Judges 8 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

History of the Judges (Judges 3:5 to Judges 16:31)

On this, the main section of the book, see Intro. § 2 and List of Oppressions and Judges. The larger part of the book is concerned with six of the Judges, one of whom is not properly a Judge at all (Abimelech), and in the case of another (Samson) isolated forays are recorded, but no actual deliverance.

7-11. Chushan-rishathaim and Othniel.

Gleaning and vintage] note the contrast between these. Abi-ezer] Gideon substitutes this for his own name.

Having driven the Midianites into the arms of Ephraim, Gideon turns eastwards. Judges 8:10 implies that a very considerable section of the foe had escaped the trap and was still formidable.

Succoth] like Penuel (Genesis 33:17) must be E. of the Jordan, near the Jabbok.

The chiefs of Succoth evidently doubt whether Gideon is really victorious as yet.

The groves] RV 'the asheroth.' The word (another plural) means the sacred poles set up near an altar, which were common in Seniitic worship (even Solomon's temple had' pillars': see on 1 Kings 7:21). Here, however, actual goddesses seem to be intended, perhaps regarded as symbolised by the poles.

Chushan-rishathaim] The Heb. word means 'Ethiopian of double iniquity.' The real name must be hidden behind this expression. Mesopotamia] see on Genesis 24:10.

Othniel] cp. Judges 1:13

Tower] Where a city had no walls, a central stronghold was frequent. In the middle ages the church tower sometimes served this purpose: cp. Judges 9:46.

Karkor] unknown. The other two places are probably SE. of the Jabbok. The Midianites were making for the desert (cp. Numbers 32:35; Numbers 32:42). For the numbers cp. Judges 7:13. Gideon's first levy is said to have numbered 32,000 (Judges 7:3).

The Spirit of the Lord] used here and elsewhere of the inspiration which makes a man capable of great and apparently superhuman exploits and achievements: Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 14:6; Judges 15:14 : cp. also Exodus 31:3.

12-30. Eglon and Ehud.

The way of them that dwelt in tents] i.e. the road usually taken by the nomads.

Moab] the high plateau on the E. of the Dead Sea: cp. 2 Kings 3:24.

Secure] i.e. free from anxiety, as in the camp W. of the Jordan (Judges 7).

Ammon] N. of Moab: the Amalekites (Genesis 36:12) are called Edomites. They occupied the desert between Sinai and S. Palestine. The Kenites formed one of their nomad clans, but on the whole their enmity to Israel was constant: cp. 1 Samuel 15:2; hence their readiness to join Eglon's invasion. City of palm trees] cp. 1 Samuel 1:16 : Jericho, which was thus not entirely destroyed (Joshua 6:26). It would command the roads from central to southern Palestine.

Before the sun was up] RV 'from the ascent of Heres,' i.e. from the way up to Heres (see on Judges 2:9).

Described] RM 'wrote down' a list of the chief men. The elders are heads of families; the princes (cp. Judges 8:6) are the military leaders.

Lefthanded] lit. 'lamed in his right hand.' Hence the success of his ruse: but Judges 20:16 seems to show that ambidexterity is all that is meant: cp. also 1 Chronicles 12:2. Present] i.e. tribute.

Dagger] RV 'sword,' about 14 in. in the blade. Being, on his right thigh (convenient for his left hand) the guards would not notice it.

Taught] if right, bitterly ironical. All the early versions read 'threshed,' or 'carded,' as Judges 8:7 implies.

Brought] RV 'offered,' as in 1 Chronicles 12:18.

This private wrong of Gideon's is now mentioned for the first time. Tabor] see on Judges 4:6.

Quarries] RM 'graven images,' perhaps carved stones. Once beyond these (cp. Judges 3:26), though only 2 m. from Jericho, Ehud knew that he was safe.

According to the law of blood revenge, the nearest relative is bound to avenge the victim's death (cp. Numbers 35:19).

Jether] is the same name as Jethro (Exodus 4:18; 1 Kings 2:5). To be slain by a boy would be a further indignity for the two chiefs, who meet their death with barbarian courage.

Summer parlour] RM 'upper chamber of cooling': a room on the flat roof of an Oriental house; in this case enclosed so that the interior was not visible from outside.

Ornaments] RV 'crescents': cp. Judges 8:26.

22-35. Gideon's subsequent career and death.

No meaning can be obtained from the Heb. words at the end of this v.

The fame of Gideon's exploit makes his countrymen desire that he should become an hereditary monarch and not merely a judge. See Intro, to Samuel.

Locked] i.e. bolted (as in the East at present).

Seirath] unknown.

Shekels] A shekel is rather less than half an ounce. The whole weight would thus be nearly seventy pounds. Collars] RV 'pendants.'

Ephod] see Judges 17:5. An image of some sort used in consulting the will of Heaven.

Mountain] i.e. hillcountry. The men of Ephraim (Joshua's tribe) are recognised as the leaders in Israel: cp. Judges 8:1.

Forty years] cp. Judges 5:31.

Toward Moab] RV 'against the Moabites,' i.e. to prevent their returning.

Jerubbaal] i.e. Gideon: see Judges 6:32.

33-35 The Israelites lapse into idolatry after Gideon's death.

For the expression ten thousand, cp. Judges 1:4; Judges 4:6; Judges 7:3; Judges 20:34.

Fourscore] two full generations.

Shamgar] the first of the 'minor' Judges. The name is mentioned in Judges 5:6, though not as a 'saviour.' No Philistine oppression is mentioned till later. An ox goad] would be an efficient substitute for a spear—a sixfoot staff tipped with a spike: cp. Judges 15:14; and 2 Samuel 23:21.

The Pursuit of the Kings. Gideon's Subsequent Career and Death

1. Cp. Judges 12. Ephraim claimed to be the leading tribe; later the name was often used as a synonym for the northern kingdom. The natural jealousy of the tribe was appeased by Gideon's ready wit; one might have suspected that, making such claims as these, they would not have left Gideon to take the initiative.

Baalim] RV 'the Baalim': see on Judges 2:11. Baal-berith] i.e. Baal of the Covenant. The alliance between the Canaanites and the Hebrews would naturally be cemented by a common worship, which would involve the latter in idolatry: cp. Judges 9:46 (El-berith).