The king has left the building

The Isrealites no longer wish for Gideon to be their judge. They want him as their ruler and king. Gideon's reply redeems himself in vs 23 . . .

"I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."

Gideon viewed his monarchy as a replacement to the LORDs reign and rejected it.

God has rule over Isreal (Theocracy)

After making such an amazing statement, he then goes and makes a ridiculously stupid one!

Gideon asks for an offering . . . to himself! He asks for a portion of each man's plunder. The amount came to 700 shekels (50 pounds) of gold, around 5000 gold rings. He also accepted half-moon and teardrop pendants AND fine purple robes (from Midianite royalty).

Gideon refused the offer of kingship, but accepted the king's treasury and wardrobe. He continues his 'royal' lifestyle by having a vast number of wives and a hareem of concubines. He also made the mistake of having a son by one of these concubines and naming him ABIMELECH (means 'my father is the king').

His final downfall came with his bright idea to make an EPHOD (a preistly vest).

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