This is a curious chapter with a mixture of situations for Gideon to deal with. He first had to pacify the men of Ephraim who felt shunned as they weren’t involved in the victory over Midian (v1-3). Gracious and wise words defuse what could have been a very difficult situation.

The officials of Succoth and the men of Peniel show know consideration to Gideon’s weary men (v4-9). It is a shocking thing when those who belong to the people of God have no interest in and do not wish to support the Lord’s work. These men would face a severe punishment (v13-17). What does the Lord have in store for those who profess to be His, but by their actions show they don’t belong to His kingdom?

The deaths of the two Kings of Midian Zebah and Zalmunna (v18-21), should serve as a warning of all those who resist the Lord and ill-treat God’s people. The Lord misses nothing and in His time, justice will be served.

The incident with the ephod (v22-27) shows how a good man can get it terribly wrong and, in the process led many others astray. On the one hand he appears to show humility but he is then led astray by what he’d seen in the nations around him. We must be careful as to what might impact our thinking. One of the most important things in the Christian life is maintaining humility by having a right perspective both of ourselves and of the Lord.

With Gideon’s death Israel returns to their old ways of sin (v33-35).