The Republican., 1935-02-14
Pen Pictures of Patriarchs
EON
A Sequel

A Sequel
The Ephraimites were turbulent
and rebellious people, the kind who
carry the proverbial chip on their
shoulders. Despite the fact that Gid
con had sent couriers throughout all
Mount Ephraim, saying: Come down
against the Midianites, and take be-
fore them the waters unto Beth-barah
and Jordan" these herdy mountain
eers We're offended because they had
not been summoned at the very out
break of hostilities. Nevertheless they
gave an excellent account of them
selves, holding the fords of the Joc-
dan, where they captured Oreb and
| Ze-eb, tro princes of the Midianites,
whom they slew and brought their
heads to Gideon on the other side Of
the Jordan. Then did they chide
sharply with Gideon because of the
hardness of their call to the colors.
But Gideon, with the modesty born OF
true greatness, replied: What have l
done in comparison of you? Is not the
cleaning of the grapes of Ephraim
better than the vintage of Abiezar?
God hath delieverd into your hands
the princes Of indian, Oreb and
Ze-eb: and what was 1 able to do in
comparison of you?" This reminds US
of Admiral Schley, who gave all the
credit to the men behind the guns.
This concilatory and self-abasing at
titude fully abated the anger and re-
lieved the disappointment of these
fighting Ephraimites.
As Gideon went on in pursuit Of his
enemies, he met with much churlish-
ness from the men Of Succoth, and
also from the men of Penuel, who re-
fused bread for his weary army. He
promised to scourge them of Succoth
with thorns of the wilderness and
briars, and to break down town OF
Penuel in revenge for this ill-treat-
ment of those who were their deliver
ers from the hand Of oppression. Ac-
cordingly, when the two kings OF Md
ian, Zebah and Zamunna, were IL
nally captured, Gideon returned to
Succoth, before the sun was up. There
he caught a young man of whom ne
obtained a description of the princes
and elders of Succoth. Of these there
were seventy-seven. Bringing them
forth in the public place, Gideon
caused them to be scourged with bril-
ars and thorns, as he had threatened
to do. He also slew the rebels of Pen
uel and destroyed their citadel. Hav-
ing thus cleansed the inside of the
cup. he said unto Zebah and Zalmun-
ma. "What manner of men were they
whom we slew at Tabor?" and they
answered, GAS thou art, so were they;
each one resembled the children of
king" And he said, "They were my
brethren, even the sons of my mother:
as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved
them alive, I would not slay you"
| Then he called unto his eldest son,
Jethro, to up and slay them. But be-
cause of his youth he feared, and drew
not his sword. The two kings, Zebah
and Zalmunna, were brave men.
Knowing that their doom was sealed,
they said to Gideon: "Rise thou, and
fall on US: for as the man is, SO is
his strength" And Gideon arose and
slew them, taking away their golden
ornaments and the decorations of
their camels.
The men of Israel tried to crown
Gideon king, and set up a dynasty,
making Jethro his successor. But he
answered, 81 will not rule over you,
neither shall my son rule over you:
the Lord shall rule over you"
| Gideon's action in making the gol-
den ephod from the earrings of his
foes was far less wise; for instead Of
remaining a symbol of deliverance
and victory over their enemies, it soon
became for the Israelites an object Of
idolatry, and snare unto Gideon and
his house. Thus again is revealed the
inherent weakness of human nature,
even in it's greatest representations,
Gideon judged Israel forty years,
keeping the people from the worship
of Baal and Ashtoreth. He died in a
good old age and was buried in the
sepulchre of Joash his father, in Oph-
rah of the Abiezrites.
10Th A M