Tyndale Open Study NotesJudges 8

Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.

Ephraim, the leading tribe of the north-central hill country, produced only a minor judge named Tola (Judges 10:1). The Ephraimites felt left out of the battle because they wanted a share of the spoils. When called, they completed the task. Gideon responded with grace and humility, calming Ephraim’s anger (see Proverbs 15:1; compare with Jephthah, Judges 12:1–4). The victories of Gideon and Ephraim over Oreb and Zeeb and their armies became legendary (compare Psalm 83:11–12; Isaiah 10:26).

• At this point, Gideon seemed as focused on revenge as on victory. His earlier conversations with the Lord suddenly stopped. The group of 300 men made a final attack on the Midianites.

• Gideon chased the fleeing Midianite kings through the Jabbok gorge and then south toward Rabbah, following the caravan route onto the Transjordan plateau.

• Succoth and Peniel were Israelite cities, but their loyalty to Gideon, a new general, was weak. The tribes east of the Jordan were often under Midianite pressure and seemed to fear them.

In the ancient Near East, people often tore the flesh of a defeated enemy (compare Amos 1:3; Micah 4:13).

this tower: Towers were common during this time. Archaeologists have found them at both Succoth and Shechem (see Judges 9:46–49).

The Midianite remnant, along with its two kings, felt safe after reaching the Transjordan plateau on their way to the desert. This location was far from typical Israelite territory. As before (Judges 7:19–22), Gideon surprised the Midianite army. He captured the two kings and defeated the army, removing the threat of Midianite revenge feared by the leaders of Succoth and Peniel.

• The return journey likely followed a straight path through the unknown Ascent of Heres, unlike the circular route needed for the ambush.

• The fact that a typical young man from Succoth could write down the names shows that the new alphabetic writing system had become established in Israel.

• Gideon's practice of retribution and execution was common in his time. However, his reputation as the Lord's servant was better supported by his skillful diplomacy (Judges 8:1–3) than by harsh punishment.

The timing of the slaughter at Tabor is unclear; it might have happened during an earlier battle.

Honor was very important in this interaction. Being killed by a woman or a child was seen as shameful (Judges 5:24–27; 9:54).

crescent ornaments (headbands and crescents in Isaiah 3:18): These were common among desert nomads. Jewelry was a lightweight means of carrying wealth.

Both Ishmaelites and Midianites descended from Abraham (Genesis 16:15; 25:2).

An ephod was usually part of the priest's clothing (Exodus 28:6–30). Samuel and David also wore one (1 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 6:14; 1 Chronicles 15:27). However, in Judges 17:5 and 18:14–18, the ephod seems to have been a gold image, which became an idol.

When there was peace in the land (see study note on Judges 3:7–11) before Abimelech, it lasted for periods of twenty years (3:11, 30; 5:31). After Gideon, these periods became shorter. Israel's ongoing disobedience led to more social instability (compare Judges 17–21).

Old age usually shows divine blessing, but Gideon's spiritual blessing and leadership declined.

concubine: Refer to the study note on Judges 19:1.

• Gideon's ephod (Judges 8:27) quickly became part of a pagan shrine honoring images of the Canaanite god Baal, here called Baal-berith ("Baal of the covenant"). This sinful act involved forgetting the Lord and his works and being disloyal to godly leadership. Remembering is essential to biblical, covenantal worship, from the time of the exodus (Exodus 12:14, 24) to the ongoing Christian celebration of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:25).

• kindness: See study note on Judges 1:24.