Judges 8:27

8:27 Gideon used all this to make ¹  an ephod, ²  which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites ³  prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it ⁴  there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 2:17

2:17 But they did not obey ⁵  their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped ⁶  them. They quickly turned aside from the path ⁷  their ancestors ⁸  had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord’s commands, but they did not. ⁹ 

---

¹ tn Heb “made it into.”

² sn In Exod 28:4-6 and several other texts an ephod is described as a priestly or cultic garment. In some cases an ephod is used to obtain a divine oracle (1 Sam 23:9; 30:7). Here the ephod is made of gold and is described as being quite heavy (70-75 lbs?). Some identify it as an idol, but it was more likely a cultic object fashioned in the form of a garment which was used for oracular purposes. For discussion of the ephod in the OT, see C. F. Burney, Judges, 236-43, and R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 349-52.

³ tn Heb “Israel” (a collective singular).

⁴ tn The words “by worshiping it” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “did not listen to.”

⁶ tn Or “bowed before.”

⁷ tn Or “way [of life].”

⁸ tn Or “fathers.”

⁹ tn Heb “…walked, obeying the Lord’s commands. They did not do this.”