Topical Bible: Israel: Under the Judges: Seven Years of Bondage to the Midianites; Delivered by Gideon

◄ Israel: Under the Judges: Seven Years of Bondage to the Midianites; Delivered by Gideon ►

Topical Encyclopedia

During the period of the Judges, the Israelites experienced cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. One significant episode in this era was the seven years of bondage to the Midianites, which culminated in deliverance through Gideon, a judge raised by God.

The Midianite Oppression

The oppression by the Midianites is recorded in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8. The Israelites, having once again turned away from the LORD and done evil in His sight, were given into the hands of the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, would invade Israel during the harvest season, devastating the land by destroying crops and livestock. This left the Israelites impoverished and forced them to hide in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds (Judges 6:1-6).

The Call of Gideon

In response to Israel's cries for help, God chose Gideon, a man from the tribe of Manasseh, to deliver His people. Gideon was initially hesitant and doubted his own ability, questioning, "How can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house" (Judges 6:15). However, the Angel of the LORD assured him, "Surely I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man" (Judges 6:16).

Gideon's Faith and Obedience

Gideon's journey to becoming a deliverer began with an act of faith and obedience. He tore down his father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it, building an altar to the LORD in its place (Judges 6:25-27). This act of defiance against idolatry set the stage for his leadership.

The Battle Against the Midianites

God instructed Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 men to just 300, ensuring that the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength (Judges 7:2-7). Armed with trumpets, empty jars, and torches, Gideon's small force surrounded the Midianite camp. At Gideon's signal, they blew the trumpets, smashed the jars, and shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20). The LORD caused confusion among the Midianites, who turned on each other, leading to a miraculous victory for Israel.

Aftermath and Gideon's Leadership

Following the defeat of the Midianites, the Israelites sought to make Gideon their king. However, Gideon refused, declaring, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Despite his refusal of kingship, Gideon made an ephod from the gold collected from the spoils of war, which later became a snare to him and his family, as it led Israel back into idolatry (Judges 8:24-27).

Gideon's leadership brought peace to the land for forty years, but his death marked the beginning of another cycle of apostasy for Israel. The account of Gideon serves as a testament to God's power to deliver His people through unlikely means and the importance of faith and obedience in the face of overwhelming odds.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 6:1
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
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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.
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Judges 8:1-28
And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you called us not, when you went to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
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