John Gill Commentary Judges 8:23

"And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah shall rule over you." — Judges 8:23 (ASV)

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you
Not that he declined the government of them as a judge, to which he was raised of God, but as a king, for which he had no authority and call from God; the choice of a king belonging to him, and not to the people:

neither shall my son rule over you ;
which Abarbinel thinks he spoke as a prophet, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; for after his death neither Jether his eldest son, nor any of the rest of his legitimate sons, ruled over them; for they were all slain by Abimelech, the son of his concubine, who was made king:

the Lord shall rule over you ;
as he did; their government was a theocracy, which they would have changed, but Gideon would not agree to it.