Judg 8:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | The Ephraimites are angry with Gideon because he did not call them particularly to his assistance; he pacifies them, . Gideon and his three hundred men pass over Jordan, pursuing the Midianites; and, being faint, ask victuals from the princes of Succoth, but are refused, . They make the like application to the people of Penuel, and are also refused, , . Gideon defeats Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, and takes them prisoners, . He chastises the men of Succoth and Penuel, . He slays Zebah and Zalmunna, who had killed his brethren, . The Israelites offer him the kingdom, which he refuses, , . He requires from them the gold rings which they had taken from the Ishmaelites, and makes an ephod, which he sets up at Ophrah; and it became an instrument of idolatry, . The land enjoys peace forty years; Gideon dies, having seventy-one sons, . The Israelites fall into idolatry, and forget their obligations to Gideon's family, . Verse 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, . And it was when he was beyond that river that the Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to him, .

Judges 8:1-3

Introduction

The Ephraimites are angry with Gideon because he did not call them particularly to his assistance; he pacifies them, Jdg 8:1-3. Gideon and his three hundred men pass over Jordan, pursuing the Midianites; and, being faint, ask victuals from the princes of Succoth, but are refused, Jdg 8:4-7. They make the like application to the people of Penuel, and are also refused, Jdg 8:8, Jdg 8:9. Gideon defeats Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, and takes them prisoners, Jdg 8:10-12. He chastises the men of Succoth and Penuel, Jdg 8:13-17. He slays Zebah and Zalmunna, who had killed his brethren, Jdg 8:18-21. The Israelites offer him the kingdom, which he refuses, Jdg 8:22, Jdg 8:23. He requires from them the gold rings which they had taken from the Ishmaelites, and makes an ephod, which he sets up at Ophrah; and it became an instrument of idolatry, Jdg 8:24-27. The land enjoys peace forty years; Gideon dies, having seventy-one sons, Jdg 8:28-32. The Israelites fall into idolatry, and forget their obligations to Gideon's family, Jdg 8:33-35.

Verse 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, Jdg 8:4. And it was when he was beyond that river that the Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to him, Jdg 7:25. Verse 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. Verse 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.