Judges 8: Gideon's Triumph and Vengeance / Gideon's Idolatry / Death of Gideon
Today we continue our analysis of Gideon's story. See Part I and Part II for more information.
Gideon's Triumph and Vengeance: Judges 8.1-21
The Ephraimites are angry that Gideon did not call on them first when attacking the Midianites. Gideon responds that the gleaning (worst) of the grapes of Ephraim is better than the vintage (best) of his own tribe Abiezer, which he indicated earlier. Besides, the Ephraimites received the - er - choice parts of the army to put in in sacrificial terms: Oreb and Zeeb. This explanation quiets the Ephraimites.
Well, perhaps Gideon did not explain the entire situation to the Ephraimites (or more likely this next story coms from a different source) because he then pursues Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. At Succoth Gideon asks for bread for his 300 men, so that he can catch them. But the officials of Succoth give him nothing and taunt him for not having already captured them. Gideon is angered by this, and vows that when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into his hands, he will trample the officials of Succoth with thorns and briers. When the people of Penuel similarly deny him, he vows to break down the tower there.
Gideon and his 300 men conquer the 15,000 remaining men - 120,000 had already fallen - and capture Zebah and Zalmunna. Gideon then finds a young man of Succoth and asks for the names of the 77 officials of Succoth. He is then able to make good on his promise in Succoth, as well as Penuel. When Gideon questions Zebah and Zalmunna about the men they killed at Tabor, they respond, "As you are, so were they, every one of them; they resembled the sons of a king." This speech is ironic in its elevation of the Abiezerite clan, the weakest of all Manasseh. Gideon replies that those were his brothers, and that he will avenge their deaths. He commands Jether his firstborn to kill Zeber and Zalmunna, but the boy seems to be hesitant like his father. Gideon therefore kills the two men himself, at their own suggestion.
Gideon's Idolatry: Judges 8.22-28
The Israelites ask Gideon to rule over them in a dynasty, but Gideon refuses, asserting that the Lord should rule over them. This is an act of humility, which makes his next action seem strange. Gideon asks that each man bring him a gold earring taken as booty. With this Gideon makes an Ephod, which he puts in Orphah, and which Gideon's family worships as a false god. But during his life, at least, the land had rest forty years.
Death of Gideon: Judges 8.29-35
Gideon had 70 sons, from many wives, as well as a concubine, who bears a son named Abimelech. [This will be important later on.]
As soon as Gideon dies, the people relapse into idol worship, forgetting God and Jerubball (Gideon) alike.
So goes the unfaithfulness cycle.
Showing posts with label Gideon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gideon. Show all posts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Judges 7: Gideon (Part II)
Judges 7: Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites
Today we continue our analysis of Gideon's story. See Part I for more information.
Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites: Judges 7
Jerubball (Gideon) camps with his troops beside the spring of Harod, with the Midianites to the north. The Lord informs Gideon that he has too many people - Israel would take credit for the victory if this many people conquered the Midianites. Gibeon is therefore to command the fearful to return home. 22,000 men leave; 10,000 remain.
This is still too many, so the Lord has Gideon separate the men by how they drink at a stream. The 300 that lap like a dog are chosen, whereas the rest that drink with by kneeling and bringing their hands to their mouths are told to return home. The group of underdogs seems a bit, er, scrappy or uncouth, but this is the ragtag group that God will use to deliver Israel from the Midianites.
God promises to deliver the Midianites into Gideon's hands that night, but gives offers help: if he is afraid, Gideon may go down to the camp with his servant Purah, close enough to hear the Midianites, and there he will be strengthened.
The Midianites lay thick as locusts, their camels as countless as sand on the seashore. Gideon creeps up to a tent and hears a man telling of a dream he had in which a cake of barley bread came into his tent an upended it. The man's comrade responds that this must be Gideon, who has been given by God Midian and all its army.
Gideon (of course) rejoices at this. He returns to the camp and tells his soldiers to take empty jars and trumpets (collected from the soldiers that would not participate) and do as he commands: they will surround the Midianite camp and when he blows his trumpet, everyone else should too, and cry, "a sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" When the time comes they all do this, and the camp is thrown into chaos, with men killing men from their own nation and then fleeing, only to be cut down by Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh. Gideon then sends messengers to tell the Ephraimites to attack the Midianites as they flee. The Ephraimites capture and kill the two captains of Midian: Oreb and Zeeb.
Today we continue our analysis of Gideon's story. See Part I for more information.
Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites: Judges 7
Jerubball (Gideon) camps with his troops beside the spring of Harod, with the Midianites to the north. The Lord informs Gideon that he has too many people - Israel would take credit for the victory if this many people conquered the Midianites. Gibeon is therefore to command the fearful to return home. 22,000 men leave; 10,000 remain.
This is still too many, so the Lord has Gideon separate the men by how they drink at a stream. The 300 that lap like a dog are chosen, whereas the rest that drink with by kneeling and bringing their hands to their mouths are told to return home. The group of underdogs seems a bit, er, scrappy or uncouth, but this is the ragtag group that God will use to deliver Israel from the Midianites.
God promises to deliver the Midianites into Gideon's hands that night, but gives offers help: if he is afraid, Gideon may go down to the camp with his servant Purah, close enough to hear the Midianites, and there he will be strengthened.
The Midianites lay thick as locusts, their camels as countless as sand on the seashore. Gideon creeps up to a tent and hears a man telling of a dream he had in which a cake of barley bread came into his tent an upended it. The man's comrade responds that this must be Gideon, who has been given by God Midian and all its army.
Gideon (of course) rejoices at this. He returns to the camp and tells his soldiers to take empty jars and trumpets (collected from the soldiers that would not participate) and do as he commands: they will surround the Midianite camp and when he blows his trumpet, everyone else should too, and cry, "a sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" When the time comes they all do this, and the camp is thrown into chaos, with men killing men from their own nation and then fleeing, only to be cut down by Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh. Gideon then sends messengers to tell the Ephraimites to attack the Midianites as they flee. The Ephraimites capture and kill the two captains of Midian: Oreb and Zeeb.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Judges 6: Gideon (Part I)
Judges 6: The Midianite Oppression / The Call of Gideon / Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal / The Sign of the Fleece
These three chapters examine the work of one of the great judges Gideon.
The Midianite Oppression: Judges 6.1-10
By now the biblical author has employed the unfaithfulness cycle enough times that the reader intuitively understands it and the author does not have to give a long explanation. The cycle has become a type scene that the reader understands through past iterations of the same type scene. This time it is Midian that conquers Israel, a naiton that prevails seven years, forcing the Israelites into caves and strongholds in the mountains. The Midianites seem to camp next to Israel whenever the Israelites plant their seeds to sustain themselves. The Midianites and their camels destroy everything and are innumerable - like locusts.
The people cry out to the Lord, who delivers a prophet warning Israel that they have not given heed to the Lord's voice. The identity of this prophet is a mystery.
The Call of Gideon: Judges 6.11-27
The Call of Gideon reads almost like a comedy of errors. The angel of the Lord comes to a man named Gideon and sits under an oak tree at Ophrah as Gideon beats out wheat in a wine press (normally this would be done on a windy hill, but Israel at this time is under Midianite oppression. The angel of the Lord tells Gideon, who is no warrior, "The Lord is with you (singular), you mighty warrior." Gideon misinterprets the statement, and responds that there seems to be little proof that the Lord is with the people ("us"). The Lord ("the angel of" part has dropped) responds, "Go in this might of yours and deliver from the hand of Midian, I hereby commission you." Gideon answers that he is the least member of the weakest tribe of Manasseh - again, he does not seem to be a mighty warrior at all. The Lord asserts that he will be with Gideon as he strikes down the Israelites. This is apparently enough to convince Gideon, who tells God to stay put as he runs to his house to fetch a present.
Gideon prepares a kid and unleavened cakes for the Lord, and brings them out along with the broth. The angel of God (now again an angel, and now "God" rather than "the Lord") commands him to put the food on the rock and pour out the broth. The angel of the Lord (now "the Lord") touches the food and fire springs up to consume the food - in much the same way food is sacrificed by priests to God. The angel disappears.
Gideon freaks out, having just seen the face of God, but the Lord reassures him that he will not die. Gideon builds an altar at the place of his theophany and calls it "The Lord is Peace."
That night the Lord commands Gideon pull down the altar of Baal (the Canaanite storm god) and cut down the sacred pole beside it. He is to build an altar atop the stronghold there and make a burnt offering with the wood from the pole and a bull of his father's. Afraid of getting caught, Gideon does this that night, along with ten of his servants.
Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal: Judges 6.28-35
When word gets out that Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal, the townspeople want to kill him. But his father Joash comes to his rescue, saying if Baal is a God he can contend for himself. From that day forward Gideon is called Jerubbaal: "Let Baal contend against him."
When the Midianites and the Amalekites and people from the east come to camp against Israel, the spirit of the Lord takes possession of Gideon as was promised. Gideon sounds the trumpet, summoning first his clan the Abiezrites, then all of Manasseh, then Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali.
The Sign of the Fleece: Judges 6.36-40
Gideon devises a test to see whether God will deliver Israel by his hand. Gideon puts a fleece out at night and says to God that if there is dew on it in the morning, but none on the ground, God will deliver Israel by God's hand. In the morning there is no dew on the ground but the fleece pours out enough water to fill a bowl. Gideon then begs the Lord to do the trick in reverse, so that the fleece stays dry as the ground gathers dew. This too the Lord does.
These three chapters examine the work of one of the great judges Gideon.
The Midianite Oppression: Judges 6.1-10
By now the biblical author has employed the unfaithfulness cycle enough times that the reader intuitively understands it and the author does not have to give a long explanation. The cycle has become a type scene that the reader understands through past iterations of the same type scene. This time it is Midian that conquers Israel, a naiton that prevails seven years, forcing the Israelites into caves and strongholds in the mountains. The Midianites seem to camp next to Israel whenever the Israelites plant their seeds to sustain themselves. The Midianites and their camels destroy everything and are innumerable - like locusts.
The people cry out to the Lord, who delivers a prophet warning Israel that they have not given heed to the Lord's voice. The identity of this prophet is a mystery.
The Call of Gideon: Judges 6.11-27
The Call of Gideon reads almost like a comedy of errors. The angel of the Lord comes to a man named Gideon and sits under an oak tree at Ophrah as Gideon beats out wheat in a wine press (normally this would be done on a windy hill, but Israel at this time is under Midianite oppression. The angel of the Lord tells Gideon, who is no warrior, "The Lord is with you (singular), you mighty warrior." Gideon misinterprets the statement, and responds that there seems to be little proof that the Lord is with the people ("us"). The Lord ("the angel of" part has dropped) responds, "Go in this might of yours and deliver from the hand of Midian, I hereby commission you." Gideon answers that he is the least member of the weakest tribe of Manasseh - again, he does not seem to be a mighty warrior at all. The Lord asserts that he will be with Gideon as he strikes down the Israelites. This is apparently enough to convince Gideon, who tells God to stay put as he runs to his house to fetch a present.
Gideon prepares a kid and unleavened cakes for the Lord, and brings them out along with the broth. The angel of God (now again an angel, and now "God" rather than "the Lord") commands him to put the food on the rock and pour out the broth. The angel of the Lord (now "the Lord") touches the food and fire springs up to consume the food - in much the same way food is sacrificed by priests to God. The angel disappears.
Gideon freaks out, having just seen the face of God, but the Lord reassures him that he will not die. Gideon builds an altar at the place of his theophany and calls it "The Lord is Peace."
That night the Lord commands Gideon pull down the altar of Baal (the Canaanite storm god) and cut down the sacred pole beside it. He is to build an altar atop the stronghold there and make a burnt offering with the wood from the pole and a bull of his father's. Afraid of getting caught, Gideon does this that night, along with ten of his servants.
Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal: Judges 6.28-35
When word gets out that Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal, the townspeople want to kill him. But his father Joash comes to his rescue, saying if Baal is a God he can contend for himself. From that day forward Gideon is called Jerubbaal: "Let Baal contend against him."
When the Midianites and the Amalekites and people from the east come to camp against Israel, the spirit of the Lord takes possession of Gideon as was promised. Gideon sounds the trumpet, summoning first his clan the Abiezrites, then all of Manasseh, then Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali.
The Sign of the Fleece: Judges 6.36-40
Gideon devises a test to see whether God will deliver Israel by his hand. Gideon puts a fleece out at night and says to God that if there is dew on it in the morning, but none on the ground, God will deliver Israel by God's hand. In the morning there is no dew on the ground but the fleece pours out enough water to fill a bowl. Gideon then begs the Lord to do the trick in reverse, so that the fleece stays dry as the ground gathers dew. This too the Lord does.
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