23 But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."
23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.
23 Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you."
23 Gideon said, "I most certainly will not rule over you, nor will my son. God will reign over you."
23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you."
23 But Gideon replied, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 8:23
Commentary on Judges 8:22-28
(Read Judges 8:22-28)
Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of the family. How soon will ornaments which feed the lust of the eye, and form the pride of life, as well as tend to the indulgences of the flesh, bring shame on those who are fond of them!