Judges 8:1

GIDEON'S OTHER ACTIONS; HE REFUSED KINGSHIP

GIDEON APPEASED THE WRATH OF THE EPHRAIMITES (Judges 8:1-3)

"And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou callest us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply. And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that."

The pride and conceit of Ephraim as the most powerful of the tribes of Israel is evident in this. Their inheritance in the mountains had preserved them from many of the marauding expeditions of Israel's enemies. Joshua had been of their tribe, and Bethel and Shiloh in their territory were the earliest locations of the Tabernacle, thus making Ephraim somewhat like the religious capital of the Twelve Tribes.

"Why hast thou dealt thus with us?" (Judges 8:1). "Gideon's success mortified the pride of Ephraim, seeing that they had played a subordinate part."[1] Also, "What was involved was more than glory, a share in the booty was at stake; and that meant a great deal to a people living in a mountainous country."[2]

"Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer" (Judges 8:2). "Here is an excellent illustration of the proverb that, `A soft answer turneth away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).'"[3] Dalglish identified this expression as, "An ancient Ephraimite proverb concerning the superiority of that tribe."[4] Keil explained the implied application of it in Gideon's usage of it: "The `gleaning of Ephraim' is their victory over the fleeing Midianites (and the capture of the princes Oreb and Zeeb); and the `vintage of Abiezer' was what Gideon accomplished with his three hundred men, because Ephraim had slain the princes."[5]

These verses indicate the diplomatic ability of Gideon as he made every effort to preserve the unity and coherence of the Twelve Tribes.