Gideon’s response was orthodox, and when we first read it, we feel the urge to jubilate. Maybe Gideon has gotten revenge out of his system. Maybe he is in his right mind again. Or maybe not. Even though he formally turns down the offer to rule over Israel, he neglects to correct their belief that it was Gideon who saved them from the Midianites. And then he goes on to act exactly as if he had accepted their offer to rule over them.
23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.”