Jether

Biblical Account

Jether is the firstborn son of Gideon and is named only once, in Judges 8. Gideon pursued the Midianite army east of the Jordan River and captured its two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. These two kings had earlier killed Gideon's brothers at Tabor. Gideon told them, "If ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you" (Judges 8:18–19).

Gideon commanded his firstborn, Jether, to rise up and slay them. "But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth" (Judges 8:20). The two kings then told Gideon to strike them down himself. Gideon thereupon slew them and took the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on their camels' necks (Judges 8:21).

Scripture does not record Jether's age or anything about the rest of his life. The New Testament makes no mention of him.

Significance Within Scripture

This scene marks the close of the war against Midian within the Gideon narrative of the period of the judges. Jether is portrayed as one who was called upon to take over from his father the duty of avenging his kinsmen's blood but was unable to carry it out.

Interpretations and Issues

Interpreters have offered several explanations for why Gideon entrusted the execution to his son.

• Some connect it with the ancient Israelite custom by which a family avenged the blood of slain kinsmen. The Hebrew word for the one who avenges blood (go'el) is the same word used for the kinsman-redeemer.
• Others suggest that Gideon intended to humiliate the enemy kings by having them die at the hands of a boy.
• Still others hold that he wished to cultivate courage in his son.

The text does not directly state Gideon's intention.

Gideon had seventy sons (Judges 8:30). Scripture records that when Abimelech later killed them upon one stone, only the youngest, Jotham, survived (Judges 9:5). In light of this record, some hold that Jether also died at that time. The text, however, does not mention Jether by name.

Other individuals in Scripture bear the same Hebrew name, but they are distinct from the Jether of this article.

In the Korean Church

Sermons or Sunday school lessons devoted specifically to Jether are rare. He is generally mentioned only briefly, as part of a scene in Judges 8, when the story of Gideon is taught.