Judges 8: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Judges 8 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The men of Ephraim confronted Gideon, asking why he didn’t call them to the battle against Midian (vv. 1-3). Gideon, acknowledging their past victories, calmed their anger.

Key verse

“Gideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.”
Judges 8:27 (WEB)

Outline

Judges 8:1–3 Ephraim's Discontent
Judges 8:4–9 Pursuing Midian
Judges 8:10–21 Defeating Zebah and Zalmunna
Judges 8:22–27 Refusal of Kingship and Idolatry
Judges 8:28–32 Gideon's Legacy
Judges 8:33–35 Israel’s Apostasy

Discussion questions

In v3, what does Gideon say to calm the anger of the men of Ephraim?
What does Gideon promise to do to the tower of Penuel in v9?
Gideon's response in v22: why is he unwilling to rule over Israel?
In v27, what does the mention of the ephod suggest about Israel's faithfulness?
When has someone doubted your leadership like the men of Ephraim did in v1?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Judges 8: Judges 9, Judges 6, Psalm 78.

Before next time: read Judges 9.