8:27 ephod. The genuine ephod of the high priest was employed for seeking the Lord’s will (1 Sam. 23:9–11; 30:7, 8).

whored after it. Gideon, the greatest of the judges until Samuel, gave the people occasion to sin (2:17 and notes).

a snare to Gideon and to his family. Gideon’s father had been an idolater (6:25), and now Gideon fell into the same sin.