Following v. 7. The Hebrew may read, taught. After his great success, Gideon had a terrible failure. Intrinsically, Gideon’s failure was due to his forsaking God and his joining himself to Satan (see note Judg. 2:12^1a). The secret of his failure comprises three factors. First, Gideon was not kind; he killed those countrymen who did not support him (vv. 16-17), breaking the sixth commandment of God (Exo. 20:13). Second, he indulged in the lust of the flesh, not exercising any restriction over his fleshly lust (vv. 30-31), thus breaking the seventh commandment (Exo. 20:14). Third, although he acted properly in refusing to rule over the people (vv. 22-23), he coveted the spoil of his people (v. 24), thereby breaking the tenth commandment (Exo. 20:17). Gideon’s indulgence in sex and his greediness for gold led to idolatry (cf. Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). Gideon made an ephod with the gold he had taken from the people, and this ephod became an idol to the children of Israel (v. 27). As a result, Gideon’s family and the entire society of Israel were corrupted.

In this book, which is related to the enjoyment of the good land as a type of Christ (see note Deut. 8:7¹), Gideon’s success indicates the gaining of an excellent opportunity to enjoy Christ, whereas his failure indicates the losing of the opportunity to enjoy Christ. Gideon’s failure shows that we must exercise strict control in dealing with the matters of sex and wealth. Any indulgence in these things will cause our enjoyment of Christ to be annulled. See note 2 Sam. 11:4¹, note 1 Kings 11:43¹, par. 3 and note Gen. 14:23¹.

Lit., For they.

The intrinsic significance of the fifth and sixth cycles of Israel’s miserable history (8:33—10:5; 10:6—12:15) consists of Israel’s forsaking God and joining herself to idols. See note Judg. 2:12^1a