Judges 8:24
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Cross-reference
In Genesis 37:28, Midianites and Ishmaelites are used interchangeably, mirroring Judges 8:24's identification of the enemies as Ishmaelites.
Exodus 32:3 uses earrings to make a golden calf, paralleling Gideon's use of earrings to make an ephod that becomes an idol.
In Exodus 32:2, Aaron collects gold earrings to make the golden calf—parallel to Gideon collecting earrings to make an ephod, both leading to idolatry.
In Genesis 35:4, earrings are associated with foreign gods—similar to how Gideon later uses the gold from earrings to make an ephod that becomes an idol.
In Genesis 37:25, Ishmaelites are identified as traders—this explains why Gideon's enemies had gold earrings (wealth from trade).
In Deuteronomy 7:25, God warns not to take gold from idols—Gideon's collection of gold earrings later leads to idolatry with the ephod, contrasting the command.
Genesis 25:13 lists Ishmael's sons; Judges 8:24 identifies the earring owners as Ishmaelites, evidencing the genealogy.