Earlier, we saw that Gideon was to tear down the altar of Baal and Asherah and build a new altar to the LORD in the same place, using the materials from the old sanctuary (6:25-26). Here he takes the religious symbols of the Midianites—the crescent moons, earrings, and necklaces—and makes the ephod from them.
Judges 8
25 (…) They spread out the robe and threw upon it a pendant for each man from his spoil.
26 The weight of the gold pendants he requested was one thousand seven hundred [shekels] of gold, besides the crescent moons, the earrings, and the purple robes of the kings of Midian, and the necklaces that were around their camels’ necks.
27 And Gideon made it into an ephod and put it in his city, in Ophrah (…)
Ishmaelites
The Midianites are considered Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:25, 28, 36; 39:1). We also find this in the story of Joseph (Gen. 37:25, 28, 36; 39:1). Midian and Ishmael were half-brothers (Gen. 16:15; 25:2), both sons of Abraham, but from different mothers.
crescents
The crescent moons are mentioned twice, because “the necklaces that were around the camels’ necks” were also made of crescents (v. 21). To this day, the crescent moon serves as a symbol of Islam, whose tradition links its origins to Ishmael. The moon is appointed to rule over the night (Gen. 1:16) and thus represents the prince of darkness.
It is noteworthy that the region of Midian is located in present-day Saudi Arabia. It is precisely there that the most important sanctuaries of Islam are located, with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina as their absolute centers.
From Old to New
Gideon’s act of melting down the Midianites’ gold treasures into a high priestly garment is a depiction of the old covenant transitioning into a new covenant. At the same time, it refers to the religion of this world, which will be abolished by Christ.
Note, moreover, that a robe is spread out to gather the gold. Clothing symbolizes glory, and from the collected gold, a new garment is then made: an ephod.