MPV Commentary

10. Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, a town on the eastern confines of Gad, where the remnants of the Midianite army had taken refuge.

11. Gideon pursued them across the mountain range of Gilead to the northeast of the Jabbok, catching up with them unexpectedly while they were resting among their own nomadic tribes in Jogbehah, which is thought to be Ramoth-gilead. The Midianites must have found shelter at or near Abela, "the plain of the vineyards."

12. When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued them, leading to a third conflict. His arrival at their last quarters by an unexpected path caught the fugitives off guard, completing the conquest of the Midianite horde.

13. Gideon returned from battle before sunrise, likely taking a shorter route back to Succoth, as "before the sun was up" can also be translated as "the heights of Heres, the sun-hills."

14. He then wrote down the names of the seventy princes or elders who had received him inhospitably.

16. Gideon took thorns from the wilderness and briers and used them to punish the men of Succoth for refusing his soldiers refreshment. This was a public crime as well as an act of inhumanity, and the punishment was particularly severe due to the abundance and size of the thorn bushes in the East.

18. Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were those you killed at Tabor?" This was one of many atrocities committed by the Midianite chiefs during their seven years of lawless occupation.

19. They replied that each man resembled a king's son, meaning they were exceptionally beautiful, strong, and majestic in appearance.

20. Gideon said to Jether, his firstborn, "Get up and kill them." As the nearest relative, Jether was the blood avenger, but a magistrate could also order someone else to perform the execution. Gideon intended to honor his son by having him slay two enemies of Israel, but when Jether declined, Gideon performed the deed himself.

22-23. The men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us," but he replied, "The Lord will rule over you." They were so grateful and admiring that they wanted to establish a royal dynasty in his house, but Gideon knew too well the principles of the theocracy and refused their offer.

24-26. Gideon asked them for a request, which was to give him an earring as a contribution from the valuable booty taken from the Midianites. The soldiers generously gave him gold, estimated at £3113 sterling, which they had obtained from the Midianite warriors who were adorned with barbaric pearl and gold.

26. The ornaments referred to are crescent-like plates of gold suspended from the necks or placed on the breasts of the camels. Collars refers to earrings or drops of gold or pearl. Purple was a royal color, and the ancient Arabs adorned their riding animals with sumptuous housing.

27. Gideon made an ephod from the gold he received and put it in his city, Ophrah. It is clear that no idolatrous use was intended, nor any divisive course from Shiloh contemplated, as evident from Jud 8:33. Gideon proposed to make an ephod for his own use as a civil magistrate or ruler, similar to David's actions (1Ch 15:27), and a magnificent pectoral or breastplate also.