Judges 8:26
The passage tells us that *“The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which the kings of Midian had, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks”* (v.26). Gideon, serving as a judge during the time around the 12th century BC, collected these items to commemorate his victory over the Midianites, a people whose territory was located in the northwest regions of the Arabian Peninsula, extending near the Gulf of Aqaba. The mention of the “purple robes” of the Midianite kings alludes to the royalty and wealth of these defeated foes, underscoring the significance of Gideon’s triumph as he exerted Israel’s authority under God’s guidance.
By specifically detailing the *“1,700 shekels of gold”* (v.26) and other ornaments, the text highlights Gideon’s gathering of lavish spoils from enemy kings. These spoils were a tangible display of how the Lord had delivered Midian into Gideon’s hand. The *“crescent ornaments”* and the luxurious decoration of camels—exemplified by the *“neck bands that were on their camels’ necks”* (v.26)—revealed the Midianite kings’ affluence. Gideon’s request for these items points to both a celebration of victory and a potential pitfall, since accumulating wealth could become a source of pride, contrasting with later New Testament teachings about storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19, NASB-95).
Historically, Gideon’s story is pivotal within the Book of Judges, demonstrating God’s power working through an otherwise humble man from the tribe of Manasseh. The careful note of the gold’s weight echoes ancient practices of collecting war spoils as symbols of success. Yet this moment also foreshadows that prosperity and material gain can distract from wholehearted dependence on the Lord, a concept shown repeatedly throughout Israel’s history and later reflected in themes emphasized by Jesus regarding humility and trust in God (James 4:6, NASB-95).
Gideon’s collection of gold and lavish items emphasizes the tangible victory over Midian as well as the subtle danger of pride.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Judges 1:22-26 meaning. The tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, with the Lord’s assistance, goes up against Bethel, previously known as Luz. They use a local man to find the city’s entrance, conquer Bethel, and spare the man’s family. The man then relocates to the land of the Hittites, where he builds a new city and names it Luz.
- Acts 8:26-35 meaning. An angel tells Philip to start a journey toward Gaza. On the way, Philip encounters an African eunuch, an official in the court of a Queen. The eunuch is reading a prophecy from Isaiah about the suffering servant, but he doesn’t understand who the prophecy is about. Philip explains that the prophecy is about Jesus’s death for the sins of the world.
- Deuteronomy 17:8-13 meaning. Moses advises local judges to appeal to the Levitical priests or to the judge in office at the central sanctuary in order to seek guidance when some cases seem too difficult for them to handle.