The overheard relation of a dream, by which Gideon was encouraged (Judg. vii:9-r4), and the remarkable stratagem, with pitchers and torches, by which he overcame (verses 15-23), arc well known.
The routed Midianitcs fled towards the Jordan, but were pursued with great slaughter, the coun try being !IOW rouscd in pursuit of the flyinp oppressor.
(6) The Ephraimites. The Epliraiinites ren dered good service by seizing the lower fords of the Jordan, and cutting off all who attempted cs capc in that direction, while Gideon himself pur sued beyond the river those who escaped by the upper fords. Gidcon crossed thc Jordan a little be low where it leaves the lake of Gennesarct, in pursuit of the Midianitish princes Zeba and Zal munna. On that side the river, however, his vic tory was not believed or understood, and the peo ple still trembled at the very name of the Midianites.
(7) Destroys Succoth and Penuel. Hence he could obtain no succor from the places which he passed, and town after town refused to supply even victuals to his fatigued and hungry, but still stout-hearted troop. He pronounced vengeance upon them, but postponed its execution till his return ; and when Ile did return with the two princes as his prisoners, he by no means spared those towns which, like Succoth and Fennel, had added insult to injury (Judg.
(8) Avenges His Brethren. In those days captives of distinction taken in war were almost invariably slain. Zeba and Zalmunna had made up their minds to this fate; and yet it' was Gideon's intention to have spared them, till he learned that they had put to death his own brothers under the same circumstances; upon which, as the avenger of their blood, he slew the captives with his own hand (Judg. viii:I8-2i). Among the fugitives taken by the Ephraimites were two distinguished emirs of It.lidian, named Oreb and Zeeb, whom they put to death. They took their heads over to Gideon. which amounted to an acknowledg ment of his leadership ; but' still the always haughty and jealous Ephraimites were greatly an noyed that they had not in the first instance been summoned to the field ; and serious consequences might have followed, but for the tact of Gideon in speaking in a lowly spirit of his own do ings in comparison with theirs (Judg. vii ; vitt :4).
(9) Refuses the Crown. Gideon having thus delivered Israel from the most afflictive tyranny to which they had been subject since they quitted Egypt, the grateful people, and particularly the northern tribes, made him an offer of thc crown for himself and his sons. But thc hero was too well acquainted with his true position, and with the principles of theocratical government, to ac cept this unguarded offer : 'I will not rule over you,' hc said, 'ncithcr shall my son rule over you; Jehovah, he shall rule over you.' He would only
accept the golden earrings which the victors had taken from the ears of their slaughtered foes (see EARRINGS); and a cloth being spread out to receive them, the admiring Israelites threw in, not only the earrings, but othcr ornaments of gold, including the chains of thc royal camels, and added the purple robes which the slain monarchs had worn, being the first indication of purple as a royal color. The earrings alone weighed 1,70o shekels, equal to seventy-four pounds four ounces, and worth, at the present value of gold, about .13,3oo, or $16,5oo.
(10) Remaining Deeds and Death. With this 'Gideon made an ephod, 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.' An ephod, at least that of thc high-priest, was an outer garment like a sleeveless tunic, to which was at tached the oracular breast-plate, composed of twelve precious stones set in gold, and graven with the names of the twelve tribes. Another plainer description of ephod was worn by the common priests. The object of Gideon in making an ephod with his treasure is not very clear. Some suppose that it was merely designed as a trophy of Israel's deliverance ; if so, it was a very strange one. It is more probable that as Gideon had, on his being first called to his high mission, been instructed to build an altar and offer sacrifice at this very. place, he conceived himself authorized, if not required, to have there a sacerdotal establishment—for at least the tribes beyond the river—where sacrifices might be regu larly offered. In this case the worship rendered there was doubtless in honor of Jehovah, but was still, however well intended, highly schismatical and irregular. Even in his lifetime it must have had the effect' of withdrawing the attention of the people east of the Jordan from the Tabernacle at Shiloh, and thus so far tended to facilitate the step into actual idolatry, which was taken soon after Gideon's death. The prob ability of this explanation is strengthened when we recollect the schismatical sacerdotal establish ments which were formed by Micah on Mount Ephraim, and by the Danites at Laish (Judg. xvii :5-13 ; xviii :29-3 t ).
The remainder of Gideon's life was peaceable. He had seventy sons by many wives, and died at an advanced age, after he had 'ruled Israel' (prin cipally the northern tribes and those beyond the river) for forty years (B. C. about two to to80.) He is mentioned in the discourse of Samuel (I Sam. xii :II), and his name occurs in Heb. xi:32, among those of the heroes of the faith.