We now enter the final chapter of Gideon’s story, and this section is relatively unknown. The battle has been fought, and we find a description of the aftermath of the victory, a kind of epilogue. Perhaps this is why it is rarely read. But this chapter, like the previous one, is also full of typological references.
Judges 8
1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not to call out to us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they quarreled with him fiercely.
2 And he said to them, “What have I done compared to you? Is not the harvest of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3 God has given into your hands the rulers of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and what have I done compared to you? Then their spirits softened against him when he spoke these words.
Birthright
The men of Ephraim felt ignored by Gideon because he hadn’t called them up for battle. Ephraim was an important tribe because they received the birthright blessing (Genesis 49). In the Bible, “Ephraim” often refers to the entire ten-tribe kingdom, named after the most prominent tribe. Ephraim held a prominent position among the tribes of Israel, and now they reproach Gideon for not calling them up for the battle that led to victory.
A Gentle Answer
Gideon answered them kindly. We know the expression: “One catches more flies with honey than with vinegar,” and we find something similar in Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Prov. 15:1). Gideon compliments the men of Ephraim, and that calms them down.
Victory
The Ephraimites had captured and killed the two princes of Midian. Gideon, who was of the lineage of Abi-ezer (6:11), says, “Is not the harvest of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?” Gideon is referring to what Ephraim did at the end of the battle, namely, intercepting and killing the Midianite leaders Oreb and Zeeb (Judg. 7:24–25). Gideon says that this is more than his own achievement. Gideon fought the battle, but what Ephraim achieved was complete victory over the enemy.
Fullness of Nations
When Jacob gave his grandson Ephraim the birthright blessing, he said that Ephraim would become a fullness of nations (Gen. 48:19). Many centuries later, the ten tribes (Ephraim) were carried away into Assyrian exile. Later, a very small portion returned and settled in Judah. However, the majority of Ephraim never returned and disappeared among the nations. It was precisely there that the gospel later reached through Paul, and in this context, Paul mentions Ephraim’s birthright blessing and speaks of the fullness of the nations (Rom. 11:25).
Victory
It would take us too far afield to elaborate on this topic here. For now, it suffices to note that Ephraim is a type of believers from the nations: the ecclesia, the body of Christ. In Him we are more than conquerors! Just as these men of Ephraim share in Gideon’s victory, without having to fight for it themselves.
Romans 8
37 But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.