Judges 8:26-30

Judges 8:26

And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

 

The weight of the gold was about 810 ounces which would be 67½ pounds.  At $1270 per ounce (11/3/17) would put the value of this collection at $1,028,700.  The earrings must have been heavy but they also collected the gold from the animal’s necks and they also collected the gold from the rulers of the Midianites including the kings.  There must have been many camels as they had more of those golden rings around their necks.

 

Judges 8:27

And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

 

Gideon had made an ephod out of the gold he collected from the victory over the Midianites.  An ephod was part of what the priests wore while doing their sanctuary duties.  It covered the chest and was attached like a belt.  It was worn over the shoulders and across the back.  It was basically used as a girdle over the tunic.  What started out as a symbol of the victory had now turned into an idol which was being worshipped by Israel.  They were back committing spiritual fornication on the heels of the victory by Gideon.  If Gideon used this ephod to try and get consultation from it, it was evil because the only ones who could do that was the priests through the Urim and Thummim.  Exodus 28:30 (KJV) And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

 

Judges 8:28

Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

 

Now Midian had been totally subdued and they were no longer a threat to Israel at this time.  Their power had been broken and they now had to live like a subdued people. The result of Gideon’s victory over them was forty years of peace and no threats from their enemies. The word “quietness” carries with it the meaning of “being still or at rest.”

 

Judges 8:29

And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

 

Once the battle had been won and Gideon refused their offer to be ruler over them, he retreated to his own home.  The name “Jerubbaal” means “he that revenges the idol or let Baal defend his cause.”

 

Judges 8:30

And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

 

Gideon had sired seventy sons and this was because he had many wives.  The multiplying of wives was forbidden under the law of God.  Deuteronomy 17:17 (KJV) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.  He must have had many wives because the word “many” carries with it the meaning of “abundant.”

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