Judges 8:1 - Meaning and Application

As soon as the Midianites, Israel’s common enemy, were defeated, some hot-tempered people in Israel were ready to fight among themselves. An unhappy spark was struck, and if Gideon had not quickly put it out with wisdom and grace, it could have turned into a deadly fire. The Ephraimites, when they brought Gideon the heads of Oreb and Zeeb, should have congratulated him and thanked him for his great service. Instead, they picked a quarrel with him and became very angry.

Their complaint was petty and unfair: “Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites?” (Judges 8:1). Ephraim was Manasseh’s brother tribe, and Gideon came from Manasseh. Ephraim had the leading place in Jacob’s blessing and Moses’ blessing, so they were very jealous of Manasseh and feared that tribe might outshine them. That is why we often see Manasseh against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh (Isaiah 9:21). An offended brother is harder to win than a strong city, and such fights are like the bars of a castle (Proverbs 18:19).

But their quarrel with Gideon was very unjust. They were angry that he had not asked them to start the attack on Midian, as well as to finish it. They seemed to think the place of highest honor belonged to them. Yet Gideon was called by God and had to act as God directed. He did not take honor for himself, and he did not give out honors on his own. He left everything to God. So in blaming Gideon, the Ephraimites were really complaining against God’s leading. And who was Gideon, that they should grumble at him?

They also should have offered themselves willingly for the work. They knew the enemy was in their land, and they had heard that forces were being gathered against him. Out of zeal for the common cause, they ought to have joined in, even without a formal invitation. Those care more for themselves than for God who make a point of honor their excuse for avoiding real service to God and to their own generation. In Deborah’s time there was a root in Ephraim, a strong willingness to act (Judges 5:14). Why did that not show itself now? The situation itself called them, and they did not need to wait for Gideon to summon them.

Gideon had also protected their reputation by not calling them. If he had sent for them, many of them might have turned back with the fainthearted or been sent away with the lazy, careless, and undisciplined. By not calling them, he spared them that shame. Cowards often look brave after the danger is past, but wise people care for their reputation by not testing their courage when danger is near.

Gideon’s answer was calm and peaceable. He wanted not so much to defend himself as to calm them down and make peace (Judges 8:2, 3). He answered them with great meekness and self-control. He did not take offense at their insult or return anger for anger. He spoke mildly and reasoned with them, and he won as much honor by ruling his own spirit as by defeating the Midianites. “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty.”

He also answered with great modesty and humility, lifting up their part above his own. “Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim, who picked off the enemy stragglers, better than the vintage of Abiezer?” Their work, by capturing the enemy who escaped, was a greater honor to them and a better service to the nation than the first attack Gideon had made. The destruction of the church’s enemies is compared to a grape harvest (Revelation 14:18). Gideon calls their gleanings better than his gathering.

Often, what matters most is not winning the victory, but pressing it home. In that, the men of Ephraim had shown great courage and skill, or rather, God had honored them. Gideon was willing to make their achievements sound greater and his own smaller. Yet he would not take any glory from God’s crown to decorate theirs. “God has given the princes of Midian into your hands, and your men have done a great slaughter of the enemy. What was I able to do with 300 men compared with you and your brave deeds?” Gideon is a strong example of self-denial.

This teaches us several things. Humble behavior is the best way to remove envy. Even good works are often envied (Ecclesiastes 4:4), but they are less likely to be envied when the one doing them does not act proud. It is truly wicked to try to bring down people who humble themselves. Humility is also the surest way to end conflict, because pride is what causes quarrels (Proverbs 13:10). And humility is most lovely when it shines in people who have achieved much. Gideon’s victories made his gentleness even more impressive. Humility is also shown by esteeming others better than ourselves and giving others the place of honor.

What was the result of this dispute? The Ephraimites had spoken sharply to Gideon (Judges 8:1), forgetting the respect due to their commander and to the man God had honored. They gave free rein to their anger in rude speech, which often shows that a cause is weak and unable to stand on reason. When the arguing gets loud, reason is usually running low. But Gideon’s soft answer turned away their anger (Proverbs 15:1). Their anger toward him went down (Judges 8:3). The text suggests that some resentment remained, but Gideon wisely passed over it and let it cool off little by little. Very great and good people must expect their patience to be tested by the unkindness and foolishness even of those they serve, and they should not think it strange.