Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites. Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon's army. Zebah and Zalmunna are taken. S & Penuel are destroyed. Gideon avenges his brethren's death on Zebah and Zalmunna. He refuses goverment and Midian is subdued.
The land has a rest of 40 years. Gideon has a son named Abimelech (among his 70 sons!), and again the Isrealites fall into idolatry and ingratitude.
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The Ephraimites (one of the tribes of Israel) asked Gideon why he didn't include them in his victories. He reminded them of the great victories they accomplished for Israel and they were pacified.
Gideon and the 300 pursued Sebah and Zalmunna. On the way they asked Succoth and Peniel (the place where Jacob wrestled with God) to provide food and rest for them. They doubted their chances of victory and refused these comforts. Gideon promised punishemet.
Zebah and Zalmunna were in Kaarkor wtih 15,000 men, the rest of the army of the eastern nations. 120,000 had fallen. Gideon brought them back to Succoth and Peniel and punished them as he promised.
Gideon asked the kings who they killed at Tabor. They replied, "Men like you with the bearing of a prince." Gideon realized that they had killed his half brothers and, if they had spared them, he would spare them. He told his son to kill them but the boy was afraid so Gideon killed them on the spot.
The Israelites asked Gideon to rule them which he refused. He did ask for an earring from each person's share of the plunder. The weight of this came to 1700 shekels (42.5 pounds). Gideon melted all this down and formed an ephod (a holy priestly garment or a pagan idol object). Israel turned and worshiped this thing and brought shame to Gideon and his family.
Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years during Gideon's lifetime. After his death however, they again turned from God to Baal and forgot Gideon's family.
You know, what I don't understand is that, through all this book so far, Israel seems to be turning from God of their own free will; almost like it's a matter of convenience. Like today, some people turn from God at times of catastrophic events or deaths of loved ones (which is understandable to a point, at least there's a "reason"). Nothing like that is indicated here; it just says that "they turned". I don't see how, especially since they have lived through all these victories and seen God's hand directly at work "up close and personal", they could just decide to reject God.
As for Israel turning away, note the time span. It's always a generation or two after a victory (after God reveals himself) that they go their own way. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the problem is that they begin to intermarry with the Canaanites they live with and begin to worship their gods. This offends God, and he must send a "savior" to attone for their sins.
God saw the problem with this and that's why he eventually sent His Son to sacrifice for our sins once and for all.
You're right, though. It would be nice to see a little more detail about the process by which Israel turns away. The way it's described, it seems to be very routine - something to be expected. "It's just what people do."
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