Gideon (Judges 6:1–16; Judges 6:17–24; Judges 6:25–32; Judges 6:33–40; Judges 7:1–8; Judges 7:9–15; Judges 7:16–25; Judges 8:1–21; Judges 8:22–23; Judges 8:24–27; Judges 8:28–35; Judges 9:1–6; Judges 9:56–57; 1 Samuel 12:11; Hebrews 11:32–34)

Mighty Man of Valor, Son of Joash

A son of Joash the Abiezrite, found beating out wheat in a winepress at Ophrah when the angel of the LORD called him, who threw down his father's altar of Baal and was named Jerubbaal, routed Midian with three hundred men, refused to rule Israel, and made an ephod that became a snare.

The book of Judges tells how Israel “did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years” (Judges 6:1). When Israel cried out, the angel of the LORD came to Ophrah, where “his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11), and said to him, “Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). Gideon answered, “my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). He asked for a sign and received it, threw down his father's altar of Baal by night, and was called Jerubbaal that day; then “the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet” (Judges 6:34), and he twice asked God for a sign with a fleece.

The LORD told him the people were too many: “there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand” (Judges 7:3), and those who lapped at the water were “three hundred men” (Judges 7:6). With trumpets and pitchers they surrounded the camp of Midian and cried, “The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon” (Judges 7:20). He answered the men of Ephraim so that their anger was abated, pursued Zebah and Zalmunna “faint, yet pursuing” (Judges 8:4), punished Succoth and Penuel for refusing him bread, and slew the two kings of Midian. When Israel said, “Rule thou over us,” (Judges 8:22) he answered, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah shall rule over you” (Judges 8:23).

He then asked for the golden ear-rings of the spoil and made an ephod in Ophrah, and “all Israel played the harlot after it there; and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house” (Judges 8:27). The land had rest forty years; he died “in a good old age” (Judges 8:32), and as soon as he was dead Israel made Baal-berith their god. His son Abimelech slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal upon one stone, and only Jotham was left (Judges 9:5). Samuel later names “Jerubbaal” (1 Samuel 12:11) among those whom the LORD sent (1 Samuel 12:11), and Hebrews says “the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah” (Hebrews 11:32).

Strengths

• A mighty man of valor
• Did as the LORD had spoken
• The Spirit of the LORD upon him
• Abated the anger of Ephraim
• Worshipped
• Faint, yet pursuing
• Would not rule

Weaknesses

• Feared his father's household
• The ephod became a snare

Themes

• Weakness and calling
• Signs from God
• Baal and the LORD
• Victory by few
• The LORD shall rule
• A snare after the victory

Midian oppresses Israel; the angel calls Gideon (Judges 6:1–16)

The LORD delivers Israel into the hand of Midian seven years; the angel of the LORD finds Gideon beating out wheat in the winepress and sends him to save Israel.

Midian oppresses Israel; the angel calls Gideon

“And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah” (Judges 6:6). The LORD sent a prophet to remind them that he had brought them up from Egypt, “But ye have not hearkened unto my voice” (Judges 6:10).

“And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:11-12).

Gideon asked why all this had befallen them, and the LORD looked upon him and said, “Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?” (Judges 6:14). He replied, “behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15) And the LORD said, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16).

Fire from the rock; Jehovah-shalom (Judges 6:17–24)

Gideon asks for a sign, brings a kid and unleavened cakes, and fire goes up out of the rock; the LORD tells him he shall not die, and he builds an altar there called Jehovah-shalom.

The altar of Baal thrown down; named Jerubbaal (Judges 6:25–32)

At the LORD's word Gideon throws down his father's altar of Baal and cuts down the Asherah by night; Joash answers the men of the city, and Gideon is called Jerubbaal.

The altar of Baal thrown down; named Jerubbaal

“And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father’s bullock, even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it” (Judges 6:25).

“Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night” (Judges 6:27).

When the men of the city found it, they said to Joash, “Bring out thy son, that he may die” (Judges 6:30). Joash answered, “if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar” (Judges 6:31). “Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar” (Judges 6:32).

The Spirit comes; the fleece (Judges 6:33–40)

The Spirit of the LORD comes upon Gideon, he blows a trumpet and Abiezer, Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali gather to him, and he asks God for a sign twice with a fleece of wool.

Reduced to three hundred (Judges 7:1–8)

The LORD tells Gideon the people are too many; twenty and two thousand fearful men return, and of the ten thousand left the water test leaves three hundred.

Reduced to three hundred

“And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me” (Judges 7:2).

Gideon was to proclaim, “Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand” (Judges 7:3). The LORD said the people were yet too many and bade him bring them down to the water, where those who lapped were set apart: “the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men” (Judges 7:6).

“And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand” (Judges 7:7).

The dream overheard in the camp of Midian (Judges 7:9–15)

The LORD sends Gideon down to the camp, with Purah his servant if he fears; he hears a man tell a dream of a barley cake and its interpretation, and worships.

Trumpets, pitchers, and the rout of Midian (Judges 7:16–25)

Gideon divides the three hundred into three companies with trumpets and torches in pitchers; the host of Midian flees, and Ephraim takes the waters of Jordan and slays Oreb and Zeeb.

Trumpets, pitchers, and the rout of Midian

“And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers” (Judges 7:16). He told them, “Look on me, and do likewise” (Judges 7:17).

“And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands wherewith to blow; and they cried, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight” (Judges 7:20-21).

“And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Jehovah set every man’s sword against his fellow, and against all the host” (Judges 7:22). Gideon sent messengers through the hill-country of Ephraim, and the men of Ephraim “took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb” (Judges 7:25).

Ephraim, Succoth, Penuel, and the two kings of Midian (Judges 8:1–21)

Gideon answers Ephraim so that their anger is abated, is refused bread by Succoth and Penuel, takes Zebah and Zalmunna, punishes both cities, and slays the kings.

Declines to rule (Judges 8:22–23)

The men of Israel ask Gideon to rule over them, both he and his son and his son's son, and he answers that the LORD shall rule over them.

The ephod at Ophrah (Judges 8:24–27)

Gideon asks for the ear-rings of the spoil, makes an ephod and puts it in Ophrah, and it becomes a snare to him and his house.

The ephod at Ophrah

“And Gideon said unto them, I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil” (Judges 8:24). They answered, “We will willingly give them” (Judges 8:25), and the weight of the golden ear-rings was “a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold” (Judges 8:26).

“And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the harlot after it there; and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house” (Judges 8:27).

Scripture does not say why he made it or what it was for; it says only what Israel did and what it became.

Death, and the house of Jerubbaal (Judges 8:28–35; Judges 9:1–6; Judges 9:56–57)

The land has rest forty years; Gideon dies in a good old age, Israel makes Baal-berith their god and shows no kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, and Abimelech his son slays his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal upon one stone, Jotham the youngest alone being left.

Joash (Judges 6:11; Judges 6:30–31; Judges 8:32)

His father, the Abiezrite of Ophrah, who answered the men of the city that Baal should contend for himself if he be a god.

Jether (Judges 8:20)

His first-born, told to slay Zebah and Zalmunna, who drew not his sword because he feared, being yet a youth.

Abimelech (Judges 8:31; Judges 9:1–6; Judges 9:56)

His son by the concubine in Shechem, who slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal and was made king by the men of Shechem.

Jotham son of Gideon (Judges 9:5; Judges 9:57)

His youngest son, who hid himself when the rest were slain, and whose curse came upon the men of Shechem.

The angel of the LORD (Judges 6:11–12; Judges 6:20–22)

Sat under the oak at Ophrah, called him a mighty man of valor, and touched the offering so that fire went up out of the rock.

The LORD (Judges 6:14; Judges 7:2–7; Judges 8:23)

Sent him to save Israel, brought his army down to three hundred, and was named by him as the one who shall rule over Israel.

Purah (Judges 7:10–11)

His servant, who went down with him to the outermost part of the armed men in the camp of Midian.

The men of Ephraim (Judges 7:24–25; Judges 8:1–3)

Summoned to take the waters of the Jordan and slew Oreb and Zeeb, then chided him sharply until his answer abated their anger.

Zebah and Zalmunna (Judges 8:5; Judges 8:10; Judges 8:12; Judges 8:18–21)

The two kings of Midian, who were in Karkor and fled, and whom Gideon took and slew, taking the crescents from their camels' necks.

The men of Succoth and Penuel (Judges 8:5–9; Judges 8:14–17)

Refused bread to Gideon's weary men; he taught the men of Succoth with thorns and briers and broke down the tower of Penuel.

Major sections

• Judges 6–8
• Judges 9
• 1 Samuel 12:11
• Hebrews 11:32–34

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