Syncretism at work

Gideon and Joash showed some awareness of YHWH and his cult (see 6:7, 13) but obviously combined those beliefs and practices with those of the surrounding Canaanites. Joash’s challenge to Baal and his followers after Gideon’s destruction of Baal’s altar (6:31) may have signaled a turning point in their religious loyalties but did not necessarily erase the influence of years of syncretistic worship. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume that even though Gideon’s moment of self-discovery has shown him that he has been appropriating the honor and loyalty due to YHWH alone, he would misguidedly and pathetically try to restore that honor to God by making a golden ephod for use in his worship.—Judging the Judges, 145

<idle musing>
Sounds only too familiar, doesn't it? Only difference is that the modern version substitutes a political party or cultural stance (right or left, doesn't matter). The end is still an attempt to "misguidedly and pathetically try to restore that honor to God."

Good book by the way. I finished it over the weekend (I'd been wanting to read it for a couple of years) and learned a good bit. The 150(!) pages of tables at the end are really interesting. I wonder if anyone else will use her model on other narratives?
</idle musing>