear ring of every man is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:25

And they answered, we will willingly give them ,.... Or, "in giving we will give" F4 נתון נתן "dando dabimus", Pagninus, Montanus. ; give them with all their hearts, most freely and cheerfully: and they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey ; every man one, which would amount to no more than three hundred; though perhaps those who joined in the pursuit might take many more, or otherwise the weight of them would not amount to what in the next... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:26

And the weight of the golden earrings he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold ,.... Which, as Schcuchzer F5 Physica Sacra, vol. 3. p. 468. computes, was eight hundred and ten ounces, five drachms, one scruple, and ten grains, of the weight of physicians; but as reckoned by Moatanus F6 Tubal Cain, p. 15. amounted to eight hundred and fifty ounces, and were of the value of 6800 crowns of gold; and, according to Waserus F7 De Numis. Heb. l. 2. c. 10. ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:27

And Gideon made an ephod thereof ,.... That is, of some of this gold; for such a quantity could never have been expanded on an ephod only, even taking it not for a linen ephod, but such an one as the high priest wore, made of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with curious work, together with a curious girdle of the same work; unless we suppose such a breastplate with it, of twelve precious stones, as Aaron had; and with little images of teraphim or cherubim in it, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:28

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: 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, or of their giving or attempting to give any... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:22

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. What a weak, foolish, and inconstant people were these! As yet their government was a theocracy; and now, dazzled with the success of a man who was only an instrument in the hands of God to deliver them from their enemies, they wish to throw off the Divine yoke, and shackle themselves with an unlimited hereditary monarchy! An... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:23

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. How different is this speech from that of Oliver Cromwell when the commons offered him the crown of England! read more

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