Judges 8:22-27

Expanded Bible

Gideon Makes an Idol

²² The people of Israel said to Gideon, “You ·saved [rescued; ^Tdelivered] us from the Midianites. Now, we want you and your son and your grandson to rule over us [^Cto establish a royal dynasty].”

²³ But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will be your ruler.” ²⁴ He said, “I want you to do this one thing for me. I want each of you to give me a gold earring from ·the things you took in the fighting [^Lhis plunder].” (The Ishmaelites [^Crelated to the Midianites, and sometimes identified with them; Gen. 37:25–28] wore gold earrings.)

²⁵ They said, “We will ·gladly [indeed] give you what you want.” So they spread out a ·coat [cloak; garment], and everyone threw down an earring from ·what he had taken [his plunder]. ²⁶ The gold earrings weighed ·about forty-three pounds [^L1,700 shekels of gold]. This did not count the ·decorations [^Lcrescent-shaped ornaments], ·necklaces [pendants], and purple robes worn by the kings of Midian, nor the chains from the camels’ necks. ²⁷ Gideon used the gold to make a ·holy vest [ephod; ^Cperhaps in imitation of the high priest and used to discern God’s will; Ex. 29:2–5], which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. But all the Israelites ·were unfaithful to God [^Lprostituted themselves] and worshiped it, so it became a ·trap [snare; cause of sin] for Gideon and his family.