Editing Gideon (section)

===Subsequent events===
The Israelites invited Gideon to become their king and to found a [[dynasty]], but he refused, telling them that only God was their ruler.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|8:22–23|HE}}</ref>

Gideon went on to make an ''[[ephod]]'' out of the gold won in battle. This action eventually caused the whole of Israel to turn away from God yet again and the ruin of Gideon and his family.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|8:24-27|HE}}</ref> Gideon had 70 sons from the many women he took as wives. He also had a [[Shechem]]ite concubine who bore him a son whom he named [[Abimelech (Judges)|Abimelech]], which means "my father is king".<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|8:31|HE}}</ref>

There was peace in Israel for 40 years during the life of Gideon. As soon as Gideon died of old age, the Israelites again turned to worship the false god [[Baal Berith]] and ignored the family of Gideon ({{Bibleverse|Judges|8:33|HE}}). Gideon was succeeded for a brief time as ruler of Shechem by his son Abimelech.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|9|HE}}</ref>