Matthew Henry Commentary Judges 8:1-3

"And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply. And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that." — Judges 8:1-3 (ASV)

Those who will not attempt or venture anything in the cause of God, will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with those who are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. And those who are the most reluctant to perform difficult services will be the most angry not to receive credit for them. Gideon stands here as a great example of self-denial; and shows us that envy is best removed by humility. The Ephraimites had given vent to their passion in very wrong freedom of speech, a certain sign of a weak cause: reason runs low when chiding flies high.