Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Judges · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
HERE the men of Ephraim, who were last called against the Midianites V. 1, 2, 3.sleeing,quarrell with Gedeon, because they were not called to the battell at the first. But hee by magnifying them and their facts, and extenuating his owne, pacifieth them. What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim, better then the vintage of Abiezer, &c? that is, as hee further expresseth, the victory gotten by them against two Princes Oreb and Zeeb, although they came after, was greater then all the slaughter made by him and his Abiezrites of thousands of the common Souldiers of Midian. Thus a soft Note. answer put away strife, as pride in the Ephraimites made it. They durst not, saith Ferus, appeare whilst the enemies Army was strong, but now they being Ferus.put to flight, they pretend great magnanimity; and whereas they should have greatly thanked Gedeon as a deliverer of their Country, they contrariwise accuse Note. him; and so it is the manner of this wicked world, to blame them most that have done best, through envie. But Gedeon wisely foreseeing the danger, if now the Israelites should bee divided amongst themselves, is not moved at this indignity, but appeaseth the Ephrainites with good words. And the like did Jephthah attempt, Ch. 12. but they were then so swolne with pride, that they would not bee pacified, but fought against him to their owne ruine. The things that puffed them up, was, first, their preference by Jacob before Manasseb their elder brother: secondly, that famous Captaine Joshua was of Ephraim: thirdly, they had their lot next unto Judah, and were most populous. And of these spoketh Ferus, and Lyra of the first, Gedeon being of Manasseh, the Lyra.Ephraimites who had been preferred by their father Iacob, disdained that a Manassite should goe away with the glory of a great victory without them.
And Gideon came to Iordan, hee, and the 300 men that were with him saint, and V. 4.passed over yet pursuing them. In the former Chap. v. 25. it is said, that the men of Ephraim brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb unto Gedeon on the other side of Iordan; but here Gedeons comming to Iordan, and going over is first spoken Qu. of; and if hee were not before this come to Jordan, how could they bring these heads to him on the other side of Jordan? To this, Lyra answereth well, that their bringing of the heads to Gedeon, is related Chap. 7. 25. by anticipation; for it was not done till after Gedeons passing over with his 300 men, that all the relation touching the Ephraimites might bee absolved together, and then the proceedings of Gedeon with others, might bee prosecuted together.
Then hee desired some refreshing of the men of Succoth for his fainting Souldiers, V. 5, 6, 7.but the Princes of Succoth made a mock of his pursuing the Kings of Midian; whereupon hee threatened, when God had delivered them into his hands, to teare their flesh with briars and thornes. Succoth signifieth tabernacles, or tents, and had the name in Iacobs time, from his pitching of his tents Gen. 33.there, when he returned out of Mesopotamia. It was a City of the tribe of Gad, and therefore their inhumanity the greater, in that they denyed reliefe to their brethren; and that having so well deserved of all Israel, and wearyed themselves, and jeoparded their lives in the common cause of the whole Kingdom: wherefore it was no injustice in Gedeon to threaten, and to inflict so sore a punishment upon them.
From Succoth hee goeth with his men to Penuel, but could get no relief, but V. 8, 9.the like scoffing answer, wherefore hee threateneth to pull downe their Tower. This place had the name from the seeing of God, for here Iacob wrestled Gen. 32. 30.with God and prevailed, from whence it was thus called. These men of Succoth and Penuel, saith Ferus, doe most aptly set forth such as deride men outwardly Ferus.appearing meane and contemptible, of what excellent parts soever they bee, especially if they need their helpe. But as Gedeon and his men did not therefore desist from their calling to which God had called them, so must not wee, but trust in God where humane helpe faileth. And let such deriders and discouragers of the good, expect a Gedeon to come one day, and to take sharp revenge upon them for their contempt.
And Zeba and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, &c. Two v. 10, 11.Princes of Midian being slaine, Oreb and Zeeb, these two yet remained, and with them an Army of 15000 men, for 120000 had been before cut off, and this Army being fled beyond Jordan, is said now to have been secure, because they verily beleeved that Gedeon would never come over Jordan to pursue them. But hee commeth upon them and discomfiteth all the host, and taketh these two V. 12.Kings of Midian. Here againe it seemeth that Gedeon and his 300 men by a speciall providence came upon the Midianites in the night, lest being so few, if the enemies had seen them, they should have beene animated, trusting to their farre greater numbers, to have made head against them, and so have made the victory more difficult. That this onset was made also in the night, appeareth, v. 13. for Gedeon returned early in the morning before the Sunne: wherefore his expeditions were admirable, after one nights travaile, when they first routed the Midianites Army,they pursued them all the next day,and being faint and weary, and wanting victualls, yet set upon them againe the night following; and immediately, the victory being obtained, returned to Succoth and Penuel, to shew the Midianitish Kings in Gedeons hands, and to take revenge upon them. It is to bee held then that God, who was author of this Victory, did extraordinarily support them in all this, that hee might have the greater praise. For the place Karkor, it is not mentioned in the Vulgar Latine, but both in the Hebr. Chald. and Sept. it is; Ierome saith, there is a Castle at this day called Hieronym. in loc. Hebr.Carcaria, a dayes journey distant from the rock, that is, from Arabia Petraes, as most probably he meant. One saith, that Karkar is a City in the halfe tribe of H. Bunt. patriar. travailes.Manasseh beyond Jordan, from Jerusalem 40 miles castward. The way whereby Gedeon went was by Nobah and Iokbehah, the first in the halfe tribe of Manasseh also, Numb. 32. 40. and the other in Gad, Numb. 32. 35. beyond Iordan.
Gedeon returning with victory, sheweth to the Elders of Succoth being 77 V. 14, 15.men, the Kings of Midian, by whom they had upbraided him. And then hee tooke bryers and thornes, and with the taught these men of Succoth. The V. 16.Vulgar Latine hath it, Contrivit cum iis atque comminuit; and the Hebrew word foreign may bee rendred as well, hee tore them, as Pagnin hath it, as, hee taught them. And so it answereth best unto his threatning, v. 7. although another word foreign, and I will thresh, bee used, and so the Chaldee rendreth it, expressing Chald. Paraphr.the meaning to bee, that hee would lay bryars and thornes upon their naked bodies, and so drawing heavie threshing instruments over them, not cease tearing them till they were destroyed. If were follow this reading, hee taught them, the meaning must bee, hee taught them, that his threatenings were not vaine.
And he beat downe the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the City, because happily V. 17.they fled to the Tower to defend it against him.
Then he said to Zeba and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom yee V. 18.slew at Tabor, &c. Chap. 6. 2. it is said, that the Israelites made them dennes in mountaines, &c. for feare of the Midianites: wherefore it is most probable that at this comming up of the Midianites, the brethren of Gedeon dwelling neare mount Tabor, fled thither to hide themselves, but being espyed, were taken and slaine; and the newes hereof comming to Gedeons eares, hee now maketh this inquiry, that hee might the more justly take revenge upon these two Kings for their death. They answered, that they were like him, and each one resembled the children of a King; and hereby he knew that they were his brethren. Hebr. each one as the forme of a Kings children; whereby it appeareth that Gedeon was a goodly man of person, and so seeming fit for that high dignity to which God had called him. Then Gedeon having first protested, that if V. 19, 20, 21.they had not slaine them, hee would have spared their lives, biddeth his first borne Je…her to fall upon them, but hee fearing to doe it, hee himselfe slew them, as they rather desired: accounting it, as Lyra noteth, both a greater dishonour Lyra.to die by the hand of a youth, and a more painfull death, because hee could not slay them by reason of his weaknesse for his tender age, but with many blowes. This was done, saith Hugo, when hee was come againe to his Hugo Cardin.owne City Ophrah. And Ferus here noteth, that it was then no vile or base Ferus.office to put evill men to death, because Gedeon assigned this office to his eldest Note. sonne; and in the books of the Kings wee read, that the chiefe about the King did executions, and by the Law of God, the hands of the witnesses which were honest men, must bee first upon malefactors worthy of death. But now it is counted base out of superstition, partly, because it belongeth to the secular Power, and partly, because they are base persons to whom it is now adayes committed.
Then the children of Israel for this great benefit of deliverance from the Midianites, offer Gedeon and his posterity to reigne over them, but hee refuseth, V. 22, 23.saying, The Lord shall reigne over them. So saith Hugo, Bishops should not Hugo Card.rule as Lords, but labour and goe before the slock in a good example and doctrine, therefore those flatterers lye, that say, the Lord Bishop, &c. so Hugo. But Gedeon in refusing to rule over them, refused not to execute the office of a Judge, which all Deliverers had of course, but to exercise absolute authority as a King, which might bee a foundation of much evill, when as the Subjects for feare of so great a power should bee drawne to any evill. But of the difference between the rule of a King and of a Judge, see at the beginning of this Booke. This offer of the people to Gedeon, saith Ferus, was not without great Ferus.sinne, and no lesse modesty did shine in him in refusing it. For God had used all meanes to have the glory of this Victory ascribed to him onelyonly, but they give it to Gedeon, as if by his power they had been delivered, making no mention of God. But Gedeons modest refusall of such honour unjustly offered, is to bee followed by us, in not accepting honours unlawfully put upon us, but rejecting them.
Gedeon having rejected the Kingdom offered, desireth the ear-rings of their V. 24, 25, 26.prey, which they willingly gave unto him, the weight whereof was 1700 shekels of gold, besides ornaments and chaines, and purple rayment, and the chaines about their Camels necks. And hereof Gedeon made an Ephod, &c. What an Ephod is, see Exod. 28. 6. it was a robe for the High-Priest, made of gold, blew, skarlet, purple, and fine twined linnen, girt unto him with a girdle of like matter. St. Augustine here inquireth how so much gold could Aug. Qu. 41. in Jud.be imployed about so little a worke, and answereth, either that there is a synecdoche in the words, part being put for the whole, Thereof hee made an Ephod, that is, of so much thereof as would suffice; or else he made not onelyonly an Ephod, but a Tabernacle, Ark, and other Priestly garments, to minister in Deut. 12. 5. Deut. 16. 5, 6.about the Tabernacle, which was a sinne in him, seeing one place onelyonly which the Lord should choose was appointed, in which they should sacrifice. And as Lyra and Ferus have it, Gedeon did this out of a good intent, because the Lyra Ferus.Lord had there appeared unto him, and accepted an offering before at his hands, and there hee had built an Altar, and offered sacrifice by Gods owne Command, Chap. 6. Wherefore it is most probable that hee himselfe was the Priest here, and ministred in the Priests garments in Ophrah, as the Priests comming of Aaron did in Shiloh; so Hugo, who also saith, that hee made all Priestly Hugo Cardin.garments, and set up a Tabernacle and Altar in Ophrah, besides that in Shiloh; so likewise Comestor, Tostatus, Theodoret, and others. But these are onelyonly Schol. Hist.mens conjectures, nothing being written more, but that hee made an Ephod, happily making no use of it, no more then of the Altar, but onelyonly keeping it for a monument of so famous a victory, out of a gratefull minde to God, who was the author of it. But Procopius thinketh that this Ephod made by Procopius.Gedeon was an Idol, because hee is said to have put it, or, as it is in Hebrew, made it to stand in Ophrah, and all Israel went a whoring after it; but an Ephod, such as the High-priest used, could not stand. But this argument is of little force, for the fleece of wool, Chap. 6. is also said by the same word to bee put in the floore. And an Ephod is never put for an Idol, but for a garment either used by the High-priest, which was most rich and costly; or one used by the other Priests or Levites, or by other Persons about holy things, as, 2 Sam. 6. 14. and these were made of fine Linnen, and the word commeth of foreign superinduere. For the peoples going a whoring after it, that was, as Lyra Lyranoteth, according to both Hebrew and Christian Writes, by using it in the service of Idols after the death of Gedeon, who had used it onelyonly in the worship and service of God. And herein some labour to excuse Gedeon from sinne, as Tostatus, Serrarius, Sallianus, and Bonfrerius, both because hee is said to have Tostatus. Serrarius, &c.dyed in good old age, v. 32. and Hebr. 11. hee is numbred amongst those that were famous for their faith and sanctity; And lastly, because the children of Israel are said immediately after his death to have served Baalim, but during his life they served the Lord, v. 33. But because it turned to the ruine of his house, and was an occasion of sinning to many more, it is plaine that hee sinned herein; so likewise hold Augustine, Theodoret, Lyra, Ferus, &c. Hee had a August. Theod. Ferus.good intention indeed by thus instituting the service of God in his owne City, to set up a monument of Gods gracious favours towards him and all Israel, who had there appeared unto him, and caused him to set up an Altar, and initiated him, as it were, into the Priestly Office, by commanding him to offer sacrifice there, and because for this service Priestly robes and garments were necessary, hee thought it fit to provide a glorious Ephod, and girdle and brestplate, with the Urim and Thummim, whereby to consult with the Lord; and to this end gathered together this great masse of Gold, amounting, as one H. B Patriarks travailes.hath counted it, to 1275l. But because it was against that charge Deut. 12. 5. 16. 5. it was a sinne in him, and turned afterwards to a greater sinne to all Israel, through the idolatry upon this occasion here set up. Wherefore Ferus hence giveth warning to all men to take heed that they fall not, sith Gedeon, and other such holy men have not bin free. And we may note moreover, that a good Note. intention doth not justifie our actions, if they bee in any thing against the revealed will and command of God. For those arguments that are brought for his justification. Hee is commended at his death, notwithstanding this fact, because it proceeded from weaknesse, and was not imputed to him; neither doth his being ranked amongst the most worthy, free him from all sinne, because no man liveth and sinneth not. And for the last thing alledged, it both not follow that hee sinned not, because the people are said after his death to have served Baal; but onelyonly, that neither hee nor they sinned so grossely whilst hee lived, but onelyonly about the place, and person ministring in this Ephod, wherein all the errour yet lay. But because this was an occasion of stumbling, and without any direction from God, yea, contrary to the generall Law given, it cannot possibly bee excused from sinne, although the brasen Serpent set up by Moses, and afterwards turned into an occasion of sin, was no sin in him, because it was appointed by God.
Then was Midian subdued, &c. and the Countrey was in quietnesse 40 yeares, in the dayes of Gedeon. This, though added after the ruine of Gedeon and his V. 28.house, spoken of, v. 7. yet is to bee understood as the conclusion of his victorious proceeding before related: For his house did not first come to ruine, and then the Midianites subdued, but after this long time of tranquillity hee died, Lyra.and then all his house came to ruine, as is after declared, by occasion of this stumbling blocke by him put in Ophrah. Wherefore that saying, v. 27. This turned to the ruine of Gedeon, and of all his house, is not to bee understood, as though Gedeon in his person were hereby brought to ruine; but the words added, and all his house, are exegeticall, shew, what is meant by Gedeon, viz. his house and posterity, for hee is said to have died in a good old age, v. 32. which is never spoken of any that came to rune, but dyed in peace, and in the favour of God. For the peace of 40 years in his dayes, it is to bee understood as that which hath been before spoken in concluding the Histories of other Judges, the time of seven yeares wherein they were oppressed by the Midianites, since Baraks time, being counted into this number.
Here is shewed, how the Midianites being subdued, Gedeon dwelt in his owne V. 29, 30, 31.house and lived to beget 70. sonnes of his wives, who were many, and one Abimelech of his concubine. It was a thing then not unusuall amongst the best to have many wives, and concubines also, which were, as Lyra sheweth, wives also, and not such, as they did unlawfully lye withall, as whores, so that, as Lyra.Ferus noteth, here is nothing to patronize such impure and wicked living. For concubines were wives, that were servants, and they onelyonly were called wives, Ferus. See Ch. 9. 18.that were free women, and had the priviledge of wives in respect of dowry and their childrens inheriting, whereas the children of concubines inherited not, but had onelyonly such gifts, as their father would give them, as it is said of the concubines of Abraham, that he gave them gifts, and sent them away from Gen. 25. 6.his sonne Isaac.
For the number of Gedeons sonnes being so many, and Abimelech in particular, these things are here set downe to prepare to the history following Ch. 9. of their destruction, that their ruine for his one fault about the Ephod might be Note. the more remarkable, and that their houses shall now continue long without doubt, when they have a very numerous issue, for they may all be soone cut off.
Here Gedeon dyeth, and after his death, the children of Israel fall to idolatry and forsake God againe, and ill requite Gedeon in his children for all his kindenesse V. 32, 33, 34and good deserts towards them. Gedeon had beaten downe the Altar of Baal, but they now set it up againe, and maketh Baalberith their god, the Vulgar Latin hath it, made a covenant with Baal that hee should be their God: according to which, as some note, they did not onelyonly serve Baal, as in times past, but Ferus.growing now more mad upon that grosse idolatry they bound themselves by covenant, that this Baal should be their god for ever. The Sept. have it, they made Baalberith a testament, that he should be their god. And indeed Berith signifieth a covenant, and Baalberith, the Lord of the covenant, and happily it was so called, because an idoll, that who so served bound themselves solemnly by covenant to serve him for ever, which other translatours respecting rendred the words not verbatim, but according to this sense. And how ill they requited Gedeon, the chapter following doth declare.
Mystically by Gedeon chacing his enemies, and comming to Succoth, and being The Mystery Lyra.mocked, and then to Penuel, and mocked there also and despised as a man of no might, wee may understand Christ derided both by the common sort of Jews, and by the Priests and Scribes. But as Gedeon went manfully on and subdued his enemies and then came againe and destroyed those mockers, so Christ conquered over all hellish powers in his death, and then returning with his just judgement destroyed the Jews and brake downe their Tower in Panuel, that is, their temple, the place of Gods presence, as the word penuel signifieth, the face of God.