Judges 8:1-5

Judges 8:1

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

 

The men of the tribe of Ephraim have now chided Gideon that he did not call upon the men of Ephraim to help him in his battle against the Midianites.  What these men had failed to realize was that the battle was already planned out by God to win with a small number of men namely 300.  They took this as an affront by Gideon that they were omitted from this battle.  There was both a spirit of anger and disappointment among these men.

 

Judges 8:2

And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?

 

Gideon then tells the men of Ephraim that what he did was not to be compared to what they had done.  Gideon lets them know that it was God who was the one who caused the massive confusion in the camp of the Midianites and it was not Gideon who did it.  They just positioned themselves in three companies where they would look like there was a great army descending out of the hills.  Then Gideon reminds them with a question about the gleaning of grapes of Ephraim.  Gleaning happens after the reapers have come to gather the main crop and was to be left for those who were very poor who would come and gather some of the crop for themselves.  This can be seen plainly in the book of Ruth when Ruth gleaned the field of Boaz.  Now Gideon is telling them that after they engaged the Midianites they had the privilege of executing two of their princes which we will see in the next verse.  The metaphor that Gideon used was used to picture the men of Ephraim who had fought the Midianites previously at the Jordan and then after reaping their army, the gleaning was the removal of their two princes or generals.  Since Gideon was of the house of Abi-ezer, he was liking his confrontation to the ones the men of Ephraim had partaken of.  He was basically appeasing them by saying their battle was more involved than his was since it was the Lord who caused the confusion and ultimate victory.

 

Judges 8:3

God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

 

Then Gideon had named the two princes which the men of Ephraim had gleaned in their battle with the Midianites and how brave they were in taking on the army of Midian.  Judges 7:25 (KJV)   And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.  Gideon then compares his involvement in his battle with the Midianites and that he did not have to physically confront them as the men of Ephraim had to do with their battle.  Once they heard Gideon’s explanation, the anger they had toward him had ceased.

 

Judges 8:4

And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

 

Now Gideon had come to the Jordan River and he was still in pursuit of the Midianites and that is probably how the men of Ephraim found out that Gideon was engaged in the battle.  They were still blowing the trumpets and pursuing the enemy to wreak complete havoc on them.  If you notice a great spiritual principle in this verse.  It tells us that every one of the three hundred men that went with Gideon had now returned from the battle safely and not one was lost.  John 6:39 (KJV) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  It is the same with the Christian, all those whom the Father gives the Lord Jesus Christ, not one of them will ever be lost.  Every single Christian the Lord died for will be in Heaven eternally no matter what happened to their bodies down here on earth.

 

Judges 8:5

And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

 

Then Gideon’s band had crossed the Jordan River and came to Succoth.  Succoth was about 4 miles (6 km) east of the Jordan River.  Jacob had journeyed there and built booths for his cattle so the place was named Succoth.  Genesis 33:17 (KJV)   And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.  The name “Succoth” means “tents or tabernacles.  Succoth was also the first place the Israelites camped when they came out of Egypt.  Exodus 12:37 (KJV)   And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.  The Feast of Tabernacles is also called “Succoth.”  The principal men of Succoth had met Gideon and Gideon had asked for some food since the men he was commanding were thirsty and weary from their pursuit.

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