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APRIL 21
11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those
who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and
Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the
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camp felt secure. When Zebah and Zalmunna 8:24–27 Gideon made...an ephod. This was
fled, he pursued them; and he took the two certainly a sad end to Gideon’s influence as he,
kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and perhaps in an expression of pride, sought to
routed the whole army. lift himself up in the eyes of the people.
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned Gideon intended nothing more than to make
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from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. And a breastplate as David did (1 Chr. 15:27) to
he caught a young man of the men of Succoth indicate civil, not priestly, rule. It was never
and interrogated him; and he wrote down for intended to set up idolatrous worship, but to
him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, be a symbol of civil power. That no evil was
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seventy-seven men. Then he came to the intended can be noted from the subduing of
Midian (v. 28), quietness from wars (v. 28), and
men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and the fact that idolatry came after Gideon’s
Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, say- death (v. 33), as well as the commendation of
ing, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna Gideon (v. 35).
now in your hand, that we should give bread
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to your weary men?’ ” And he took the elders
of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and 27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it
briers, and with them he taught the men of up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played
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Succoth. Then he tore down the tower of the harlot with it there. It became a snare to
Penuel and killed the men of the city. Gideon and to his house.
18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, 28 Thus Midian was subdued before the chil-
“What kind of men were they whom you killed dren of Israel, so that they lifted their heads
at Tabor?” no more. And the country was quiet for forty
So they answered, “As you are, so were years in the days of Gideon.
they; each one resembled the son of a king.” 29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and
19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the dwelt in his own house. Gideon had seventy
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sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had sons who were his own offspring, for he had
let them live, I would not kill you.” And he said many wives. And his concubine who was in
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to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he
youth would not draw his sword; for he was called Abimelech. Now Gideon the son of
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afraid, because he was still a youth. Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in
21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise your- the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the
self, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his Abiezrites.
strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah 33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that
and Zalmunna, and took the crescent orna- the children of Israel again played the harlot
ments that were on their camels’ necks. with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, god. Thus the children of Israel did not
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“Rule over us, both you and your son, and remember the LORD their God, who had deliv-
your grandson also; for you have delivered us ered them from the hands of all their enemies
from the hand of Midian.” on every side; nor did they show kindness to
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23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accor-
over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the dance with the good he had done for Israel.
LORD shall rule over you.” Then Gideon said
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to them, “I would like to make a request of Psalm 49:10–20
you, that each of you would give me the ear- 10 For he sees wise men die;
rings from his plunder.” For they had golden Likewise the fool and the senseless
earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. person perish,
25 So they answered, “We will gladly give And leave their wealth to others.
them.” And they spread out a garment, and 11 Their inner thought is that their houses
each man threw into it the earrings from his will last forever,
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plunder. Now the weight of the gold earrings Their dwelling places to all
that he requested was one thousand seven generations;
hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent They call their lands after their own
ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which names.
were on the kings of Midian, and besides the 12 Nevertheless man, though in honor,
chains that were around their camels’ necks. does not remain;

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