In the closing verses of Gideon’s story, we read that Gideon dies and the people fall back into idolatry. From Judges 9 onward, the story of Gideon’s son Abimelech is described, marking a new low point in the history of Israel.
Judges 8
32 Gideon, son of Joash died in his old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of Abizeria.
33 Now it came to pass when Gideon died that the children of Israel went astray and committed adultery with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.
34 And the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who delivered them from the hand of all their enemies around.
35 And they did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal-Gideon, according to all the good that he had done for Israel.
Power
Gideon died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah. The name Joash means: YAHWEH is powerful. We have seen several times that the oak tree stood in Ophrah, an emblem of God’s promises (Judg. 6:11), and that oak trees were also places where the dead were buried (Gen. 35:8). God is powerful to fulfill His promises, and He has done so in the One whom Gideon foreshadows: Jesus Christ.
It is also significant to remember that Gideon died and was laid in a tomb that testifies to God’s power—resurrection power (Eph. 1:19-20).
Baal-Berit
After Gideon’s death, the people of Israel again went astray and made Baal-Berit their god. Baal-berith means: lord of the covenant. This is a representation of the Jewish people who, after Jesus’ death, clung to the old covenant. God had sent their Redeemer, but they returned to what God had put an end to.
all the good
Gideon is often portrayed negatively in commentaries, particularly because of his actions with the ephod. However, when God looks at Gideon, He sees the good and the faith of Gideon (cf. Heb. 11:32).
Gideon and all the good he had done are no longer remembered by Israel (Judg. 8:34). This is a representation of Israel in our time, which does not know and does not recognize its Savior and Redeemer, Christ Jesus.