Judges, Ruth: Revised Edition (The NIV Application Commentary)

by K. Lawson Younger

While the cycle seems to be ending, in reality the seeds for its continuation are sown on either side of these statements. The introduction of the ephod worship above and now the narration in an epilogue (8:29–32), which relate the birth and naming of Abimelek, set the stage for the complementary sequel that follows. Even with the death of Gideon, the story is not over. The conflict between Israel and Yahweh has not been resolved. In fact, we are basically back to where we began. In the epilogue we read that “Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live” (8:29),125 which seems to imply that Gideon retires into private life in an attempt to honor his commitment that Yahweh, not he, is to rule Israel. “This retirement presumably takes place soon after he has installed the ephod in Ophrah.”126 However, the details of Gideon’s family life contradict his action. Although he declines kingship outwardly (8:23), his actions show that he craves this honor for himself. He acquires a considerable harem, which produces seventy sons (8:30).127 The accumulation of wives was common among ancient Near Eastern monarchs, but a specific violation of the model for kingship in Deuteronomy 17:14–20.128 Additionally, to support such a harem and its “seventy” sons, one must have the resources of a king! Thus Gideon’s lifestyle contradicts his words. Furthermore, as though a harem of about fourteen women or more is not enough,129 Gideon also has a Shechemite concubine, who gives birth to a son w...