The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Snare” it comes from the Hebrew Word “moqesh” which means “snare, trap.”
Gideon finishes his military victory well, but a decision afterward creates a lasting problem. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Judges 8.
The men of Ephraim complain angrily that Gideon did not call them to the initial battle, but he diplomatically points out that their capture of the Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb accomplished more than his own earlier efforts, and their anger subsides. Continuing his pursuit of the fleeing Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon requests bread for his exhausted men from the cities of Succoth and Penuel, but both refuse him harshly, mocking his chances of actually capturing these kings, and Gideon promises to deal severely with them once he returns victorious.
Gideon captures Zebah and Zalmunna, and upon his triumphant return, punishes Succoth and Penuel exactly as promised for their earlier refusal to help. He then kills the two captured kings personally, in revenge for their earlier killing of his own brothers at Tabor. The men of Israel ask Gideon to rule over them as king, along with his son and grandson, but Gideon refuses firmly, declaring, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”
Gideon does, however, request the golden earrings taken as plunder, and uses this substantial gold to make an ephod, which he sets up in his own city, Ophrah. Tragically, “all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare,” “moqesh” in Hebrew, unto Gideon and his household. Despite this troubling ending, the land enjoys peace for forty years during Gideon’s remaining lifetime, though after his death, Israel again turns to idolatry, forgetting the Lord who had delivered them so dramatically.
Gideon rightly refused the crown Israel offered him, insisting God alone should rule over them. Yet the ephod he created from good intentions ended up becoming exactly the kind of idolatrous snare he had spent his whole ministry fighting against. Good judgment in one area doesn’t automatically protect against a serious blind spot in another.
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