Thematic Bible

Themes in Judges 8

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Themes in Judges 8

Judges 8:1 (show verse)

The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently.

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)

So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

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)

God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.

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)

Gideon and the 300 men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit.

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, “Please give some loaves of bread to the people who are following me, because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing 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)

But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should 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 replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will trample your flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness!”

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 from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel answered just as the men of Succoth had answered.

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 told the men of Penuel, “When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower!”

Judges 8:10 (show verse)

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and with them was their army of about 15,000 men, who were all those left of the entire army of the Qedemites. Those who had been killed were 120,000 warriors.

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 traveled on the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their army while the army was unsuspecting.

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)

Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them. He captured these two kings of Midian and routed the 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 Ascent 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 youth from the men of Succoth and interrogated him. The youth wrote down for him the names of the 77 princes and elders of Succoth.

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

Then he went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You taunted me about them, saying, ‘Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your power that we should 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)

So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them.

Judges 8:17 (show verse)

He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

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 asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”

“They were like you,” they said. “Each resembled the son of a king.”

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)

So he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother! As the Lord lives, 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)

Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” The youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a youth.

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, “Get up and kill us yourself, for a man is judged by his strength.” So Gideon got up, killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that 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)

Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian.”

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)

But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not 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)

Then he said to them, “Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder.” Now the enemy 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 agree to give them.” So they spread out a mantle, and everyone threw an earring from his plunder on 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 weight of the gold earrings he requested was about 43 pounds of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their 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 made an ephod from all this and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. Then all Israel prostituted themselves with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.