At first, it seemed as if he would. After the victory over the Midianites, the Israelites wanted to make Gideon and his ancestors rulers over them in perpetuity. Gideon recognized the idolatrous bent of this request, and declined. Sometime later, however, Gideon made an idol of gold to commemorate his victory, and stood it in the old places of the Baal and Asherah altars. The Bible says, “All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” (NIV, Judges 8:27) Still, the Israelites enjoyed peace for forty years after Gideon’s victory.