Judges 8 (résumé): Gideon captures the kings of Midian

Initially in this chapter Gideon defuses a tense situation with the Ephraimites who objected to having been left out of the battle against the Midianites. Gideon and his 300 men were exhausted, but kept pursuing the remnant of the Midianite army and defeated the remaining 10,000 men at Karkor out of an original army of 120,000 men. Gideon also captured the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna and he personally killed them.

Gideon took revenge on the towns of Succoth and Peniel for having refused to give them material support in the battle. They may have refused help because they were afraid of Midianite reprisals.

The Israelites were thrilled with Gideon's defeat of Midian and wanted to make him King as a consequence, but Gideon turned this down. He however asked for the golden ear-rings from the plunder which gave him 19.5 kg of gold. With this he made a golden ephod which sadly became an object of idolatry for the people as well as for Gideon and his family.

During Gideon's lifetime there was peace in Israel for 40 years. He had many wives, he had 70 sons, and still he had a son called Abimelech with a concubine! Gideon died at a ripe old age, and no sooner had he gone than the people returned to pagan Baal worship.