Story of Gideon, Judge and warrior of the Hebrews, late 16th century (tapestry)

Cartoons by designed by Maarten van Heemskerck (1496-1574), manufactured by Frans Geubels, Brussels. Story of Gideon (Gedeon): The Israelites hand their portion of the booty to Gideon. late 16th c. (371 x 406 cm). GIDEON. Judge and warrior of the Hebrews. Seventh tapestry in the series “” Story of Gideon'. Old Testament (Judges 8, 22-27). After the victory over the Midianites, the Sons of Israel asked Gideon to govern them and to establish his own dynasty. Gideon refused “” only the Lord will rule over you'”. However, he did want a reward, and requested “” that each of you give me a ring from your share of the plunder. For it was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold rings'. All the Israelites agreed to the request and “” so they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels' necks” (around two hundred kilograms of gold just in rings).