1The Ephraimites are offended with Gideon: he pacifieth them. 4The men of Succoth and Penuel insolently refuse relief to Gideon's army. 10Zebab and Zalmunna are taken prisoners. 13Succoth and Penuel are chastised. 18Gideon revengeth the death of his brethren on Zebab and Zalmunna. 22He refuseth the government which the people offer him, but asketh for the earrings of their prey, whereof he maketh an ephod: which becometh a cause of idolatry. 28Midian is totally subdued. 29Gideon's children. 32His death, and the subsequent idolatry and ingratitude of the Israelites.
1AND the men of Ephraima1said unto him, Why hast thou served us 2thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chideb with him sharply.
a Judges 12:1.
1 See the annotation at the last verse of the previous chapter.
2 Hebr. thing, matters.
b emphatically express anger or disappointment; complain
2And he said unto them, What have I done now in 3comparison of you? Is not the 4gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of 5Abi-ezer?
3 That is, which may be compared with your deed, or act.
4 He understands the pursuit after the fleeing army of the Midianites, and the taking of the two princes captive; this he compares to the gleaning of grapes, which were left in the vintage, and that which he did, to the vintage itself.
5 That is, this whole work done by me and my house. For, he was an Abiezrite. See Judges 6:11.
3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and 6what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their 7anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
6 It seems that Gideon at this time had not as yet slain the two kings of the Midianites, Zebah and Zalmunna.
7 Hebr. spirit, courage.
4¶And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet 8pursuing them.
8 Namely, the enemy.
5And he said unto the men of 9Succoth, Give, I pray you, 10loaves of bread unto the people that 11follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
9 Situated next beyond Jordan, in the inheritance of Gad, by the brook or river Jabbok. See hereof Gen. 33:17; Psalm 60:6; 108:7, and of another Succoth, Exod. 12:37. Num. 33:5.
10 Other, pieces.
11 Hebr. which are by or at my feet, that is, follow my footsteps, or are in my service, and under my conduct. Compare Exod. 11:8.
6¶And the princes of Succoth 12said, 13Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
12 Hebr. said, in the singular number; namely, each of them, or one, as the president in the name of all.
13 That is, do you have already their strength or might in your power? They not only refuse or deny to grant the request of Gideon, but they also vilify him and flout at him, as one who would too soon become a conqueror, singing (as we say) triumph before the victory is obtained. They perceive that it will fall out otherwise, and therefore will have nothing to do with Gideon.
7And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your 14flesh with the thorns of the 15wilderness and with briers.
14 That is, your bodies; punishing your unfaithfulness and mockery in a special manner, which shall extend to your contempt and shame.
15 Which was situated between Succoth and Penuel, by the brook Jabbok, which Jacob passed over when he had wrestled with God and had before seen the armies of angels, and had said of that place: This is God’s field, calling the place Mahanaim, that is, two armies, Gen. 32:1, 2, 22, 24. Hence this wilderness (near by the said place) is called the wilderness of Mahanaim, as appears from 2 Sam. 17:27, 29.
8¶And he went up thence to 16Penuel, and spake unto 17them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
16 See Gen. 32:30 and 1 Kings 12:25.
17 Those of Penuel.
9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this 18tower.
18 On which perhaps they relied, as on a strong hold, and therefore spoke the more disdainfully and proudly.
10¶Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there 19fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that 20drew sword.
19 Who were before slain.
20 Hebr. drew, in the singular number; that is, every one of them had been fitted and trained up for the war. This serves the more to augment and increase Gideon’s victory. See also this phrase, of drawing the sword, used Judges 20:15, 17, 25, 46; 2 Sam. 24:9; 2 Kings 3:26, etc.
11¶And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in 21tents on the east of 22Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was 23secure.c
21 Namely, of the Arabians, who from thence are called Scenitæ, as if we would say tent-dwellers.
22 These two places were also situated there beyond Jordan toward the east.
23 Or, careless, quiet, not imagining that Gideon with his men, being wearied with chasing and pursuing the enemy, would be able so soon to get over Jordan, and further to overtake them this way towards the east.
c free from anxiety*
12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and tookd the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and 24discomfited all the host.
d Psalm 83:11.
24 Because he fell upon them unawares, they were affrighted, and slain as they fled, or at least quite routed and scattered, and altogether enfeebled.
13¶And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle 25before the sun was up,
25 Or, from (that is, immediately after) or, toward the rising of the sun; for, he, without taking rest (although wearied) with his men, had pursued the enemy. Other, from by the rising of Heres. Or, from the sun rising, that is, from the east, whither he had pursued the Midianites. Other, after the ascension of the sun; that is, toward the time that it began to descent.
14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he 26described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
26 That is, he gave unto Gideon the names of the princes in writing, that he might punish none but those that were guilty.
15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraide me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
e reproach
16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he 27taught the men of Succoth.
27 Namely, wherein they had offended, that is, by this punishment or special chastisement he left an example to unlearn those of Succoth such a pride. Whether they were slain, as those of Penuel, or whether they were left alive with this despicable chastisement, there is no mention made.
17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and 28slew the men of the city.
28 Understand the rulers of the city or all guilty persons, as may be gathered from the previous example.
18¶Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at 29Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
29 A mountain located in Zebulon toward the sea, close by the brook Kison, on the south side of the mountain, over against the valley of Jezreel, where the Midianites had had their army. When this was done, is here not mentioned. It is to be supposed that they did it in this expedition, as well in respect of the situation of the place, as because it seems that Gideon as yet knew not certainly what was properly the thing that was done, although he seems to have known that some of his brethren were slain, and that these kings had slain upon this mountain certain notable persons, without knowing who they were, although he suspected them to be his brethren.
19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. Andf Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the 30ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
f Psalm 83:11.
30 Namely, those golden neck-ornaments, which in the Hebrew had their name of the moon, because they were round like the full moon.
22¶Then the 31men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, 32both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
31 Hebr. the man; that is, every one among the people.
32 Hebr. also thou, also thy son, also thy son’s son.
23And Gideon said unto them, 33I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
33 From these words and verse 29 appear plainly, that those who are called judges in this book, were no kings, sovereign lords, nor ordinary judges or rulers of the people, but were called in a special and peculiar manner for the deliverance, defense, help and service of Israel, preserving and maintaining the freedom and order of their republic. See Judges 2 on verse 16.
24¶And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the 34earrings of his prey. (For 35they had golden earrings, because they were 36Ishmaelites.)
34 Or, the forehead-ornaments which he hath taken for a prey. Hebr. a forehead-ornament or ear-ornament of his prey. The Hebrew word is used of both, as well of golden ornament on the forehead, as on the ears. See Gen. 24:22, 47; 35:4.
35 The enemies.
36 See Gen. 37 on verse 25; Gen. 25:13, etc.
25And they answered, We will 37willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
37 Hebr. giving we will give.
26And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred 38shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and 39collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
38 See Gen. 24 on verse 22; Num. 7 on verse 14.
39 Other, golden vials, boxes, cases, wherein they carried along with them sweet smelling spices or precious ointments, to be used in swooning, sicknesses and diseases, as also for wounds and sores.
27And Gideon made an 40ephod thereof, and 41put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a 42whoring after it: which thing became a 43snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
40 See Exod. 28 on verse 4.
41 Namely, upon a high staff or pole, or some such thing, for a memorial of this victory; but the same was much misused after his death, as some gather from verse 33.
42 They committed with that ephod spiritual whoredom, that is, idolatry and superstition. See Lev. 17 on verse 7; Lev. 20 on verse 5 as they did with the brazen serpent set up by Moses, 2 Kings 18:4.
43 Compare Exod. 23:33; 34:12; Deut. 7:16. The meaning is: that it was accounted unto Gideon (as having given occasion to the people, who were very prone to idolatry) for sin, and tended to the ruin and destruction of his house. See the following chapter.
28¶Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they 44lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years 45in the days of Gideon.
44 Hebr. added not or went not on to lift up their head.
45 That is, as long as Gideon lived.
29¶And 46Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and 47dwelt in his own house.
46 That is, Gideon. See Judges 7:1.
47 Not taking upon him the government of the people, which was offered him, yet serving them with his authority and respect, for the maintenance and preservation of the pure religion, and defense of their liberty, as may be gathered from verses 28, 33. Quite otherwise did his illegitimate son, Abimelech, Judges 9.
30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his 48body begotten: for he had many wives.
48 See Gen. 46 on verse 26.
31And his 49concubine that was in 50Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he 51called 52Abimelech.
49 Of concubines, see Gen. 22 on verse 24.
50 Situated on a mountain in Ephraim, not far from Samaria, westward from Ophrah, where Gideon dwelt. See Gen. 12 on verse 6; Gen. 33:18. It was one of the cities of refuge, Joshua 20:7. Hereabout also were Joseph’s bones buried, Joshua 24:32.
51 Hebr. made, set.
52 Whom the Shechemites, after Gideon’s decease, made king, passing by, yea murdering all the legitimate sons of Gideon, save Jotham, who hid himself; See Judges 9.
32¶And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good 53old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the 54Abi-ezrites.
53 Hebr. grayness, hoariness. See Gen. 15 on verse 15.
54 See Judges 6:11.
33And 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 55Baal-berith their god.
55 That is, the lord of the covenant: so forsaking and breaking the covenant of the true God, Who had oftentimes clearly and in the highest measure and degree forbidden them to do it; although they persuaded themselves, that this might well consist, when they comprised the Name and covenant of God therein, and pretended the same to be done to the service and honor of God. See also of this idol Judges 9:4, and of the Baals Judges 2 on verse 11.
34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
3556Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
56 See Judges 9:5, 16, 17, 24, 56, 57.