Judges 8:1 kjv
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.
Judges 8:1 nkjv
Now the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they reprimanded him sharply.
Judges 8:1 niv
Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they challenged him vigorously.
Judges 8:1 esv
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they accused him fiercely.
Judges 8:1 nlt
Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us this way? Why didn't you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?" And they argued heatedly with Gideon.
Judges 8 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 12:1 | And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together...said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight...and didst not call us? | Ephraim's recurring tribal pride and conflict over military actions, demonstrating a pattern of challenging leaders. |
| Gen 37:4 | ...they hated him yet the more, and could not speak peaceably unto him. | Sibling rivalry and jealousy leading to animosity, paralleling the inter-tribal strife. |
| Prov 27:4 | Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? | Envy's destructive power, a root cause of Ephraim's chiding. |
| Jas 3:16 | For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | The chaotic consequences of envy and selfish ambition within a community. |
| Php 2:3 | Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | An exhortation to humility and prioritizing others, in contrast to Ephraim's pursuit of glory. |
| Gal 5:26 | Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. | A direct warning against seeking empty glory and mutual provocation, echoing Ephraim's behavior. |
| Num 11:29 | ...would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! | Moses's humble desire for widespread divine empowerment, a contrast to exclusionary human pride. |
| Prov 15:1 | A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. | Principles of de-escalation demonstrated by Gideon's response (in the following verses) to Ephraim's sharp words. |
| Rom 12:18 | If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. | Call to pursue peace, an underlying theme when tribal unity is threatened by internal conflict. |
| 1 Cor 12:18-20 | But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him... | Illustration of various roles and interdependence within a unified body, applicable to the tribes of Israel. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. | The true source of victory is divine power, not human numbers or tribal might, counteracting Ephraim's pride. |
| Ps 78:9 | The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. | A historical critique of Ephraim's unreliability and failure in a critical moment, contrasting with their current self-righteousness. |
| Judg 7:22-25 | And the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow... and Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites... | God’s role in creating confusion among the enemy and Gideon's later call to Ephraim (though for pursuit, not the initial battle). |
| Exod 17:8-13 | ...came Amalek, and fought with Israel... Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone... and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands... | Leaders like Moses needing the support of others, and others stepping into the battle when called, fostering unity in conflict. |
| Deut 20:1 | When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots... be not afraid... for the LORD thy God is with thee. | Reassurance for Israel to trust God in battle, not merely human strength or tribal alliances. |
| Josh 17:14-18 | ...And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot to inherit, seeing I am a great people...? | Ephraim (part of the house of Joseph) often asserting their 'greatness' and demanding more, consistent with their attitude here. |
| Judg 6:15 | ...how shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. | Gideon's humility contrasts with Ephraim's tribal arrogance, highlighting God's choice of the humble. |
| Luke 9:46 | Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be the greatest. | Disciples' dispute over status, reflecting the common human desire for recognition seen in Ephraim. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. | An appeal for unity and absence of division within the community of faith, pertinent to tribal conflict. |
| Neh 4:7-8 | ...when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up... they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. | External enemies often exploit internal disunity, showing the danger of such strife. |
Judges 8 verses
Judges 8 1 Meaning
Judges 8:1 records a heated confrontation where the men of the tribe of Ephraim sharply questioned Gideon, accusing him of a severe oversight. Their complaint stemmed from not being called to participate in the initial, climactic battle against the Midianites, thereby feeling excluded from the glory and spoils of the divine victory that God had granted through Gideon. Their fierce chiding revealed deep-seated inter-tribal jealousy and pride, viewing Gideon's actions as a personal affront to their perceived prominence among the tribes of Israel.
Judges 8 1 Context
Judges 8:1 follows Gideon's divinely orchestrated victory against the Midianites, accomplished with only 300 men, an army far smaller than initially gathered or typically expected. This specific verse marks a dramatic shift from external conflict with foreign oppressors to internal strife among the Israelite tribes. Prior to this, Gideon, after the miraculous win, was pursuing the surviving Midianite kings. The men of Ephraim, a powerful and populous tribe, had not been part of Gideon's initial, select 300-man army that performed the initial miraculous rout of the Midianites. They were, however, called later by Gideon to pursue and cut off the Midianite retreat (Judges 7:24). Despite their involvement in the later phase of pursuit and their success in capturing some Midianite princes, their grievance centered on being excluded from the perceived "glory" of the initial, decisive battle. Historically, Ephraim was a dominant tribe, inheriting a large territory and playing a significant role in Israel's early history, sometimes acting with a sense of entitlement and preeminence, a trait that resurfaces here and later in their dealings with Jephthah.
Judges 8 1 Word analysis
- And the men of Ephraim:
- Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם, 'Ephrayim): One of the two sons of Joseph, alongside Manasseh. A very powerful, populous, and geographically central tribe in ancient Israel. They often demonstrated a strong, sometimes arrogant, sense of their own importance, believing they should lead. Their grievance here stems from their expectation of preeminence in military and national affairs, highlighting tribal rivalry common in the period of the Judges.
- This phrase immediately signals a shift from external conflict to internal Israelite tension, a recurring theme in the book of Judges reflecting a lack of national unity.
- said unto him:
- Refers to Gideon. The direct address signifies a confrontation, not merely a casual inquiry.
- What is this that thou hast done unto us:
- This interrogative is accusatory and indignant, conveying outrage and a feeling of being wronged. It's not a request for information but a demand for explanation of an apparent transgression against them. The phrase suggests deep offense and a breach of tribal honor or protocol.
- that thou calledst us not:
- The core of their complaint. They felt slighted by being excluded from the opportunity for fame and spoils in the battle, demonstrating their desire for military glory and recognition. This omission was perceived as disrespectful and demeaning to their tribal standing.
- when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?:
- Specifies the time of the perceived offense: the critical juncture of the initial conflict, which brought Gideon and the other tribes great renown. It highlights their grievance that they missed the main "action."
- And they did chide with him sharply:
- chide (רִיב, riv): Hebrew root meaning to contend, quarrel, dispute, strive. It indicates an intense, adversarial confrontation, not a mild complaint.
- sharply (בְּחָזְקָה, beḥozqa): Lit. "with strength" or "forcibly," indicating a strong, vehement, and aggressive manner of expression. Their words were harsh, intense, and confrontational, showing no reservation in their anger. This detail emphasizes the severity and unruliness of their grievance.
Judges 8 1 Bonus section
This incident with Ephraim serves as a foreboding sign of Israel's internal divisions that would plague them later, eventually leading to the split of the kingdom. The constant striving for preeminence among the tribes, especially between Ephraim and Judah, is a theme echoed throughout Israel's history. It shows that even great triumphs wrought by God's hand do not automatically bring about unity among His people; rather, spiritual maturity and humility are constantly required to overcome fleshly desires for glory and recognition. The Book of Judges often uses such internal conflicts to illustrate the chaotic consequences of each tribe doing "what was right in his own eyes," leading to a fragmentation of God's covenant community.
Judges 8 1 Commentary
Judges 8:1 dramatically introduces the human element of pride and inter-tribal rivalry following a divine victory. The complaint of Ephraim against Gideon, though superficially about exclusion from battle, is rooted in their wounded pride and desire for recognition. They believed their military might and historic stature merited their leadership in Israelite campaigns, particularly against the nation's enemies. Their sharp chiding of Gideon reveals an unhealthy focus on their own glory rather than God's. This verse highlights the enduring human struggle with jealousy and envy, even among God's people, capable of sowing discord where unity is desperately needed. Gideon's masterful, humble response (recorded in the following verses) successfully defused what could have escalated into civil war, serving as an example of wise leadership in handling criticism motivated by human frailties. This incident underscores that divine deliverance does not eliminate the need for humility, forbearance, and grace in human relationships.