Judges 8:29

8:29-35 As soon as Gideon was dead, who kept the people to the worship of the God of Israel, they found themselves under no restraint; then they went after Baalim, and showed no kindness to the family of Gideon. No wonder if those who forget their God, forget their friends. Yet conscious of our own ingratitude to the Lord, and observing that of mankind in general, we should learn to be patient under any unkind returns we meet with for our poor services, and resolve, after the Divine example, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.

And Jerubbaal the son of Joash,.... That is, Gideon, Jerubbaal being another name of his; see Judges 6:32 went and dwelt in his own house; which was at Ophrah, as appears from Judges 9:5 the war being ended, he disbanded his army, and retired to his own house; not that he lived altogether a private life there, but as a judge in Israel.

The ephod was that particular part of the high priest's dress which was necessary to be worst when he inquired of God by Urim and Thummim. It seems that Gideon being now the civil ruler, desired to have an ephod of his own, kept in his own city, to he worn by the priest whenever Gideon might summon him to inquire of the Lord for him. His relations with the tribe of Ephraim probably made him unwilling to resort to Shiloh. Compare the act of Jeroboam 1 Kings 12:28 .

Jud 8:28. Midian Subdued. 28. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel—This invasion of the Arab hordes into Canaan was as alarming and desolating as the irruption of the Huns into Europe. It was the severest scourge ever inflicted upon Israel; and both it and the deliverance under Gideon lived for centuries in the minds of the people (Ps 83:11).

Before the account of his death, a few other notices respecting his family are introduced for the purpose of preparing the way for the following history of the doings of his sons, in which the sin of Gideon came to a head, and the judgment burst upon his house. "And Jerubbaal, the son of Joash, went and dwelt in his house." Both the word ויּלך, which simply serves to bring out the fact more vividly (see the remarks on Exodus 2:1 ), and also the choice of the name Jerubbaal, merely serve to give greater prominence to the change, from the heat of the war against the Midianites to the quiet retirement of domestic life. Instead of accepting the crown that was offered him and remaining at the head of the nation, the celebrated Baal-fighter retired into private life again. In addition to the seventy sons of his many wives, there was a son born to him by a concubine, who lived at Shechem and is called his maid-servant in Judges 9:18 , and to this son he gave the name of Abimelech, i.e., king's father. את־שׁמו ויּשׂם is not the same as את־שׁמו קרא, to give a person a name, but signifies to add a name, or give a surname (see Nehemiah 9:7 , and Daniel 5:12 in the Chaldee). It follows from this, that Abimelech received this name from Gideon as a cognomen answering to his character, and therefore not at the time of his birth, but when he grew up and manifested such qualities as led to the expectation that he would be a king's father.

41 . An anticipation of Exodus 29:1 a, 5–9, not very exactly expressed; for the garments for Aaron and his ‘sons’ were not in all cases the same ( v. 40). The words, and shalt anoint them , are probably a later addition; for Exodus 29:7 , like Leviticus 8:12 , speaks only of Aaron himself, and not his ‘sons’ also, as being anointed: see on Exodus 30:30 . consecrate them ] install them would be a more distinctive rendering. The Heb. is lit. fill their hand , a technical term for install or institute to a priestly office—originally, perhaps, meaning to fill the priest’s hand with the first sacrifices (cf. Exodus 29:24 ; and see Moore, Judges , p. 380)—occurring also Jdg 17:5 ; Jdg 17:12 , Exodus 32:29 (fig.), Ezekiel 43:26 (fig. of altar ); Exodus 29:9 ; Exodus 29:29 ; Exodus 29:33 ; Exodus 29:35 , Leviticus 8:33 ; Leviticus 16:32 ; Leviticus 21:10 , Numbers 3:3 (all P); 2 Chronicles 13:9 ; also (fig.) 1 Chronicles 29:5 , 2 Chronicles 29:31 . Cf. also Exodus 29:22 ‘the ram of installation ’ (lit. of filling ).

Latter ages have re-discovered many of them, principally by the direct or indirect aid of the Holy Scriptures; and others of them continue hidden, notwithstanding the accurate and persevering researches of the moderns. [ Job 29 ] JOB 29: 1 Job again took up his parable, and said, Job laments his present condition, and gives an affecting account of his former prosperity, having property in abundance, being surrounded by a numerous family, and enjoying every mark of the approbation of God, Job 29:1-6. Speaks of the respect he had from the young, Job 29:7, Job 29:8; and from the nobles, Job 29:9, Job 29:10. Details his conduct as a magistrate and judge in supporting the poor, and repressing the wicked, Job 29:11-17; his confidence, general prosperity, and respect, Job 29:18-25. JOB 29: 2 “Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me; Verse 2 O that I were as in months past - Job seems here to make an apology for his complaints, by taking a view of his former prosperity, which was very great, but was now entirely at an end. He shows that it was not removed because of any bad use he had made of it; and describes how he behaved himself before God and man, and how much, for justice, benevolence, and mercy, he was esteemed and honored by the wise and good. Preserved me - Kept, guarded, and watched over me.