Judges 8:33 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 8:33

(33) Turned again.—Ad vomitum recdierunt (Serarius) (Psalms 106:13; Psalms 106:21).Went a whoring after Baalim.—It was shown again afterwards, in the reign of Ahab, how rapidly unauthorised symbols degenerate into positive idolatry. After all that had occurred it would have been impossible for a Jerubbaal to be a Baal-worshipper, but his little deflection from the appointed ritual soon became a wide divergence from the national faith.Made Baal-berith their god.—Baal-berith means “Lord of the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 8:1-35

Judges 8:3 Sometimes men of great strength of will and purpose possess also in a high degree the gift of tact.... In nearly all administrative posts, in all the many fields of labour where the task of man is to govern, manage, or influence others, to adjust or harmonize antagonism of race or interests or prejudices, to carry through difficult business without friction and by skilful cooperation, this combination of gifts is supremely valuable. W. E. H. Lecky. Judges 8:4 In his Life of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 8:29-35

ABIMELECH AND JOTHAMJudges 8:29-35; Judges 9:1-57THE history we are tracing moves from man to man; the personal influence of the hero is everything while it lasts and confusion follows on his death. Gideon appears as one of the most successful Hebrew judges in maintaining order. While he was there in Ophrah religion and government had a centre "and the country was in quietness forty years." A man far from perfect but capable of mastery held the reins and gave forth judgment with an authority... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 8:1-35

CHAPTER 8 Internal Strife, Gideon’s Failure and End 1. The strife (Judges 8:1-9 ) 2. The complete deliverance (Judges 8:10-21 ) 3. Gideon’s failure and end (Judges 8:22-32 ) 4. Israel’s failure after Gideon (Judges 8:33-35 ) Internal strife follows. The two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, were slain (Judges 7:25 ). Oreb means “raven” and Zeeb means “wolf.” Oreb, the raven, is slain on the rock and Zeeb, the wolf, at the winepress. The raven, the bird which represents darkness and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Judges 8:33

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 {q} Baalberith their god.(q) That is, Baal, to whom they had bound themselves by covenant. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:1-35

GRIEVOUS WORDS AND A SOFT ANSWER (vv. 1-3) But the men of Ephraim were resentful that Gideon had called them so late rather than when he began his campaign against Midian (v.1). They did not stop to consider that it was God who ordered the assault on Midian.They probably did not know that God had reduced the army to 300 rather than increasing it by the inclusion of Ephraim.Gideon could have pointed these things out to them, but instead he took a wiser way of using a soft answer to turn away... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 8:1-35

GIDEON AND THE MIDIANITES The old story of sin and suffering is repeated after the death of Deborah. The Midianites occupied territory on the south and east, contiguous to Moab, and were wandering herdsmen like the modern Bedouins, who, in connection with the Amalekites, harassed Israel at every opportunity with the results indicated in Judges 6:1-6 . God sends a prophet to His people in this case before He sends a Savior (Judges 6:7-10 ), for they must be brought to repentance before... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Judges 8:1-35

Gideon Judges 6-8 AT the close of the song of Deborah "the land had rest forty years." The sixth chapter begins with the usual black line: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." These comings and goings of evil in human history seem to be fated. Men never get so clear away from evil as never to come back again to it; at any moment the course of life may be reversed, and the altar, the vow, the song, and the prayer may be forgotten like vanished summers. This makes the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 8:33

What an awful representation do the Scriptures of God afford, of the total depravity and corruption of the heart. In all ages it breaks out. Lord, what is man? Baal-berith, in the original, signifies, the Lord of a Covenant; as if Israel had covenanted with an idol to their ruin. read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 8:33

After. This is the most solid proof of Gedeon's piety, since he kept the people in awe, and faithful to the Lord during his life. --- God. Hebrew, "and appointed Baal Berith their god," or goddess; for Berith, "of the covenant," is feminine. In the temple of this idol, the citizens of Sichem kept money, chap ix. 4. The pagans had many gods who presided over treaties; and the parties were, it seems, at liberty to choose whom they thought proper. They commonly pitched upon Jupiter, who is,... read more