Judges 8:32-35·~1 min
Gideon’s Death
Gideon dies and is buried in Ophrah. Soon after, Israel turns again to Baal worship, forgets the LORD who rescued them, and fails to repay Gideon’s house with kindness.
L32ater, Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33And as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals, and they set up Baal-berith as their god. 34The Israelites failed to remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for Israel.
Section summaryGideon dies in old age and is buried in his father’s tomb at Ophrah. After his death, Israel quickly turns again to the Baals, forgets the LORD who delivered them, and withholds kindness from Gideon’s house.
Role in the chapterThis closing section places Gideon’s life under the larger pattern of Judges. Deliverance and rest do not cure Israel’s forgetfulness, and the gratitude due to both the LORD and Gideon’s house fades almost at once.