INTRODUCTION: Gideon wins the war against the Midianites, righteously refuses to be king, and judges Israel for forty years. Yet, in making the ephod, he sets Israel up for their next plunge into idolatry and rebellion.

1. THE COMPLAINTS OF EPHRAIM (Judges 8:1-3 [1] And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. [2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? [3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
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1. They Complain about the War with Midian (Judges 8:1And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
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1. The men of Ephraim are upset that they were not called upon to fight with Gideon against the Midianites.
2. They chide with Gideon sharply.
2. Gideon Praises Ephraim for Their Accomplishments (Judges 8:2-3 [2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? [3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
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1. He demonstrates his humility (Judges 8:2-3 [2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? [3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
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1. “What have I done now in comparison of you?” (Judges 8:2And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
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2. “What was I able to do in comparison of you?” (Judges 8:3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
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2. He praises Ephraim’s work in the capture of Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 8:3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
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3. Their Anger Is Abated toward Gideon (Judges 8:3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
   See All...; Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
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2. THE WICKEDNESS OF SUCCOTH AND PENUEL (Judges 8:4-9 [4] And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. [6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? [7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. [8] And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. [9] And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
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1. Trouble with Succoth (Judges 8:4-7 [4] And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. [6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? [7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
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1. Gideon and his men are weary (Judges 8:4-5 [4] And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
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1. They cross over Jordan to pursue the kings of Midian (Judges 8:4-5 [4] And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
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2. They ask the men of Succoth for loaves of bread (Judges 8:5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
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2. Trouble brews between Gideon and Succoth (Judges 8:6-7 [6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? [7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
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1. The princes of Succoth refuse to give bread to Gideon and his men (Judges 8:6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
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2. Gideon promises destruction for Succoth as soon as he is done with the kings of Midian (Judges 8:7And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
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2. Trouble with Penuel (Judges 8:8-9 [8] And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. [9] And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
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1. Gideon goes to Penuel requesting bread for his men (Judges 8:8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
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2. The men of Penuel answer the same as the men of Succoth (Judges 8:8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
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3. Gideon promises the men of Penuel that he will return and break down their tower (Judges 8:9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
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3. THE CAPTURE OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA (Judges 8:10-12 [10] Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. [11] And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure. [12] And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
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1. The Army of Midian Is in Trouble (Judges 8:10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
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1. The Midianites are hiding out in Karkor.
2. The number of soldiers remaining is about fifteen thousand.
3. The host of Midian has lost one hundred and twenty thousand already.
2. Gideon Moves In on the Midianites (Judges 8:11-12 [11] And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure. [12] And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
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1. Gideon destroys the host of Midian (Judges 8:11And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.
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2. Gideon captures the kings of Midian (Judges 8:12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
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4. THE PUNISHMENT OF SUCCOTH AND PENUEL (Judges 8:13-17 [13] And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, [14] And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. [15] And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? [16] And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. [17] And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
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1. Gideon Acquires Intelligence Concerning Succoth (Judges 8:13-14 [13] And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, [14] And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
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1. Gideon returns from the battle before sunup (Judges 8:13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
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2. Gideon gathers information on seventy-seven officers of Succoth (Judges 8:14And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
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2. Gideon Returns to Succoth (Judges 8:15-16 [15] And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? [16] And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
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1. Gideon comes unto the men of Succoth (Judges 8:15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
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2. He shows them that he has captured Zebah and Zalmunna (Judges 8:15And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
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3. He takes the thorns and briers to the elders of the city and “teaches” the men of Succoth (Judges 8:16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
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3. Gideon Returns to Penuel (Judges 8:17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
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1. He beats down the tower of Penuel.
2. He slays the men of the city.
5. THE EXECUTION OF ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA (Judges 8:18-21 [18] Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. [19] And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. [20] And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. [21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
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1. The Trial of the Kings of Midian (Judges 8:18-19 [18] Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. [19] And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
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1. Gideon asks of those that had been slain at Tabor (Judges 8:18Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
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2. Gideon informs the kings of Midian that those men were his brethren (Judges 8:19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
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3. Gideon passes down the judgment (Judges 8:19And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
   See All...; Genesis 9:5-6 [5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. [6] Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 19:21And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
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2. Judgment Is Passed upon the Kings (Judges 8:20-21 [20] And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. [21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
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1. Gideon’s son is called upon to execute judgment (Judges 8:20And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
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1. Gideon commands his firstborn to slay the kings.
2. Gideon’s son cannot execute for fear.
2. Gideon slays the kings of Midian himself (Judges 8:21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
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6. THE JUDGING OF ISRAEL BY GIDEON (Judges 8:22-31 [22] Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. [23] And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. [24] And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [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. [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. [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. [29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. [30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. [31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
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1. The Men of Israel Honour Gideon (Judges 8:22-23 [22] Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. [23] And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
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1. They ask Gideon to rule over them as a king (Judges 8:22Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
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2. Gideon refuses to rule over them, but says that the Lord shall rule over them (Judges 8:23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
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2. Gideon Has One Request of the People (Judges 8:24-27 [24] And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [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. [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.
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1. He calls for the earrings of the prey to make an ephod (Judges 8:24-26 [24] And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [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.
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2. The ephod is a snare for all (Judges 8:27And 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.
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1. All Israel goes a whoring after the ephod.
2. It becomes a snare unto Gideon, and unto his house.
3. The Legacy of Gideon (Judges 8:28-31 [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. [29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. [30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. [31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
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1. Gideon judges Israel for forty years (Judges 8:28Thus 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.
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2. Gideon has seventy sons of many wives (Judges 8:29-31 [29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. [30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. [31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
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7. THE STATE OF ISRAEL AFTER GIDEON (Judges 8:32-35 [32] And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. [33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. [34] And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: [35] Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
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1. The Death of Gideon (Judges 8:32And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
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1. He dies in a good old age.
2. He is buried in the sepulcher of his father in Ophrah.
2. The Rebellion of Israel (Judges 8:33-35 [33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. [34] And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: [35] Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
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1. They return to idolatry (Judges 8:33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
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1. They go a whoring after Baalim.
2. They make Baal-berith their god.
2. They forget the Lord (Judges 8:34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
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3. They forget Gideon (Judges 8:35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
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CONCLUSION: Gideon’s victory was complete and his time as judge peaceful and glorious. But, in making the ephod, he planted the seed for a further perversion of God’s truth. We must be careful that we are not setting the scene for rebellion against God after we are gone. One seed sometimes bears much fruit. What kind of seed are you planting?