seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Judges 8:22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
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.
Here's the link to the commentary I read.I read several chapters ahead this morning. I just found out my daughter was treated at the hospital last night. Please pray for her!
So, anyway, back to the Bible verses. Gideon made an Ephod for himself out of earrings. The women all wore gold earrings at that time... so Gideon asked for and received one earring from each woman. He melted them down and made an ephod out of the gold.
The people started worshipping the ephod! An ephod is like a shirt made out of metal. This one was made of gold.
Think golden calf jumping out of the cauldron while Moses was on the Mountain with God.
Yep... Israel was back to their old ways.
And then.... We learn that Gideon had 70 legitimate sons [verse 30].
Gideon also had one illegitimate son... named Abimelek with a whore in Shechem [verse 31].
Abimelek will be the next story.... Gideon served as leader for 40 peaceful years.... and then he died.
Go ahead... read ahead, Abimelek is going to be a handful. Like Ishmael, Abimelek just didn't fit in.
The people started worshipping a "something made of metal" again. This will not go well....
No wonder Gideon's path led to Shechem and a whore's bed. God knew Israel would go back to worshipping "things made of metal" again.
Gideon's legitimate sons will straighten it out... right?
Once again.... Please say a prayer for my daughter.