Judges 8

Verse 1. Ephraim. The valour and insolence of these men are placed together. Afterwards we have an account of the transactions of Gedeon in the pursuit, verse 4. Bible.—The tribe of Ephraim seems to have had some grounds for being displeased at not being summoned at first, as well as the tribes of Aser, and so forth which were farther off; particularly as they sprang from Joseph, no less than Manasses, and had their portion in common. The general answers them with great respect, as otherwise their displeasure might have had very pernicious consequences. Calmet.

Verse 2. What could I, and so forth A meek and humble answer appeased them; who otherwise might have come to extremities. So great is the power of humility both with God and man. Challoner. Proverbs 15:1.—Could. Hebrew and Septuagint “What have I yet done like you? Menochius.—Is not the gleaning?” and so forth I only commenced the war; you have brought it to a happy termination, by killing the princes of the enemy. Debrio adag. 157. At the first siege of Troy, Telamon having entered the city before Hercules, the latter was on the point of killing him, when Telamon, collecting a heap of stones, which he said he intended for an altar in honour of “the victorious Hercules,” the hero’s fury was appeased. Apol. Bib. ii. 6.

Verse 4. Jordan. Notwithstanding the precautions of Gedeon, some had got over the river, whom he resolves to follow at Bethsan. This city was about 15 miles from Mount Thabor. His men had been in motion a great part of the night, and had not taken provisions ( Calmet.) for so long a journey; so that he was obliged to apply for some when he had crossed the Jordan.

Verse 5. Soccoth. “The tents,” where Jacob had encamped. Genesis 33. It belonged to the tribe of Dan. Menochius.—The people of this town, as well as the ancients of Phanuel, returned an insolent reply to the just request of Gedeon. In cases of such extremity, all are bound to assist the defenders of their country; and the refusal is punished as a sort of rebellion, 2 Kennicott. 24:10. Calmet.

Verse 6. Hand. Perhaps thou makest sure of taking these kings. Bible.—We apprehend that they will return with greater forces, and punish our compliance. Menochius.

Verse 7. Desert. An usual mode of punishment, (2 Kennicott. 12. 1 Chronicles 20:3. Calmet.) which the cruel irrision of Gedeon and his army, who were fighting in the cause of God and of the nation, richly called for.

Verse 9. Tower; on the strength of which they ventured to treat him with insolence. Phanuel, “the face of God,” (Genesis 33:10,) was near the Jaboc. Menochius.

Verse 10. Resting, as the Hebrew word Korkor, signifies. Bochart.—Prot. have, in Karor,” as if it were the name of a place. Bible.

Verse 11. Tents. The Scenitæ, ( Menochius.) who inhabited part of the desert Arabia. Calmet.—Hurt. They had probably been mounted on camels, and so forth ( Bible.) and did not suspect that Gedeon would be so soon after them across the Jordan. Menochius.

Verse 13. Sun-rising. It would seem as if all these exploits had been performed between midnight and sun-rising, in the month of May, which is quite incredible; and hence many translate, “the sun being up.” Septuagint and Theodotion, “from the height or ascent of Hares,” (the situation of which we know not,) or “of the mountains,” (Aquila) or “woods,” (Symmachus) or perhaps “from the eastward.” Calmet.—The Scripture does not, however, specify that all this took place in the space of six or seven hours, or of one night, but only that Gedeon came to Soccoth so early, as to take the magistrates unawares, being informed by a young man where they lived. This might probably happen on the second morning, after he had surprised the camp of the Madianites, at Jezrael. Prot. and Chal. agree with the Vulg. “before the sun was up.” The other translations explain chares, as if it denoted the place or situation from which Gedeon was returning. Bible.—Described. The text may signify either that the boy marked them out, or that Gedeon took down a memorandum of their names. Calmet.—He would not punish the innocent with the guilty. Menochius.

Verse 16. Tore. Hebrew seems to be corrupted in this place. “And he shewed (instructed or chastised) with these thorns.” The Septuagint and Vulg. read the same word as verse 7. He crushed the people with such instruments as are used to beat out corn. It is probable that he only treated the magistrates of Soccoth and of Phanuel in this manner. Calmet.

Verse 18. Thabor. Some of the relations or brothers of Gedeon had retired thither, as to a place of safety; and the latter wished to know what was become of them, that he might redeem them, if alive. Calmet.—King. They answer with flattery, insinuating that Gedeon had the air of a king. Menochius.

Verse 19. Kill you. They were not included in the number of the seven devoted nations, ( Worthington.) and the precept for destroying the Madianites no longer subsisted. Numbers 31:17. Menochius.—The laws of war permitted the Hebrews to kill their prisoners, if they thought proper. No public executioner was necessary. Samuel killed Agag, 1 Kennicott. 15:32. See 3 Kennicott. 2:25. 2 Kennicott. 1:15. Calmet.—Gedeon had a mind to make his son partake in the victory, and punish these kings for an unjust murder of his relations. He would also inure him to fight against the enemies of God, and so forth Menochius.

Verse 21. Age. They beg that they may die in a more speedy and noble manner. Tacitus (Hist. iv.) observes, “it was reported that Civilis exposed some of the Roman captives to his little son, in order that he might fix his arrows and javelins in their bodies.”—Ornaments. Most interpreters understand “crescents.” The veneration of the Arabs for the moon, the celestial Venus, or Alilat, is well known. The Turks still make use of this sign, as Christians employ the cross on their standards, temples, and so forth Men and women anciently wore on their necks or forehead ornaments of the same nature, as these camels did. Isaiah 3:18. Latinus adorned his horses in the most splendid manner. Virg. Æn. vii: Aurea pectoribus demissa monilia pendent. Caligula decorated with extravagance his famous horse Incitatus, on which he designed to confer the consulate. Sueton.—In Egypt the camels are sometimes painted yellow, and hung with a variety of little bells. Vaneb.

Verse 22. Israel, who were in his army, and of whom he receives the earlets for his share of the spoil. Calmet.—But as those who staid at home received a share of the booty, and no doubt would come to congratulate Gedeon on his victory, it seems equally probable that this offer of the regal dignity was made to him in a full assembly of the people, ( Bible.) which is greatly to the honour of this valiant man. Menochius.—Rule them. They wished to confer upon him a dignity which he did not now possess, and which he absolutely refused, being, as he thought, incompatible with the theocracy. This shews that it was not the dignity of judge, which he retained till his death, but that of king, which was so displeasing to God, when the Israelites resolved to establish it among them. 1 Kennicott. 8:7. Menochius. Tirinus. Grot. Calmet.—Josephus (verse 8.) thinks that Gedeon wished to resign the former dignity, but was forced to retain it forty years. The judges were chosen by God, and acted as his lieutenants, so that the people having no part in their election, the Lord alone was considered as the king of Israel. Some are of opinion that the people wished, on this occasion, to make the dignity hereditary. Calmet.—Serarius thinks that they made an offer of the regal power to Gedeon, to his son, and grandson, only. But it seems rather that they meant to make the sovereign authority over entirely to his family, ( Menochius.) so great a sense had they of his courage, moderation, and just severity, of which he had given such striking proofs. Bible.

Verse 24. Request. It was not then thought dishonourable to ask nor to receive presents. The most precious part of the booty had been already presented to the general, according to the custom of the heroic times. But, as the people wished to make Gedeon king, he consents to receive the earlets, as a memorial of their affection.—Earlets. Hebrew and Septuagint ( Menochius.) may also signify, “each an earlet,” as if he would only accept one from each soldier. The original signifies also, the rings which women put under their noses; but, as men never did, it has not that meaning here, ( Calmet.) though there might be women in the camp of the Madianites. Bible.—Ismaelites. By this title various nations are designated. It seems almost as general as the word Arab among us. These nations were no more distinguished by these ornaments than the Hebrews themselves. Exodus 32:2 and 35:12. The Persians, Africans, Lybians, and so forth wore ear-rings. Calmet.

Verse 26. And jewels. Some translate, “crescents (Septuagint “little moons,”) and boxes” (netiphoth, Menochius.) of perfumes, such as Alexander found among the spoils of Darius, and reserved to put his Homer in. These ornaments were also used by women. Isaiah 3:18. Calmet.—The eastern nations delight in perfumes. Menochius.—The ear-rings alone would amount to 3102l. 10s. sterling. Bible.

A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.32 Troy ounces, so 1700 shekels is about 17 kilograms or 37.4 pounds.

Verse 27. An ephod. A priestly garment; which Gedeon made with a good design: but the Israelites, after his death, abused it by making it an instrument of their idolatrous worship, ( Challoner.) and perhaps consulting their idols with it. No law forbad the making of such a garment. Menochius.—It was not peculiar to the high priest, since we find that Samuel and David occasionally wore the ephod, (2 Kennicott. 6:14,) and probably Gedeon would, on public occasions, do the like with this most costly one, which would serve to remind the people of the victory which they had gained over Madian. The chief judge in Egypt wore a great golden chain and collar, adorned with curious figures, as a mark of his dignity. Diod. ii. 3. This monument of the victory, and of the dignity of Gedeon, became, after his death, an occasion of superstition to the people, who foolishly imagined that they might consult the Lord, wherever an ephod was found. See Calmet. 17:5. Exodus 25:7. The began to neglect the tabernacle, and to form a religion of their own choice. Many think that Gedeon was guilty of indiscretion in making it. Saint Augustine q. xli. Lyran. E.—But the thing was in itself indifferent. He did not intend to arrogate to himself the privileges of the Levitical tribe. The Scripture nowhere condemns him, but speaks of his faith and of his death with honour, verse 32. Hebrews 11:3.—With it. Hebrew “after it or him,” which may either signify that this superstition took place after the death of Gedeon, (Septuagint Pagnin. Menochius.) or in consequence of the making of the ephod. Jonath. Drus. Prot. and so forth versions. Calmet.—And to. This explains how it affected Gedeon, who was probably dead. He suffered in the ruin of his family, ( Bible.) as it is explained in the following chapter. Menochius.

Verse 31. His concubine. She was his servant, but not his harlot; and is called his concubine, as wives of an inferior degree are commonly called in the Old Testament, though otherwise lawfully married. Challoner.—They had not all the privileges of wives; (Genesis 25:6,) and their children could not claim the inheritance. Calmet.—Abimelech means, “my ( Bible.) father king;” alluding to the dignity of Gedeon; or perhaps the mother imposed this name, hoping that her son would obtain the highest honours. Josephus calls her Druma. She dwelt at Sichem, to which place the judge of Israel often resorted, though his usual residence was at Ephra. This son of theirs is included among the 70.

Verse 32. Good. He left an excellent reputation, and died in God’s friendship. Menochius.

Verse 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. Calmet. 9:4. 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, therefore, styled Zeus orkios, or Dius fidius, or Fistius Jupiter. Laert. in Pythag. Halicar. iv. A statue “of Jupiter for oaths,” was seen at Olympus, holding the thunderbolts in his hands, ready to hurl against those who proved faithless. Pausan. Eliac. Philo of Byblos speaks of the Phœnician god Eliun, “the High,” and ( Calmet.) of the goddess “Beruth,” which last has a visible connection with Berith. The former title is sometimes given to the true God in Scripture. The city of Berytus was so called, probably in honour of the latter. Nonnus seems to have styled her Beroe. Bochart. Chanaan ii. 17.—Pliny (xxxi. 1.) mentions the god Briaze, at the foot of whose temple runs the river Olachas, the waters of which are said to burn those who are guilty of perjury. The Chaldee reads, “they chose Beel-kiam for their error.” Amos (5:26) speaks of the images of Chiun. May he not be the same as Berith or Kiam? Spencer says, that Chiun was Saturn: but Vossius thinks it was the moon. Idol. ii. 23. Calmet.

Verse 35. Mercy is here put for many virtues: gratitude, justice, kindness, and so forth Menochius.—The Israelites did not take care to provide for ( Calmet.) the family of one who had rendered them such essential services. Bible.