The overheard relation of a dream, by which Gideon was encouraged (Judg. vii. 9-14), and the remarkable stratagem with pitchers and torches, by which he overcame (ver. 15-23), are well known.
The routed Midianites fled towards the Jordan, but were pursued with great slaughter, the country being now roused in pursuit of the flying oppressor. The Ephraimites rendered good service by seizing the lower fords of the Jordan, and cutting off all who attempted escape in that direction, while Gideon himself pursued beyond the river those who escaped by the upper fords. Gideon crossed the Jordan a little below where it leaves the lake of Gennesareth, 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 people still trembled at the very name of the Midianites. Hence he could obtain no succour 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 denounced vengeance upon them, but postponed its execution till his re turn; and when he did return, with the two princes as his prisoners, he by no means spared those towns thich like Succoth and Penuel, had added insult tc , injury (Judg. viii. 4-17).
In those days captives of distinction taken in war were most 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. 18-21).
Among the fugitives taken by the Ephraimites were two distinguished emirs of Midian, named Oreb and Zeeb, whom they put to death. They took their heads over to Gideon, which amounted to an acknowledgment of his leadership ; but still the always haughty and jealous Ephraimites were greatly annoyed that they had not in the first in stance 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 doings in comparison with theirs (Judg. vii. 14 ; viii. t, sq.) Gideon having thus delivered Israel from the most afflictive tyranny to which they had been sub ject since they quitted Egypt, the grateful people, and particularly the northern tribes, made him an offer of the crown for himself and his sons. But the hero was too well acquainted with his true position, and with the principles of the theocratical government, to accept this unguarded offer : will not rule over you,' he said, neither shall my son rule over you : JEHOVAH, he shall rule over you.'
He would only accept the golden ear-rings which the victors had taken from the ears of their slaugh• tered foes [EAR-R1NGs] ; and a cloth being spread out to receive them, the admiring Israelites threw in, not only the ear-rings, but other ornaments of gold, including the chains of the royal camels, and added the purple robes which the slain monarchs had worn, being the first indication of purple as a royal colour. The ear-rings alone weighed 1700 shekels, equal to 74 pounds 4 ounces, and worth, at the present value of gold, about 4-330o. With this 'Gideon made an ephod, and put it in his city-, even in Ophrah ; and all Israel went thither a vvhoring after it, which became a snare unto Gideon and to his house.' An ephod, at least that of the high-priest, was an outer garment like a sleeveless tunic, to which was attached 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 vvorn by the common pnests. The object of Gi deon in making an ephod with his treasure is not very clear. Some suppose that it was merely de signed 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 authorised, if not required, to have there a sacer dotal establishment—for at least the tribes beyond the river—where sacrifices might be regularly offered. In this case the worship rendered there was doubtless in honour 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 probability of this explanation is strengthened when we recollect the schismatical sacerdotal establishments which were formed by Micah on Mount Ephraim, and by the Danites at Laish (Judg. xvii. 5-13 ; xviii. 2,9-31).
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' for forty years ; B. C. 1249 tO 1209. He is mentioned in the discourse of Samuel (r Sam. xii. r), and his name occurs in Het). xi. 32, among those of the heroes of the faith.