Judges 8:21-25

Judges 8:21

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

Then the two princes may have yelled to Jether to fall on them.  They said basically that a man is measured by his strength and if he is willing to kill his enemy, then that shows he has strength.  So Gideon did not wait for Jether instead he killed Zebah and Zalmunna himself.  The ornaments that were on the neck of the camels were made of gold and called “saharonim” or little moons, shaped like a full moon or a crescent.  They were probably made in honor of the moon faced Astarte.  With these ornaments being taken from the camel’s necks, it also meant that the idolatry was being removed and was showing that the God of Israel was stronger than the god of the Midianites.

Judges 8:22

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

Once the two princes of Midian were dead, that meant the Midianites were finished as a threat against Israel.  It was at this time that the elders of Israel wanted Gideon to rule over them.  It would have been an honorable request to be offered a king-like position since they knew that Gideon would also have been their protector.  They were willing to offer Gideon and his family almost a dynasty since they included his grandchildren.  That is how thankful they were to Gideon for his defeat of the Midianites.

Judges 8:23

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

Gideon rejects their offer to rule over them and states that neither he nor his sons will rule over them.  He makes it clear to them that the Lord will rule over them.  The Lord will take care of all their needs and will protect them from their enemies provided they do not go back into apostasy again.

Judges 8:24

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

Then Gideon addresses his men and requests of them a gold earring.  It was customary for men to wear gold in their ears, especially the Arabians.  The Ishmaelites had identified with the Midianites.  The Midianites were the descendants of Keturah and the Ishmaelites were descendants of Hagar.  Both of these groups stem from Abraham.  These earrings could also have been nose rings which many women wore in those days. 

Judges 8:25

And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.