Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, is a prominent figure in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8, where he is called by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. His account is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, as well as the importance of obedience and faith.

Background and Calling

The Israelites had fallen into idolatry, worshiping the Baals and Asherahs, which led to their oppression by the Midianites. For seven years, the Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, devastated Israel's land, leaving them impoverished and desperate (Judges 6:1-6). In response to Israel's cries for help, God chose Gideon, a man from the tribe of Manasseh, to deliver His people.

Gideon's calling is marked by a divine encounter. While threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites, the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, saying, "The LORD is with you, O mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). Despite his initial hesitance and feelings of inadequacy, Gideon is reassured by God's promise, "Surely I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man" (Judges 6:16).

Preparation and Testing

Before leading Israel into battle, Gideon is instructed to tear down his father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. He obeys, building an altar to the LORD in its place and offering a sacrifice (Judges 6:25-27). This act of obedience earns him the name Jerubbaal, meaning "Let Baal contend against him."

Gideon seeks further confirmation of God's will through a series of tests involving a fleece. He asks God to make the fleece wet with dew while the ground remains dry, and then the reverse. God graciously complies, strengthening Gideon's faith (Judges 6:36-40).

The Battle Against the Midianites

Gideon assembles an army of 32,000 men, but God tells him that the number is too large, lest Israel boast of their own strength. Through a process of elimination, God reduces Gideon's army to just 300 men, ensuring that the victory will be attributed to divine intervention (Judges 7:2-7).

Armed with trumpets, empty jars, and torches, Gideon's men surround the Midianite camp. At Gideon's signal, they blow the trumpets, break the jars, and shout, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20). The LORD causes confusion among the Midianites, who turn on each other in panic, leading to their defeat (Judges 7:21-22).

Aftermath and Legacy

Following the victory, the Israelites request Gideon to rule over them, but he declines, saying, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Despite this, Gideon makes an ephod from the spoils of war, which becomes a snare to him and his family, leading Israel back into idolatry (Judges 8:27).

Gideon's leadership brought peace to Israel for forty years. He is remembered as a man of faith, listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32. His account serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the importance of faith and obedience in the face of overwhelming odds.Judges 6:33-35
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
Nave's Topical Index

Judges 7:1
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Nave's Topical Index

Judges 8:4-12
And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
Nave's Topical Index

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the ... Philistines, their political
organisation, their army and fleet ... made with Moab and Ammon against their common ...
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Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Gideon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is it acceptable to "lay out a fleece" before God in prayer? | GotQuestions.org

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