שופטים, פרק ח׳, פסוק כ״ו

Following the decisive triumph over Midian, the spoils of war are gathered, revealing the immense wealth left behind on the battlefield. The sheer volume of gold brought to Gideon reaches an astonishing weight of roughly 185 kilograms, representing seventeen hundred gold coins [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The people give this treasure willingly, exactly as Gideon requested [מצודת דוד].

Importantly, this request does not stem from greed. As the commander of the army, Gideon is already legally entitled to a portion of the spoils. He specifically asks for the gold earrings for a deeply symbolic reason. Because an earring physically connects the ear and the mouth, Gideon plans to melt them down to create an ephod, a garment that will serve as a memorial to the verbal promise the Israelites made that he and his descendants would rule over them. Alternatively, the ephod is intended to serve as a lasting monument to the miraculous victory orchestrated by God.

Gideon never intends for this object to become an idol. However, after his death, the people stray and begin to worship the ephod. Because Gideon places his trust in a material object to secure his family's political future rather than relying entirely on God, this decision becomes a fatal trap. Ultimately, this misplaced trust leads to the tragic death of his sons [אברבנאל].

Beyond the gold earrings donated by the people, Gideon takes additional spoils directly from the war, as is his right as a leader [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. This wealth includes the luxurious purple garments worn by the Midianite kings [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He also claims various ornaments, including crescent-shaped chains and decorative collars draped around the necks of the camels [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Regarding another specific type of collected item, there are a few different understandings. Some explain it as hanging jewelry made of precious stones or metals, shaped like drops that rest against the heart [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others suggest it refers to a distinct type of royal crown [רש״י, רד״ק]. A third perspective argues that these are not pieces of jewelry at all, but rather golden vessels designed to carry a highly expensive perfume [רלב״ג, רד״ק].