{"id":55445,"date":"2019-05-14T13:06:42","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T10:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=55445"},"modified":"2022-12-06T09:17:51","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T07:17:51","slug":"the-man-who-definitely-maybe-probably-would-not-be-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-man-who-definitely-maybe-probably-would-not-be-king\/","title":{"rendered":"The Man Who Definitely, Maybe, Probably, Would Not Be King"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[835,402],"acf":{"old_id":"55445","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":55294,"related_cahpter":"219","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"But should he have been? He did name his son \u201cmy father is king\u201d","content":"

Following the defeat of the Midianites, the people of Israel turn to Gideon and ask him to become king. This request for a dynastic rule, \u201cyou, your son, and your grandson\u201d (Judges 8:22), appears to be a rejection of the current, rotating system of Judges, in favor of a stable ruling family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gideon is the ideal candidate for the job. He is a creative military tactician and war hero. His appeasement of the men of Ephraim show his diplomatic strengths, while his punishment of the people of Succoth and Penuel are very much the actions of a king, meting out royal justice to those who disobey his directives. He is also seen as a king by others, with Zebah and Zalmunna describing him and his brothers as resembling \u201csons of a king\u201d (8:18). Even his earlier doubts of his leadership abilities (see 6:15-17) parallel him to other reluctant leaders of great stature, such as Moses (Exodus 3-4) and Saul (1 Samuel 9:21).<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Gideon turns down the position, stating \u201cthe Lord alone shall rule over you\u201d (8:23). Possibly, Gideon\u2019s refusal reflects a belief that only the religious office of the High Priest should be a permanent institution, alluded to in the fashioning of the ephod, the garment worn by the High Priest (See \u201cWhen the Judges Judges: Exegetical Studies in the Book of Judges\u201d by Yisrael Rozenson, p. 126-131). Or, maybe Gideon thought it improper that the people were choosing a king based on military might.<\/span><\/p>\n

Surprisingly, while Gideon turns down the official responsibilities of the position, he continues to enjoy the perks of kingship, taking many wives, and naming his son Abimelech, literally, \u201cmy father is king\u201d (8:30-31). Even his act of collecting gold for the ephod is reminiscent of the delaying tactic of Aaron at the golden calf, highlighting the disparity behind Gideon’s verbal rejection of the position, but continued use of the role when beneficial to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Gideon\u2019s refusal to rule, the book of Judges takes a dark turn. The next group of Judges is a violent, bizarre group, and the book ends with a civil war. One wonders what the alternate ending would have been had Gideon stepped up to be the leader his people needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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