Judges 8:23 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”

Judges 8:23

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man {is, so is} his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that {were} on their camels' necks. {ornaments: or, ornaments like the moon}

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they {were} Ishmaelites.)

And they answered, We will willingly give {them}. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

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From This Chapter

Judges 8:1

"And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. {Why...: Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us} {sharply: Heb. strongly}"

Judges 8:2

"And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? {Is} not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?"

Judges 8:3

"God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. {anger: Heb. spirit}"

Judges 8:4

"And Gideon came to Jordan, {and} passed over, he, and the three hundred men that {were} with him, faint, yet pursuing {them}."

Judges 8:5

"And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they {be} faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian."

Judges 8:6

"And the princes of Succoth said, {Are} the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?"

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