Thematic Bible

Themes in Judges 8

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Themes in Judges 8

Judges 8:1 (show verse)

The Ephraimites said to him, "Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!" They argued vehemently with him.

Anger » Instances of » Ephraimites, toward gideon, for not soliciting their help against the midianites
Ephraim » Tribe of
Ephraim » A tribe of israel » Rebuked gideon for not summoning them to join the war against the midianites
The tribe of Ephraim » Remonstrated with gideon for not calling them sooner against midian
Flattery » Instance of » By gideon
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
gideon » Reproaches the ephraimites for not joining in the campaign against the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jealousy » Examples of human » The men of ephraim
Jealousy » Instances of » Ephraimites, of gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
Man » Jealousy of » The men of ephraim
Man's » Jealousy » The men of ephraim
Prudence » Exemplified » gideon
Tact » Of gideon
Tribe » Of ephraim

Judges 8:2 (show verse)

He said to them, "Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim's leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer's harvest!

Abiezer » Also called jeezer, progenitor of the abiezrites
Discretion » Leads to tactfulness
The tribe of Ephraim » Remonstrated with gideon for not calling them sooner against midian
Flattery » Instance of » By gideon
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
gideon » Reproaches the ephraimites for not joining in the campaign against the midianites
Gleaning » Figurative
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
Meekness » Instances of » gideon
Prudence » Exemplified » gideon
Tact » Of gideon

Judges 8:3 (show verse)

It was to you that God handed over the Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb! What did I accomplish to rival that?" When he said this, they calmed down.

The tribe of Ephraim » Remonstrated with gideon for not calling them sooner against midian
Flattery » Instance of » By gideon
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
gideon » Reproaches the ephraimites for not joining in the campaign against the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Tact
Meekness » Instances of » gideon
Oreb » A prince of midian, overcome by gideon and killed by the ephraimites
Prudence » Exemplified » gideon
Tact » Of gideon
Zeeb » A prince of midian

Judges 8:4 (show verse)

Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites.

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jordan » Fords of
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel

Judges 8:5 (show verse)

He said to the men of Succoth, "Give some loaves of bread to the men who are following me, because they are exhausted. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

the Armies of israel » Mode of provisioning: » Contribution levied
gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Midianites » Governed by kings
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Travelers » Of distinction » Frequently extorted provisions by the way
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:6 (show verse)

The officials of Succoth said, "You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your army?"

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Selfishness » Examples of » Cain's cold-blooded words concerning abel
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:7 (show verse)

Gideon said, "Since you will not help, after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers."

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Retaliation » Examples of
Retaliation » Instances of » Gideon on the princes of succoth
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:8 (show verse)

He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request. The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had.

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Penuel » Also called peniel » City built where jacob wrestled with the angel
Retaliation » Instances of » Penuel
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Tower » Of penuel
Travelers » Of distinction » Frequently extorted provisions by the way
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:9 (show verse)

He also threatened the men of Penuel, warning, "When I return victoriously, I will tear down this tower."

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies. There were about fifteen thousand survivors from the army of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand sword-wielding soldiers had been killed.

Armies » Called the » Hosts
gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Karkor » A city » A city in the territory of the tribe of gad
Midianites » Miraculously defeated and destroyed by gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:11 (show verse)

Gideon went up the road of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army.

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jogbehah » A place in gad
Midianites » Miraculously defeated and destroyed by gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:12 (show verse)

When Zebah and Zalmunna ran away, Gideon chased them and captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He had surprised their entire army.

gideon » Leads an army against and defeats the midianites
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Midianites » Princes of, slain
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:13 (show verse)

Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the pass of Heres.

gideon » General references to
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » General references to
Joash » Father of gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Retaliation » Instances of » Gideon on the princes of succoth
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:14 (show verse)

He captured a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of Succoth's officials and city leaders -- seventy-seven men in all.

Courts » Advocates » Examination of prisoners
gideon » Avenges himself upon the people of succoth
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Retaliation » Instances of » Gideon on the princes of succoth
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:15 (show verse)

He approached the men of Succoth and said, "Look what I have! Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me, saying, 'You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your exhausted men?'"

gideon » Avenges himself upon the people of succoth
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Retaliation » Instances of » Gideon on the princes of succoth
Succoth » A city » A city which was located probably east of the jordan river » People of, punished by gideon
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:16 (show verse)

He seized the leaders of the city, along with some desert thorns and briers; he then "threshed" the men of Succoth with them.

Judges 8:17 (show verse)

He also tore down the tower of Penuel and executed the city's men.

gideon » Avenges himself upon the people of succoth
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Patriotism » Lacking in » The inhabitants of succoth and penuel
Penuel » Also called peniel » City built where jacob wrestled with the angel
Retaliation » Instances of » Penuel
Tower » Of penuel
Towers » Frequently thrown down in war
Towers » Mentioned in scripture » Penuel
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:18 (show verse)

He said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "Describe for me the men you killed at Tabor." They said, "They were like you. Each one looked like a king's son."

The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Mountains » Names of » Tabor
Retaliation » Instances of » The kings of midian
Tabor » A mountain on the border of the tribe of issachar
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:19 (show verse)

He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear, as surely as the Lord is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you."

The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Oaths » Expressions used as » As the lord liveth
Retaliation » Instances of » The kings of midian
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:20 (show verse)

He ordered Jether his firstborn son, "Come on! Kill them!" But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword, because he was still young.

The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jether » Son of gideon, "was afraid" to kill the midianite kings
Retaliation » Instances of » The kings of midian
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:21 (show verse)

Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Come on, you strike us, for a man is judged by his strength." So Gideon killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent-shaped ornaments which were on the necks of their camels.

Camel » Ornaments of
Camels » Of the rich adorned with chains
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Midianites » Princes of, slain
Retaliation » Instances of » The kings of midian
Zalmunna » King of midian
Zebah » King of midian

Judges 8:22 (show verse)

The men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us -- you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian's power."

gideon » General references to
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Loyalty to God
gideon » Israel desires to make him king; he refuses
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » General references to
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Loyalty to God
Unselfishness » Instances of » gideon

Judges 8:23 (show verse)

Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."

gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Loyalty to God
gideon » Israel desires to make him king; he refuses
Government » Of God » Over israel
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
Israel » Separation of » Theocracy of
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Loyalty to God
extraordinary Judges » The office of, not always for life, or hereditary
Sovereignty of God » Over israel
Theocracy » Over israel
Theocracy » Established
Unselfishness » Instances of » gideon

Judges 8:24 (show verse)

Gideon continued, "I would like to make one request. Each of you give me an earring from the plunder you have taken." (The Midianites had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

Adorning » Rich apparel » Earrings
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
gideon » Makes an ephod which becomes a snare to the israelites
Gold » Was used for » Earrings
Ishmaelites » Called midianites
The ishmaelites » Overcome by » gideon
The ishmaelites » Wore ornaments of gold
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
Midianites » Called ishmaelites
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Earrings

Judges 8:25 (show verse)

They said, "We are happy to give you earrings." So they spread out a garment, and each one threw an earring from his plunder onto it.

gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
gideon » Makes an ephod which becomes a snare to the israelites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
religious Work » Serving men » Willingness, an essential element in

Judges 8:26 (show verse)

The total weight of the gold earrings he requested came to seventeen hundred gold shekels. This was in addition to the crescent-shaped ornaments, jewelry, purple clothing worn by the Midianite kings, and the necklaces on the camels.

Camel » Ornaments of
Camels » Of the rich adorned with chains
Chains » As ornaments on camels
Colors » Crimson, red, purple, and scarlet, symbols of various ideas » Of royalty
gideon » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
gideon » Makes an ephod which becomes a snare to the israelites
Gold » Was used for » Earrings
Ishmaelites » Called midianites
Israel » Under the judges » Bondage » 7 years » Delivered » gideon
Jerubbaal » Called the mighty man of valour, characteristics of, » Weakened by prosperity
Shekel » Used to weigh silver

Judges 8:27 (show verse)

Gideon used all this to make an ephod, which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.