seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Judges 8:28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years.
29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.
29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.
Did you see verses 30 and 31?
This is from Bible.org.
Tragically, Gideon’s rebellion against God continues. Gideon succumbs to the “I-deserve-it” syndrome. In 8:29, the author of Judges pens these predictable words: “Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.” Gideon retires and decides to live large. Verses 29–32 describe the lifestyle of a king, not that of a judge or a retired army officer. Gideon is quite wealthy, partly from the spoils of battle and partly from the gifts of the people. Often having too much stored away for retirement can be a bad thing. Wealth and leisure can destroy us. Instead of serving God, it is easy to squander some of the best years of our lives on ourselves. Are you building up God’s kingdom or your own kingdom?
Gideon’s spiral disintegration continues in 8:30: “Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives.” The Mosaic Law had warned Israel against having a king who accumulated many wives (Deut 17:17). Near Eastern kings paraded their status by taking many wives. It seems like this is exactly what Gideon is doing. To make matters even worse, Gideon has a child through his Canaanite mistress (concubine), who lives in Shechem. The Israelites were to eradicate the Canaanites, but now their top leader decides to marry one! This is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Exod 34:15–16; Deut 7:3–4). Israel suffers the consequences of Gideon’s disobedience.
Gideon’s spiral disintegration continues in 8:30: “Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives.” The Mosaic Law had warned Israel against having a king who accumulated many wives (Deut 17:17). Near Eastern kings paraded their status by taking many wives. It seems like this is exactly what Gideon is doing. To make matters even worse, Gideon has a child through his Canaanite mistress (concubine), who lives in Shechem. The Israelites were to eradicate the Canaanites, but now their top leader decides to marry one! This is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Exod 34:15–16; Deut 7:3–4). Israel suffers the consequences of Gideon’s disobedience.
So God led Gideon in some truly miraculous battle victories. One battle was won by weather and the other by rumor and confusion.
Gideon started out a good guy. Gideon started out trying to listen [although, as the fleece showed, he was a doubter].... but then the riches of war turned him. At least Gideon didn't say the golden ephod the people wound up worshipping just jumped out of the smelting pot on its own, as Aaron did. It's hard for a magpie to keep ignoring shiny objects.
