Wesley Corpus

Chapter VIII Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites, ver. 1 - 3. Pursues the Midianites, ver. 4 - 12. Chastises the men of Succoth and Penuel, ver. 13 - 17. Slays the two kings of Midian, ver. 18 - 21. Declines the government of Israel, ver. 22, 23. Makes an ephod, ver. 24 - 27. Keeps the country quiet forty years, ver. 28. Dies, leaving a numerous family, ver, 29 - 32. Israel quickly forget God and him, ver. 33 - 35. Why haft thou, &c. - Why hast thou neglected and despised us, in not calling us in to thy help, as thou didst other tribes These were a proud people, puffed up with a conceit of their number and strength, and the preference which Jacob gave them above Manasseh, of which tribe Gideon was, who by this act had seemed to advance his own tribe, and to depress theirs. What have I, &c. - What I have done in cutting off some of the common soldiers, is not to be compared with your destroying their princes; I began the war, but you have finished. The gleaning - What you have gleaned or done after me, Of Abiezer - That is, of the Abiezrites, to whom he modestly communicates the honour of the victory, and does not arrogate it to himself. Was abated - His soft and humble answer allayed their rage. Passed over - Or, had passed over. Are the hands, &c. - Art thou so foolish, to think with thy three hundred faint and weary soldiers, to conquer and destroy an host of fifteen thousand Men Thus the bowels of their compassion were shut up against their brethren. Were these Israelites! Surely they were worshippers of Baal, or in the interest of Midian. Penuel - Another city beyond Jordan; both were in the tribe of Gad. Your tower - Your confidence in which makes you thus proud and presumptuous. That drew sword - That is, persons expert and exercised in war, besides the retainers to them. That dwelt in tents - That is, of the Arabians, so fetching a compass, and falling upon them where they least expected it.