Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:2
And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? [Is] not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?
2. Gideon, like his father (Jdg 6:31), had the ready wit to extricate himself from an awkward situation. For the gleaning of the grapes see Isa 17:6, Mic 7:1; the word is used of fruit, not of corn. Ephraim indeed arrived late upon the scene, but they had the glory of capturing the chiefs. Gideon speaks only of Abiezer, his own clansmen; the 300 warriors chosen from different tribes, Jdg 7:2-8, belong to another version of the story. Probably Jdg 8:3 was followed by Jdg 8:29 in the original narrative.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A civil war with the great tribe of Ephraim would soon have turned Israels victory into mourning. Gideon therefore soothes their wounded pride by confessing that Ephraim had done more, though they had joined him so late in the day, than he had been able to effect in the whole campaign. The grape-gleaning of Ephraim was better than the whole vintage of Abi-ezer.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Is not the gleaning, c.] That is, The Ephraimites have performed more important services than Gideon and his men and he supports the assertion by observing that it was they who took the two Midianitish generals, having discomfited their hosts at the passes of Jordan.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
What was done was done by Gods immediate making them one to kill another; what I have done, in cutting off some of the fugitive common soldiers, is not to be compared with your exploit in destroying their princes; I began the war, but you have finished.
The gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim; what you have gleaned or done after me.
Of Abi-ezer, i.e. of the Abi-ezrites, to whom he modestly communicateth the honour of the victory, and doth not arrogate it to himself, as generals commonly do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2, 3. he said unto them, What have Idone now in comparison of you?His mild and truly modest answerbreathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm,collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes.It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters (Pr16:1), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial,it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit andglory than belonged to himself (1Co 13:4;Phi 2:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he said unto them,…. In a very mild and gentle manner, giving soft words, which turn away wrath:
what have I done in comparison of you? he and his men, he signifies, had only blew trumpets, broke pitchers, and held torches; it was the Lord that did all, and set the Midianites one against another to slay each other; and in the pursuit as yet he had only picked up and slain some common soldiers, they had taken two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and had brought their heads in triumph to him:
is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? the family of Abiezer, of which Gideon was; the meaning is, that whereas he began the fight, which may be called the vintage, and they had finished it, which was like gleaning; yet what they did last was much preferable to what was done by him at first; or the princes of Midian, which they had taken in the pursuit, and was like gleaning after a vintage, were equal, yea, superior to all the camp of Midian, or that part of it that had fallen into his hands. The Targum is,
“are not the weak of the house of Ephraim better than the strong of the house of Abiezer?”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) What have I done now in comparison of you?Since Gideon was by no means a man of very placable and pacific disposition, we see the strong and noble self-control which this answer manifests. He was not in a condition, even had he wished it, to humble the fierce jealousy of this kindred tribe, as the more independent Jephthah, who was not so closely bound to them, did not scruple to do. He remembered that Zebah and Zalmunna were still safe; the Midianites were as yet by no means finally crushed. Patriotism as well as right feeling demanded that at such a moment there should be no civil discord.
Is not the gleaning . . .?The answer has a proverbial sound. (Comp. Deu. 24:21.) It here implies that Ephraim, by a mere subsequent and secondary effort, had achieved more (as yet) than Gideon himself had done, or perhaps that the two bloody heads which were their gleaning were better than the vintage of obscure thousands. In admitting this, in waiving all self-assertion, Gideon was setting an example of the spirit which is content to suffer wrong, and to take less than its proper due (elassousthai, Time. i. 77). Nor was there any irony or wilful sacrifice of truth in his remark, for there can be no doubt that the Ephraimites had wrought a splendid victory (Isa. 10:26). The Chaldee renders it, Are not the weak of the house of Ephraim better than the strong of the house of Abiezer?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Is not the gleaning Is not the slaughter of these two chieftains a greater glory than all that I have done? The gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim, here, means the victory which these Ephraimites had gained by destroying Oreb and Zeeb. So memorable was this victory that Isaiah alludes to it as an instance of utter defeat and ruin. Isa 10:26. The vintage of Abi-ezer refers particularly to what Gideon and his three hundred had done. Gideon was an Abi-ezrite, and perhaps the three hundred were largely of the same family, who were the first to rally around him at the trumpet call. Jdg 6:34. This attributing to the Ephraimites greater honour than he claimed for himself settled the quarrel at once. His soft answer turned away their wrath, and became a proverb.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And he said to them, “What have I done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?” ’
Gideon revealed that he had learned from his wise father. He did not try to argue the position, or point out that Yahweh alone had received any glory from the victory. Rather he pointed out to them how successful they had been. He and his men had not captured any Midianite royalty whereas Ephraim had captured two. He and his men had only picked up commoners whereas Ephraim had picked up and brought to him the heads of royalty.
The gleaning is the leftovers picked up from the fields when the reapers have gone by, an accurate picture of the work of Ephraim. But in that gleaning were the royal princes and a considerable number of the enemy. The victory as a whole had been Yahweh’s. The vintage of Abiezer were merely the lingerers from among the fleeing enemy.
On the other hand Ephraim had met them full on at the fords and had reaped amply, including the princes. The importance attached in those days to the killing of the chiefs is brought out in that Barak lost to a woman the right to kill Sisera and it was counted as a great loss (Judges 4).
“Abiezer” probably refers to Gideon himself rather than to the content of the three hundred, although it could be that the test had separated out the locals who knew about the leeches. Compared with Ephraim he had received little honour as yet.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 8:2. Is not the gleaning, &c. The Ephraimites, displeased that they had not been called to share the glory of this enterprise with their brethren of the tribe of Manasseh, to whom they judged themselves superior, sharply expostulate with Gideon upon the occasion. He gives them a soft and gentle answer, which had the due effect, abating their anger towards him, Jdg 8:3. (See Pro 15:1.) He magnifies their service, as greatly superior to his own; disarming their insolence by his humility; their anger by his meekness; a singular instance of modesty and prudence in a man of Gideon’s carriage. See chap. 12: The words, Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim, &c. mean, that what the tribe of Ephraim had, as it were, gleaned and picked up after the victory, particularly their capture of Oreb and Zeeb, was far more than all which Gideon and his host had done. Abiezer was the chief of the family from which Gideon descended. See ch. Jdg 6:11. Jos 17:2.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
How gracious the mind of Gideon, in turning away wrath by gentleness. But observe, how Gideon points to the hand of God in all this business. See a sweet instance in the patriarch Joseph to the same effect. Gen 45:7-8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 8:2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? [Is] not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
Ver. 2. What have I done now in comparison of you? ] By a soft answer he pacifieth their wrath. Pro 17:1 ; Pro 25:15 Milk quencheth wildfire: oil, saith Luther, quenches lime, which water kindles. Hard to hard, will never do well: but you may break a flint upon a cushion; a bullet if it light upon a wool sack, dieth there. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath.” Rom 12:19 Howbeit some men are as nettles: handle them gently, they sting you; handle them hard, and they will do you no hurt.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
What . . . ? Is not. . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
What: 1Co 13:4-7, Gal 5:14, Gal 5:15, Phi 2:2, Phi 2:3, Jam 1:19, Jam 1:20, Jam 3:13-18
Is not the: That is, the Ephraimites have performed more important services than Gideon and his men had achieved.
Abiezer: Jdg 6:11, Jdg 6:34
Reciprocal: Lev 19:10 – glean Num 26:30 – Jeezer Jos 17:2 – the children 1Ch 7:18 – General Isa 17:6 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 8:2. What have I done now? &c. What I have done in cutting off some of the common soldiers is not to be compared with your destroying their princes. I began the war, but you have finished it. Gideon here shows a noble temper of mind, which deserves admiration and imitation. Though in the midst of a most glorious victory, in which he was the chief instrument; yet, for the sake of the common good, that there might be no dissension, nor the help of the Ephraimites be wanting to distress the enemy, he receives their reproaches without anger, and even humbles himself before them, making himself of no account in comparison with them, and magnifying their service as greatly superior to his own. He disarms their insolence by his humility; their anger by his meekness; a singular instance, says Dr. Dodd, of modesty and prudence in a man of Gideons courage. Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim What you have gleaned, or done after me; better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? That is, of the Abi-ezrites, to whom he modestly ascribes the honour of the victory, and does not arrogate it to himself. It is not improbable but this might be a proverbial expression in those days, whereby it was customary to commend the smallest action of one as superior to the greatest of another. And the proverb, perhaps, was founded on fact, namely, that more grapes were usually gleaned in the large and extensive country occupied by the Ephramites, than the whole vintage of the small district belonging to Abi-ezer afforded. Be this as it will, the proverb is here applied with all the propriety imaginable, and its meaning is obvious. It is as if he had said, These scattered parties which you have gleaned and picked up at the fords of Jordan are much more considerable than those which I and my whole host have destroyed.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of {b} you? [Is] not the {c} gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
(b) Who have slain two princes, Oreb and Zeeb.
(c) This last act of the whole tribe is more famous, than the whole enterprise of one man of one family.