STUDY NOTES
GRAB YOUR BIBLE

Verse 1

The men of Ephraim said, ”why have you treated us like this…” They were a proud tribe, they had joined the battle with Ehud and when Deborah was judge. Maybe they were genuinely curious as to why they were left out or maybe they wanted to be invited in so they could be recognized as well. Also, after the war is when they would divide up the spoils, (over 100,000 men killed) maybe they wanted to be included in that as well. Nevertheless, Gideon, along with 300 men, had just had a huge victory for the nation the men could have at least said, ”thank you.”

Verse 2 – 3

Gideon responds with flattery. He had a lot on his plate at the moment. He could have bucked up and responded differently than he did, who would have blamed him. He could have easily started firing questions in their direction, “where were you before, why didn’t you ever step up before I was judge,” but he chose to walk in self control and to be a peacemaker. Words are powerful and using them by affirming the Ephraim men Gideon was able to calm them down.

Gideon answered them very kindly and very wisely. He flattered them he attached great importance to what they had done, and took little credit to himself for his valiant service. In this he showed his self-command and his discretion. When persons chide sharply, it is a pity to chide back again; the best way of dealing with them is with a soft answer to turn away their wrath.

CH Spurgeon

“Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?” Gideon was saying here that his work was less important than what they had done. The NLT translations says, ”Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer?” I feel this translation shows the distinctive metaphor he was using more clearly. And he really was buttering them up. 😆

Gideon reminds them, as I paraphrase, ”Y’all already killed to big dogs, remember Oreb (raven) and Zeeb (wolf), like, I haven’t done anything like that. I don’t know about you but I can literally see this conversation take place. With Ephraim responding, “yeah man, you know what, you’re right, we did do that.” 😅
(I definitely don’t see either of them talking like that, but they do in my head.) After this is says their anger toward him was abated (weaken, slack, idle, cease). Apparently what Gideon said to them made since to them, but killing two commanders verses 300 men taking on 135,000 doesn’t even seem like a close comparison.

Humility will deliver the atmosphere of the spirit of envy.

Verse 4

This verse shows us there are still 300 left, not a man lost!

“Faint yet pursuing.” This seems like a phrase a lot of can agree with, maybe even a battle cry we can stand on. I may be battle weary, yet still I stand, ready against the enemy. (*insert praise break here*)

Verse 5

Succoth is territory to the tribe of Gad, Gideon’s brethren, they were not enemies. Asking them for food was a reasonable request; they should have responded differently. Remember, they weren’t even asked to battle with them, they merely are asking for bread. Yet, he was met with discouragement and mocking.

This was a very natural and a very reasonable request. Gideon did not ask the men of Succoth to come with him, nor even to give a lodging to his soldiers. The fear of Midian was upon Israel, and the people were afraid to do anything against their oppressor, but surely they might have relieved the hunger of their fellow countrymen. Instead of doing so, they answered Gideon with arrogant and cruel words.

CH Spurgeon

Verse 6

“Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give to your army bread?” This could be referring to the practice of victors cutting off the hands of their dead victims to provide a body count.
(Refer: Judges 1:6; 1 Samuel 18:25)

Verse 7

Notice this verse Gideon says when, not if, “when the Lord has delivered…” He prophecies it.

• Thrash: Thresh, Trample, Break, Tear, Tread Out
• Wilderness in this verse is midbar = a pasture, open field, whither cattle are driven
• Threshing floor: As farm animals walked over the stalks pulling behind them a board embedded with sharp “teeth”, the stalks and grain would be separated.

Let’s think about this for one second. He asked for bread, they said No, so his punishment towards them will then be by the exact means of how they actually get the grain for their bread he was asking for.

Verse 8 – 9

After being turned away he goes 6 miles East to Penuel. Penuel is the place where Jacob wrestled with God, and his name was changed to Israel. Penuel means ”face of God,” because Jacob said, ”I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” The men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth. Therefore, Gideon talks to them the same way he spoke to the men of Succoth, he tells them, “when I safely return, I will tear down this tower.” Did the warning Gideon gave both set of men fit the crime? He spoke with flattery and self control to Ephraim, yet used words of wrath with Succoth and Penuel. I pondered on this some, and I thought, really, any enemy of Gideon was an enemy of God, maybe in fact it was a fair punishment then. (If you have any thoughts on this comment below)

Tower: migdal. Migdals were built in to city walls in specific locations. They were defensive towers, built as part of the cities gate structure. Gideon wanted to make sure that all possible advantages in time of battle were taken away from the City of Penuel!

Verse 10 – 13

In verse 10 we get a reminder: 15,000 men remain in the enemies camp, 120,000 have fallen. 15,000 is still a sizable remnant left to defeat, but with confidance in God, Gideon and his men marched forward.

He went by an unusual route, and took them at night again unawares when they felt perfectly safe, and were sound asleep: “for the host was secure.” As I read these words, I think, what a pity it is ever to fancy ourselves secure while we are really in peril! Carnal security is a great danger. To be “safe in the arms of Jesus,” is a most blessed condition; but to be secure in self-confidence, is a thing that hath a curse upon it.

CH Spurgeon

There were two main kings left, and to rid the remaining Midianites leadership less was the plan Gideon had in mind. He accomplished this by leading a surprise attack on the camp while they ”felt safe.” You’re never save in the enemies camp. Gideon attacks, they ran, he pursued and captured the kings, while terrifying (charad) 15,000 men. Once again 300 men broke the spirit of thousands.

Charad: terror, hence to fear, hasten with anxiety, make/be afraid, tremble, fray, quaked

Remember, the Midianites were previously spoken of as a notable nation, but after Gideon there is little mention of them.

Verse 13, Gideon then heads back to keep his word on the punishments he was about to dole out.

Verse 14

• “He captured a young man”
  • Young man = iysh: a boy, by implication of a servant, young

• “Wrote down”
  • writing was widely known by now
  • and apparently literacy was common in this area

Verse 15 – 17

The kings were still alive, his plan for them we’ll see in verse 20, and he also used them to kind of throw back in the face of the Succoth. “Remember me who you mocked, well here are the men, and I’m back to bring the vengeance I promised.”

And just as he promised, he used thorns and thistles to tear the flesh from the bodies of the leaders of Succoth to teach the people a lesson. Then he traveled to Penuel and tore down the watchtower, and killed the men.

As mentioned earlier, I contemplated on this long. This seems very harsh, but I remembered that Gideon was supernaturally anointed by God to rid the land of the enemy. Both these cities were probably worshipping Baal. They more than likely were bowing to idol altars. They were more afraid of the Midianties (man), than God. Gideon says they mocked him. To mock a chosen one of God is to mock God himself. By saying no to Gideon they said no to God. These two tribes chose to look out for themselves rather than following the spirit of the promise made to Moses 200 years before to always stand with their brethren. Their unbelief in God cost them greatly. They were placed on a black and white trading ground: choose God or the enemy. They chose the enemy. To not stand with God is to rebel against what He spoke for them to do. Rebellion is that of witchcraft and Gideon’s Holy War was to tear down any form of it.

If you rebel against God, He very well may charge His earthly judge to swing the gavel of His wrath.

Gideon was anointed for his mission, he accomplished what he was commissioned to do: fight until the war was won. Gideon went to his brothers and they should have helped him, they should have fed him. But, they refused. They said no, therefore saying no to God. Not everyone on this walk will understand what you’re anointed to do. Not everyone, even the ones who should, will have the courage you have. There will be times you stand before people who you think have your back for you to only realize they do not. We see Gideon go to 3 places (Ephraim, Succoth, Penuel) and stand before brethren who either brought discouragement or strife to him. Not everyone is ready to lay their lives down on the sword, not every one will understand, not every one (even the ones who should) will rock the boat of complacency. But here me now, ignorance is no longer a viable justification to rebellion. A choice is being made to believe or not believe. Gideon had 300 men, he’s tribe was not large. Take heart and courage in the ones you have, no matter the number. The 300 were behind God and Gideon, those are the ones who matter. If God calls you to be a Gideon and swing gavels of justice then swing away. Your yes to God outweighs the feelings of those saying no.

Verse 18 – 19

Now Gideon decides it is time to bring justice to his two captives, but first he ask them a question. “What kind of men were they that you slew at Tabor?” He is asking them about Mt. Tabor; the people they slew there had no part in the battle. The Midianites took them out solely for intimidation and control of the Hebrew people. They replied and tell Gideon, “they remind me of you.” Which they should have, because they were Gideon’s brothers, “They were sons of my Mother.”

In the East, there is much greater affection between those who are the sons of one mother than between those who are only sons of one father.

CH Spurgeon

Gideon says, “if you had saved them, I would not slay you.” According to Mosaic Law, the family was to avenge crimes like this by killing those responsible for the murder. Gideon intended to be their blood avenger. (Refer: Numbers 35:9-34 & Deuteronomy 19:12)

Verse 20 – 21

During the time it was important how soldiers died, there reputation mattered. To die at the hand of Jether, a youth, would be a disgrace, an embarrassment. Jether was young, and probably scared to stand before these 2 men let alone kill them. The 2 leaders notice the boy was not ready and so ask Gideon himself to kill them, this would be a more honorable execution they thought. So, Gideon arose and slew them as they asked.

Let’s not forget what the remaining verse says, “then he took the crescent shaped ornaments that were on the camels neck.” Crescent is meaning the crescent moon a token that was used to worship goddess Astarte, this shape is and has always been a symbol for the moon-god. (Ramadan, the most holy season for Islam, is at the appearance of the crescent moon.)

Astarte

Also name as: Ashtaroth, Ishtar (Easter), Aphrodite, Inana, Venus

Symbols and Beliefs

• Star – Venus, her aspect as Goddess of Light
• Crescent moon – A feminine principle
• Cow horns and sun – Crown symbol of Astarte; symbol of the Great Mother
• Lotus – Universal symbol – appears with the Great Mother as Lunar Goddess; the flower that was in the beginning, the glorious lily of the great waters. It is the flower of light, the flower being in the form of the sun’s rays (flame), it’s stem the umbilical cord; it contains creative, generative powers

Mother of the sun
Daughter of the moon
Ruler of the starts
Keepers of the earth
In the beginning
Astarte was the whole.

Verse 22 – 27

The Israelites now are basically over all the trauma they’ve been through and want a king, so they ask Gideon. But, Gideon’s response was what he truly knew, he was called as a judge, not a king, and he declines the offer. Yet, he asks them to give him the spoils of the earrings they had. (When you see yet or but at the beginning of the sentence it usually means that someone was doing the right thing, BUT turned and did the wrong thing.) He received around 43lbs of gold and makes a ephod, a vest worn by the High Priest. Was the this the wrong thing to do, did this open the doors back to idolatry, did Gideon refuse kingship but want to be remembered as one?? Gideon refused to be king, but then keeps all the king’s symbols of royalty: the robes, the pendants, the crescent moon??

Verse 27 tells us that the people paid homage to the ephod of Gideon as an idol, and it became a snare to his family.

He did not set up an idol, but he made an ephod, an imitation of that wonderful vestment worn by the high priest. Perhaps he made it of solid gold, not to be worn, but to be looked at, simply to remind the people of the worship of God, and not to be itself worshipped. But ah, dear friends, you see here that, if we go half an inch beyond what God’s Word warrants we always get into mischief! You hear people say, “We have such and such symbols, not to worship, but to help us in worship.” Ah, yes; but the tendency of the symbol is to act as a dam to the stream of devotion, and to make it end there! God forbid that we should ever violate the rules that Christ has laid down for us! The slightest deviation from the simplicity of the gospel may lead us away into sheer apostasy? Whence have come all the errors of Rome but from little accretions and alterations? A little ornament here, a little symbol there, and a little variation of truth yonder and the gigantic system of Romanism has thus been created. Gideon probably meant well, and we may do wrong even though we mean well. May the Lord preserve us from the smallest departure from the way that he has marked out for us in his Holy Word! Amen.

CH Spurgeon

Verse 28 – 29

Midian was defeated, Israel has been delivered. Gideon’s office of judge lasted for 40 years. There was peace and rest.

Verse 30 – 35

Gideon has many wives with a total of 70 sons! Meaning he had a lot of wealth. Gideon was the poorest when he became judge. Remember the barley dream from the previous chapter. God did not agree to many wives, this was not something that he ordained or took kindly too. Gideon fell in to sin. The following verses brings in Abimelech, and he is further explored in the next chapter. Abimelech means “the father is king,” Gideon refused the Israelites of being their king, but still lived his life out in a kingly stature.

“Gideon had many wives and a concubine besides. He had a total of seventy-one sons. That is a real blot on this man’s life. Now someone will say, as they did about Solomon, “How could God use a man like this and why did He use him?” Well, Gideon took these many wives and had all these children after the battle. And the fact of the matter is that God used him in spite of this. God did not approve of what he did. The record makes it clear that his actions brought tragedy to the nation of Israel. The next chapter brings that out. God had forbidden intermarriage outside the nation. He had forbidden the Israelites to have more than one wife. God did not create several Eves for Adam. He created only one. God did not remove all of Adam’s ribs. God took out only one rib. Abraham, you remember, took a concubine, that little Egyptian maid named Hagar and, believe me, it caused trouble. God never sanctioned it.”

Vernon McGee

Gideon lived to an old age, and was buried in the tomb of his father. AND as soon as he had passed the Israelites whored themselves out again to Baal. If anything the book of Judges teaches us the utmost importance of knowledge, leading and mentorship of the next generations.