Judges 8:26
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י
H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִשְׁקַ֞ל
And the weight
H4948
מִשְׁקַ֞ל
And the weight
Strong's:
H4948
Word #:
2 of 25
weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act)
זָהָ֑ב
of the golden
H2091
זָהָ֑ב
of the golden
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
4 of 25
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁאָ֔ל
that he requested
H7592
שָׁאָ֔ל
that he requested
Strong's:
H7592
Word #:
6 of 25
to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
אֶ֥לֶף
was a thousand
H505
אֶ֥לֶף
was a thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
7 of 25
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וּשְׁבַע
and seven
H7651
וּשְׁבַע
and seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
8 of 25
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
זָהָ֑ב
of the golden
H2091
זָהָ֑ב
of the golden
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
10 of 25
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
לְ֠בַד
H905
לְ֠בַד
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
11 of 25
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
12 of 25
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְהַנְּטִיפ֜וֹת
and collars
H5188
וְהַנְּטִיפ֜וֹת
and collars
Strong's:
H5188
Word #:
14 of 25
a pendant for the ears (especially of pearls)
שֶׁעַל֙
H5921
שֶׁעַל֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִדְיָ֔ן
of Midian
H4080
מִדְיָ֔ן
of Midian
Strong's:
H4080
Word #:
19 of 25
midjan, a son of abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
וּלְבַד֙
H905
וּלְבַד֙
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
20 of 25
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
21 of 25
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
23 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Historical Context
A shekel weighed approximately 11.4 grams. Seventeen hundred shekels represented enormous wealth—more than most Israelites would see in multiple lifetimes. The Midianite kings' regalia demonstrated their status and wealth derived from controlling trade routes through the Transjordan region.
Questions for Reflection
- How does accumulation of wealth and status contradict verbal declarations of humility?
- In what ways do you collect 'ornaments' of worldly success while claiming to serve God alone?
- What warnings does Scripture give about multiplying possessions, and how do you heed them?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
A thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold—approximately 43 pounds (19.5 kg) of gold, worth millions in modern currency. The Hebrew emphasizes the excessive amount: beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment...and beside the chains. The repeated 'beside' (לְבַד, levad) underscores the extravagance beyond even the earrings themselves.
Purple raiment (אַרְגָּמָן, argaman) signified royalty and extreme wealth, as the dye came from rare murex shellfish. The chains about their camels' necks (שַׁהֲרֹנִים, shaharonim, 'crescents' or 'ornaments') were decorative moon-shaped pendants, possibly with pagan religious significance. The accumulation of such wealth parallels Solomon's later excess (1 Kings 10:14-29) and violates the spirit of Deuteronomy 17:17's warning that kings must not 'multiply gold and silver.' Gideon collects the very trappings of kingship he verbally refused.