Focused Passage

Judges 8:1-3

Gideon's Troubled Aftermath: Pursuit, Kingship Refusal, and the Ephod Snare

The LORD-given victory over Midian is followed by tribal resentment, local refusal, Gideon's punitive retaliation, a rejected but tempting offer of dynastic rule, an ephod that becomes idolatrous, temporary rest, and Israel's rapid return to Baal after Gideon's death.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.

2But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?

3God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Proverbs 15:1Classic cross-references Judges 12:1Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 19:41Classic cross-references Job 5:2Classic cross-references Proverbs 15:18Classic cross-references

Original words

Then the menאִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructof Ephraimאֶפְרַ֗יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralto [Gideon]אֵלָ֜יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularWhyמָֽה־H4100Interrogative. . .הַדָּבָ֤רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularhave you doneעָשִׂ֣יתָH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularthisהַזֶּה֙H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularto usלָּ֔נוּPreposition | first person common pluralWhy did you failלְבִלְתִּי֙H1115Preposition-lto callקְרֹ֣אותH7121Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructusלָ֔נוּPreposition | first person common pluralwhenכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionyou wentהָלַ֖כְתָּH1980Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto fightלְהִלָּחֵ֣םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainst Midianבְּמִדְיָ֑ןH4080Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularAnd they contendedוַיְרִיב֥וּןH7378Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunwith him violentlyאִתּ֖וֹH854Preposition | third person masculine singular. . .בְּחָזְקָֽה׃H2394Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Judges 6:11Classic cross-references Isaiah 17:6Classic cross-references James 1:19Classic cross-references

Original words

But [Gideon] answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthemאֲלֵיהֶ֔םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralNowעַתָּ֖הH6258Adverbwhatמֶה־H4100Interrogativehave I accomplishedעָשִׂ֥יתִיH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularcompared to youכָּכֶ֑םPreposition | second person masculine pluralAre notהֲל֗וֹאH3808Adverb - Negative particlethe gleaningsעֹלְל֥וֹתH5955Noun - feminine plural constructof Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularbetterט֛וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singularthan the grape harvestמִבְצִ֥ירH1210Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof Abiezerאֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃H44Noun - proper - mb

Verse 3

Cross-references

Judges 7:25Classic cross-references Proverbs 15:1Classic cross-references Judges 7:24Classic cross-references Zechariah 6:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Godאֱלֹהִ֜יםH430Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhas deliveredנָתַ֨ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularOrebעֹרֵ֣בH6159Noun - proper - masculine singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerZeebזְאֵ֔בH2062Noun - proper - masculine singularthe two princesשָׂרֵ֤יH8269Noun - masculine plural constructof Midianמִדְיָן֙H4080Noun - proper - masculine singularinto your handבְּיֶדְכֶם֩H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerWhatוּמַה־H4100Conjunctive waw | Interrogativewas I ableיָּכֹ֖לְתִּיH3201Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularto doעֲשׂ֣וֹתH6213Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructcompared to youכָּכֶ֑םPreposition | second person masculine plural. . .אָ֗זH227AdverbWhen he had saidבְּדַבְּר֖וֹH1696Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular. . .הַדָּבָ֥רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularthisהַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulartheir angerרוּחָם֙H7307Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine pluralagainst himמֵֽעָלָ֔יוH5921Preposition-m | third person masculine singularsubsidedרָפְתָ֤הH7503Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular

BSB notes

Or their spirit

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