Judges 8 24

Judges 8:24 kjv

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.)

Judges 8:24 nkjv

Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.

Judges 8:24 niv

And he said, "I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

Judges 8:24 esv

And Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

Judges 8:24 nlt

However, I do have one request ? that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies." (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold earrings.)

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 24 Meaning

Judges 8:24 describes Gideon's specific request to the victorious Israelite soldiers: that each man contribute golden earrings taken from their spoil. This request is clarified by noting the prevalence of such ornaments among the defeated Ishmaelites, highlighting their cultural practice of wearing valuable gold jewelry, which made such an extensive collection possible. The verse sets the stage for the collection of a large quantity of gold, the subsequent creation of an ephod, and its detrimental role in leading Israel astray from true worship.

Judges 8 24 Context

Judges 8:24 takes place immediately after Gideon's resounding victory over the Midianites, who had oppressed Israel for seven years. The Israelites, impressed by Gideon's deliverance, offer him kingship in verse 23. Gideon heroically refuses, declaring, "The Lord will rule over you." However, his immediate request for gold from the spoil introduces a subtle tension. The prior chapters detailed the miraculous nature of Gideon's victory, where God reduced his army to just 300 men to ensure the glory went to the Lord alone (Judg 7). This verse initiates the subsequent action where Gideon, despite his initial refusal of kingship, embarks on a collection that seems to function like a king exacting tribute, ultimately leading to a spiritual downfall for Israel. The defeat of the Midianites/Ishmaelites symbolized God's deliverance, but Gideon's follow-up action with the spoil illustrates how victory can paradoxically lead to temptation and compromise.

Judges 8 24 Word analysis

• And Gideon said to them:
  • Gideon (גִּדְעוֹן, Gid'on): His name means "hewer" or "feller," indicative of his role in cutting down idolatry. He is a pivotal figure in Judges, chosen by God to deliver Israel, yet displaying both great faith and human flaws.
• “I would request of you:
  • request (אֶשְׁאֲלָה, esh'alah): While "request," in Hebrew, this verb can carry a strong sense of asking for a favor or even a demand, reflecting a leader's authority post-victory.
  • This phrase indicates a personal initiative from Gideon, not a divine command.
• that each of you give me the earrings:
  • each of you (אִישׁ, ish): "man," emphasizing individual contribution from every soldier, signifying the collective bounty and a communal act.
  • give me (תְּנוּ לִי, t'nu li): An imperative, reinforcing Gideon's authoritative request.
  • earrings (נֶזֶם, nezem): This Hebrew term primarily denotes a nose-ring but can also refer to an earring or general ornament. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, both men and women wore such jewelry. Its presence here highlights the valuable nature of the plunder and the defeated enemies' opulence. This item later becomes the raw material for the idol, signifying its direct link to apostasy.
• from his spoil”—for they had golden earrings:
  • spoil (שָׁלָל, shalal): Plunder taken in battle, legitimately acquired property from the defeated. The sheer volume suggested here points to the wealth of the Midianite/Ishmaelite coalition.
  • golden earrings (נִזְמֵי זָהָב, nizmei zahav): Explicitly specifies "gold." Gold represented ultimate wealth and status in ancient societies, and biblically it frequently symbolizes luxury, value, and potential idolatry (e.g., golden calf, tabernacle articles). The sheer quantity implies significant riches among the enemies.
• because they were Ishmaelites.
  • Ishmaelites (יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים, Yishma'elim): Descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son. In Judges, the terms "Midianites" and "Ishmaelites" are sometimes used interchangeably (as seen in Gen 37 where Joseph is sold to "Ishmaelites" who are also referred to as "Midianites"). This suggests they were a powerful nomadic, trading confederation, wealthy due to their commerce across the desert routes. Their nomadic lifestyle and trading acumen would explain their accumulation and display of substantial gold ornamentation, consistent with a warrior and merchant culture that highly valued personal display of wealth and status. This detail confirms the abundant supply of golden earrings among the captured plunder.

Judges 8 24 Bonus section

The nature of the "earrings" (nezem) as specifically golden and widespread among the Ishmaelites points to a cultural practice of wearing elaborate and costly jewelry, perhaps as a symbol of tribal identity, warrior status, or trade wealth. This practice distinguishes them from the nomadic tribes with lesser means and confirms the richness of their spoil. While Gideon rejects formal kingship, the act of collecting personal tribute from a victorious army, rather than directing all spoil to the community or the tabernacle, mimics the actions of a monarch or supreme leader. This subtly undermines his prior declaration of Yahweh's sole kingship and reveals a human tendency to appropriate symbols of power or spiritual significance, even if initially denying a title. The gold, a material meant to reflect divine glory when used in the Tabernacle/Temple, here is derived from a pagan source and ends up serving a human-initiated, illegitimate "religious" purpose, leading to idolatry and demonstrating the inherent danger of blending divine worship with human innovation, particularly when associated with earthly wealth and perceived human authority.

Judges 8 24 Commentary

Judges 8:24 marks a pivotal moment in Gideon's story, setting the stage for his decline after his divinely empowered triumph. While Gideon rejects the people's desire to make him king (v. 23), his subsequent request for the golden earrings from the spoil paradoxically embodies an assertion of quasi-royal authority and ultimately leads to national apostasy. The immediate mention of "golden earrings" links directly to the notorious "golden calf" episode (Exod 32), signaling the potential for grave spiritual error. The immense wealth of the "Ishmaelites," a term culturally aligned with the wealthy, nomadic Midianites, ensured a vast quantity of gold was available, tempting Gideon's otherwise commendable resolve. This verse functions as a subtle warning: even victory over enemies, if not handled with absolute purity of motive and dependence on God, can become a trap through human weakness and the allure of earthly spoils. The requested gold, taken from a people who oppressed Israel, would then be twisted into an instrument that would oppress Israel spiritually, demonstrating a profound spiritual irony. Gideon’s action here, though perhaps well-intended or born of human desire for a token of victory, underscores the constant vulnerability of even God's chosen leaders to temptations associated with power and wealth.