Judges 8:24

The making of the ephod and the manner in which it is spoken of belong to an early stage of religious thought; Judges 8:24 a may, therefore, belong to the early narrative Judges 8:4; they have been skilfully connected with Judges 8:22. The request shewed Gideon's disinterestedness and piety. As chief he would have the right to choose some gift for himself before the spoil was divided among his followers; cf. Judges 5:30; 1 Samuel 30:20. The custom prevailed in ancient Arabia; see Robertson Smith, Rel. of Sem., p. 440.

earrings So when worn by men, LXX here, Genesis 35:4; Job 42:11; but nose-ringswhen worn by women, Genesis 24:47; Isaiah 3:21. Pliny mentions the wearing of earrings by men in the East, Hist. Nat.xi. 50.

Ishmaelites i.e. in a general sense, Bedouin. Strictly, according to Genesis 25:2, Ishmael was the half-brother of Midian; cf. the interchange of the names in Genesis 37:25-36.