10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor , and their armies with them, about 15,000 e e men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east ; for the fallen were 120,000 e e swordsmen e e . 11 Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah , and attacked the camp when the camp was unsuspecting . 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled , he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian , Zebah and Zalmunna , and routed the whole army . 13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres . 14 And he captured a youth from Succoth and questioned him. Then the youth wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and its elders , seventy-seven men . 15 He came to the men of Succoth and said , "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna , concerning whom you taunted me, saying , ' Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand , that we should give bread to your men who are weary ?' " 16 He took the elders of the city , and thorns of the wilderness and briers , and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them. 17 He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city .
18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna , "What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor ?" And they said , "They were like you, each one resembling the son of a king ." 19 He said , "They were my brothers , the sons of my mother . As the Lord lives , if only you had let them live , I would not kill you." 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn , "Rise , kill them." But the youth did not draw his sword , for he was afraid , because he was still a youth . 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said , "Rise up yourself , and fall on us; for as the man , so is his strength ." So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna , and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels' necks .
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon , "Rule over us, both you and your son , also your son's son , for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian ." 23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you." 24 Yet Gideon said to them, "I would request e of you, that each of you give me an earring from his spoil ." (For they had gold earrings , because they were Ishmaelites .) 25 They said , "We will surely give them." So they spread out a garment , and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil . 26 The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 e e shekels of gold , besides e the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian , and besides e the neck bands that were on their camels' necks . 27 Gideon made it into an ephod , and placed it in his city , Ophrah , and all Israel played the harlot with it there , so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 8:10-27
Commentary on Judges 8:4-12
(Read Judges 8:4-12)
Gideon's men were faint, yet pursuing; fatigued with what they had done, yet eager to do more against their enemies. It is many a time the true Christian's case, fainting, and yet pursuing. The world knows but little of the persevering and successful struggle the real believer maintains with his sinful heart. But he betakes himself to that Divine strength, in the faith of which he began his conflict, and by the supply of which alone he can finish it in triumph.
Commentary on Judges 8:13-17
(Read Judges 8:13-17)
The active servants of the Lord meet with more dangerous opposition from false professors than from open enemies; but they must not care for the behaviour of those who are Israelites in name, but Midianites in heart. They must pursue the enemies of their souls, and of the cause of God, though they are ready to faint through inward conflicts and outward hardships. And they shall be enabled to persevere. The less men help, and the more they seek to hinder, the more will the Lord assist. Gideon's warning being slighted, the punishment was just. Many are taught with the briers and thorns of affliction, who would not learn otherwise.
Commentary on Judges 8:18-21
(Read Judges 8:18-21)
The kings of Midian must be reckoned with. As they confessed themselves guilty of murder, Gideon acted as the avenger of blood, being the next of kin to the persons slain. Little did they think to have heard of this so long after; but murder seldom goes unpunished in this life. Sins long forgotten by man, must be accounted for to God. What poor consolation in death from the hope of suffering less pain, and of dying with less disgrace than some others! yet many are more anxious on these accounts, than concerning the future judgment, and what will follow.
Commentary on Judges 8:22-28
(Read Judges 8:22-28)
Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of the family. How soon will ornaments which feed the lust of the eye, and form the pride of life, as well as tend to the indulgences of the flesh, bring shame on those who are fond of them!