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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt:...which he did as he had promised: he scourged to death the princes and elders of Succoth, -coming upon them by surprise, before the sun was up; and he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city, by a severe punishment, but a Wholesome example, viii. 4-----17. When the men of Israel unanimously offered to make him king, and to continue the crown in his family, for this great deliverance, thus setting aside the Theocracy; he nobly and religiously refused the tempting offer: I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: THE LORD shall rule over you. viii. 22, 23. Though Gideon refused to violate the civil constitution of the government, yet he made a material innovation in the religious establishment. He was probably induced, by the altar which the LORD required him to build at Ophrah, on the rock where he had accepted his sacrifice, to think that this might be the place which THE LORD so often declared in the law, that He would choose for his name, or his worship; and who often styled himself THE ROCK; especially after he had commissioned Gideon to throw down the altar of Baal there. And the ephod which Gideon made out of the golden ear-rings of the spoils of the Ishmael-ites, willingly given him by his army, on his request; (not unlike Aaron, Exod. xxxii. 2, ) seems to have included not only the priests' dress, as the word signifies, but also a sacerdotal establishment in his own town, where sacrifices might be' regularly performed, and for which purpose a considerable sum of money would be requisite, such as the amount of the oiferings, 1700 shekels of gold; which at the rate of 1 16s. 6d. a piece, according to Arbuthnot's...