Seems like Gideon wants a little revenge when some tribes don't give his troops bread before they capture Zebah and Zalmunna,the kings of Midian...Gideon indeed captures the kings, but he goes back and does a little killing...scholars have different opinions about his motivation....
Gideon makes an ephod out of the spoils (earrings) and the Israelites prostitute themselves and worship it (remind you of the Golden Calf???) There is peace for 40 years and Gideon has 70 sons and a son from a concubine. This son from the concubine wants some serious power and essentially declares himself king of the people. He kills 69 of the sons. Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon tells the parable of the trees...it had to do with appointing leaders of good character...does the leader want power, prestige and praise, or is he in it for the people?
Abimelech gets killed by a silly old girl..irony is rampant here. How humiliating that he wasn't killed by fighting and he gets whacked by a farm implement instead of a weapon.....Abimelech was the exact opposite of what God wanted in a judge, so He took care of it.
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