This verse, Judges 8:35, is a harsh indictment of the Israelites, particularly the men of Shechem, after Gideon's death. It highlights their blatant ingratitude and disloyalty. Let's break it down:
"neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon": This means the Israelites did not treat Gideon's family with the respect and care they deserved. Gideon was also known as Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32). They failed to acknowledge and honor the legacy of a man who had delivered them from the Midianites.
"according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel": This emphasizes the scale of Gideon's contribution. He wasn't just some ordinary citizen; he was a divinely appointed leader who bravely led the Israelites to victory. He rejected kingship, attributing the ultimate authority to God (Judges 8:23). He brought peace and stability to the land. Despite all this, the people failed to reciprocate his kindness and leadership.
In essence, the verse conveys the following meaning:
After Gideon's death, the Israelites acted disgracefully by not showing kindness or gratitude to his family.
This was a profound betrayal, considering all the good things Gideon had done for Israel, including saving them from oppression and guiding them to a period of relative peace.
The verse illustrates a recurring theme in the Book of Judges: the Israelites' tendency to forget God and their leaders after periods of deliverance and to fall back into idolatry and moral decay.
The verse serves as a stark reminder of the fickleness of human nature and the dangers of forgetting past blessings and leadership. It sets the stage for the tragic events that follow in the book, as the Israelites continue their cycle of disobedience and decline. It also contrasts the loyalty and obedience God expects from his people with the ingratitude and disobedience that are all too common.
This verse, Judges 8:35, is a harsh indictment of the Israelites, particularly the men of Shechem, after Gideon's death. It highlights their blatant ingratitude and disloyalty. Let's break it down:
"neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon": This means the Israelites did not treat Gideon's family with the respect and care they deserved. Gideon was also known as Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32). They failed to acknowledge and honor the legacy of a man who had delivered them from the Midianites.
"according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel": This emphasizes the scale of Gideon's contribution. He wasn't just some ordinary citizen; he was a divinely appointed leader who bravely led the Israelites to victory. He rejected kingship, attributing the ultimate authority to God (Judges 8:23). He brought peace and stability to the land. Despite all this, the people failed to reciprocate his kindness and leadership.
In essence, the verse conveys the following meaning:
After Gideon's death, the Israelites acted disgracefully by not showing kindness or gratitude to his family.
This was a profound betrayal, considering all the good things Gideon had done for Israel, including saving them from oppression and guiding them to a period of relative peace.
The verse illustrates a recurring theme in the Book of Judges: the Israelites' tendency to forget God and their leaders after periods of deliverance and to fall back into idolatry and moral decay.
The verse serves as a stark reminder of the fickleness of human nature and the dangers of forgetting past blessings and leadership. It sets the stage for the tragic events that follow in the book, as the Israelites continue their cycle of disobedience and decline. It also contrasts the loyalty and obedience God expects from his people with the ingratitude and disobedience that are all too common.