“And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.” Judges 8:27
God is not mentioned prominently in this chapter. He is mentioned in passing or when it seems an expedient thing to do, but for the most part God is forgotten. This is a sobering thought for when the battle with the Midianites began the people cried out to God and He answered. Now in a brief period of time He is neglected once again after the nation receives God’s blessing. Once again Israel turns its back on Him.
Gideon made an ephod of it Gideon takes the gold he requested and makes an ephod out of it. There is much debate about what Gideon made but God’s word clearly states what it was – an ephod. God told Moses in Exodus 28 to make an Ephod for the high priest. “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be
fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.” When Israel wanted to know God’s will, they consulted the high priest, who would then speak to God on their behalf. On the ephod were the Urim and Thummin, two gemstones. God would use them to communicate His will to the priest. This appears to be what Gideon built from the spoils of the war.
Put it in his city, in Ophrah Gideon had the ephod placed in the city where he lived. The simplest explanation for this act is he wanted the ephod to be close to him where he could access it as the judge of Israel.
Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family God tells us that the ephod Gideon created ended up becoming a huge trap for the people of Israel and for Gideon’s own family. God’s word says the nation ‘prostituted” itself after this ephod which means they worshipped it rather than the God in heaven. Satan also uses it as a snare to Gideon’s own family – a trap designed to lure them to steal God’s glory and to exalt themselves. (We cannot escape Satan’s temptations to make is prideful.)
What can we learn? Christ told Gideon in Judges 6:14 that He had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel. This included not just the battle with the Midianites but also the role of judge in Israel. The battle is now over and Gideon faces the awesome responsibility of leading Israel as its judge.
Gideon likely thinks back on how God miraculously defeated the Midianites. He heard God give direction, he obeyed God’s direction and he saw God give the victory. Gideon realizes there will be more times when he will need God’s direction and he thinks back on how God did that in the past. God doesn’t create a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide him so Gideon’s mind goes to the ephod of the high priest. If he can make one of those he will be able to see God’s will as he needs it. He has what he needs from the spoil of the war – the gold and the purple garments worn by the kings. So Gideon makes an ephod. Then he places it in Ophrah, his hometown, so he would have constant access to it.
Perhaps Gideon acted with a good intent. Wanting to know and obey God’s will is a good thing. Yet Gideon’s actions violated a command of God. In Exodus 20 God told Moses “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”. Gideon would likely justify his action by saying that he did not intend the ephod to be worshipped. But the ephod was to be worn by the high priest. By disobeying God’s command, the ephod became a symbol to be revered rather than the instrument through which God would speak to His people.
Thus this act which Gideon thought would aid Israel to know God’s actually tempted them into idolatry. They begin to worship the creation rather than the Creator. God uses a sharp, harsh term, zanah, for Israel’s sin. The worship of the ephod is unfaithfulness to God. Perhaps Gideon wanted to ensure God would always speak through him. Instead of developing a relationship with God, Gideon created a way to find God’s will if and when he wanted it. God was on call to do Gideon’s will instead of the reverse – the path to idolatry.