After executing the two kings, Gideon takes the ornaments off their camels’ necks. This curious detail is significant in that such ornaments, along with the pendants and purple garments mentioned in 8:26, were status symbols often associated with royalty. Perhaps not coincidentally, Gideon’s interest in such items is followed immediately by the report of the people’s offer of kingship to him (8:22–27).

Admittedly, kingship is never explicitly mentioned in the people’s offer. But the verb “to rule over” (Hebrew mashal) is often associated with kingly rule (cf. Josh. 12:2, 5; 1 Kings 4:21; 2 Chron. 7:18). In fact, in Judges 9:2, Abimelek persuades the Shechemites to let him “rule over” them, and as a result, they make him king (Judg. 9:6, 16). Furthermore, Israel’s offer to Gideon is for a dy…