Gideon's Ephod

Judges 8

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, _y "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have _z delivered us from the hand of Midian." ²³ But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; _a the LORD shall rule over you." ²⁴ Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to ₁ make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, _b because they were Ishmaelites. ²⁵ So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. ²⁶ Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks. ²⁷ Then Gideon _c made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, _d Ophrah. And all Israel _e played the harlot with it there. It became _f a snare to Gideon and to his house. ²⁸ Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. _g And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.

1. Cross References
   Judges 9:8
   "The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'
   
2. Cross References
   Judges 3:9
   When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
   Judges 9:17
   For my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian.
   
3. Cross References
   1 Samuel 8:7
   And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
   1 Samuel 10:19
   "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, 'No, set a king over us!' Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans."
   1 Samuel 12:12
   And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king.
   Psalms 10:16
   The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.
   
4. Cross References
   Genesis 37:25
   And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.
   Genesis 37:28
   Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
   
5. Cross References
   Judges 17:5
   The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
   
6. Cross References
   Judges 6:11
   Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.
   Judges 6:24
   So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD- Is -Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
   
7. Cross References
   Psalms 106:39
   Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds.
   
8. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 7:16
   Also you shall destroy all the peoples whom the LORD your God delivers over to you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
   
9. Cross References
   Judges 5:31
   Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength." So the land had rest for forty years.