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Gideon Shows Courtesy to the Ephraimites, November 13
God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb:
and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was
abated toward him, when he had said that.
Judges 8:3
.
Gideon returned from pursuing the enemies of the nation, to meet censure
and accusation from his own countrymen. When at his call the men of Israel had
rallied against the Midianites, the tribe of Ephraim had remained behind. They
looked upon the effort as a perilous undertaking; and as Gideon sent them no
special summons, they availed themselves of this excuse not to join their brethren.
But when the news of Israel’s triumph reached them, the Ephraimites were envious
because they had not shared it.
After the rout of the Midianites, the men of Ephraim had, by Gideon’s direction,
seized the fords of the Jordan, thus preventing the escape of the fugitives. By this
means a large number of the enemy were slain, among whom were two princes,
Oreb and Zeeb. Thus the men of Ephraim followed up the battle, and helped
complete the victory. Nevertheless, they were jealous and angry, as though Gideon
had been led by his own will and judgment. They did not discern God’s hand
in the triumph of Israel, they did not appreciate His power and mercy in their
deliverance....
Returning with the trophies of victory, they angrily reproached Gideon: “Why
hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with
the Midianites?”
“What have I done now, in comparison of you?” said Gideon. “Is not the
gleaning
of the grapes of Ephraim better than the
vintage
of Abiezer?
God
hath
delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I
able to do in comparison of you?”
The spirit of jealousy might easily have been fanned into a quarrel that would
have caused strife and bloodshed; but Gideon’s modest answer soothed the anger
of the men of Ephraim, and they returned in peace to their homes. Firm and
uncompromising where principle was concerned, and in war a “mighty man of
valour,” Gideon displayed also a spirit of courtesy that is rarely witnessed.
The people of Israel, in their gratitude at deliverance from the Midianites,
proposed to Gideon that he should become their king, and that the throne should
be confirmed to his descendants. This proposition was in direct violation of the
principles of the theocracy. God was the king of Israel, and for them to place
a man upon the throne would be a rejection of their Divine Sovereign. Gideon
recognized this fact; his answer shows how true and noble were his motives. “I
will not rule over you,” he declared; “neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord
shall rule over you.”—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 554, 555
.
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