Ephod

An ephod was either an image of God or an idol, as some have argued. An ephod is the vest worn by a hebrew priest. There would be urim and thummim (ask Andy) set into it. These stones were used by the preist to discover the will of God. When both sides revealed the urim (to curse) the answer was 'no', when both sides revealed thummim (to be perfect) it meant 'yes'. If one of each was showing it meant 'no reply'. Kinda like an ancienst magic 8 ball!

This seems like a rediculous construction for Gideon, as he seems to have no need for a vest to communicate with God. 3 problems present themselves when viewing Gideon's obsession with priestly vests . . .

1] Making this ephod (aswell as taking a collection of Midianite nose rings) was Gideon doing something that God hadn't asked him to do. God called Gideon to be a judge, NOT a priest.

2] Maybe Gideon was attempting to make his situation (his fame, success, power) a permanent status, when God only held Gideon in this position on a temporary basis. Gideon had been called to build alters and communicate with Yahweh and save Isreal during the period of his mission, but now the mission was over. Even if things are started by God and are a success, people have a tendancy to 'take it too far' or 'exhaust the possibilities' or 'flog a dead horse' and before we know it, what was once from God, about God and for God, we find ourselves worshipping a vest!

3] Maybe Gideon purposefully diverted the focus of worship away from the main sancturary at Shiloh, because that site was found inside Ephraim territory. This could have been a political move, like Sweden always giving Finland 12 points in the eurovision song contest! Whatever the reasons for this ephod, it is obviously disasterous to the Isrealites. The description of the consequences of this event is the strongest in the book of Judges...

"... Isreal prostituted themselves by worshipping it there ..."

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