Topical Bible: Judge: Gideon

◄ Judge: Gideon ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, is a prominent figure in the Book of Judges, chapters 6-8, in the Old Testament. He is recognized as the fifth judge of Israel and is celebrated for his role in delivering the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon's account is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, as well as a reminder of human frailty and the need for divine guidance.

Background:
The period of the Judges was marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance for the Israelites. After the death of Deborah and Barak, the Israelites again turned away from God, leading to their subjugation by the Midianites. The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, would invade Israel, destroying crops and livestock, leaving the Israelites impoverished and desperate.

Call of Gideon:
Gideon was the son of Joash, from the tribe of Manasseh. He was called by God while he was 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, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). Despite his initial doubts and feelings of inadequacy, Gideon was assured by God that he would lead Israel to victory over the Midianites.

Signs and Assurance:
Gideon sought confirmation of his calling through signs. He prepared an offering, which the Angel of the LORD consumed with fire (Judges 6:21). Later, Gideon requested two signs involving a fleece of wool: first, that dew would fall only on the fleece while the ground remained dry, and then the reverse. God graciously granted both signs, strengthening Gideon's faith (Judges 6:36-40).

Destruction of Baal's Altar:
In obedience to God's command, Gideon destroyed his father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. He built an altar to the LORD in its place, earning the name Jerubbaal, meaning "Let Baal contend against him" (Judges 6:32).

The Battle Against the Midianites:
Gideon assembled an army from the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. However, God instructed him to reduce the number of his troops to ensure that the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength. The army was reduced from 32,000 to 300 men, chosen by their manner of drinking water (Judges 7:1-7).

Armed with trumpets, empty jars, and torches, Gideon's men surrounded the Midianite camp. At Gideon's signal, they blew the trumpets, broke the jars, and shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20). The Midianites were thrown into confusion, turning on each other, and fled. The Israelites pursued and defeated them, securing a great victory.

Aftermath and Leadership:
Following the victory, the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, but he refused, saying, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Despite his refusal to become king, 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 the Israelites into idolatry (Judges 8:27).

Legacy:
Gideon judged Israel for forty years, during which the land had peace. He had many wives and seventy sons, including Abimelech, who would later cause strife in Israel. Gideon's life is a complex narrative of faith, obedience, and human weakness, illustrating the need for reliance on God and the dangers of turning away from Him. His account is a powerful reminder of God's ability to use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 6:11-40
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
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 8:1
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.
Nave's Topical Index

Strong's Hebrew

1439. Gidon -- a judge of Isr.
... Transliteration: Gidon Phonetic Spelling: (ghid-ohn') Short Definition: Gideon.
Word Origin from gada Definition a judge of Isr. NASB Word Usage Gideon (38). ...
/hebrew/1439.htm - 6k

Library

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... Of all the fifteen men who ruled as Judges of Israel, Gideon, the fifth Judge,
was the greatest, in courage, in wisdom, and in faith in God. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

Gideon and the Fleece.
... distress, raised up "judges" to deliver them from their enemies, and to judge over
them. ... One that lived about one hundred years before Samuel was named Gideon. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/gideon and the fleece.htm

The Choice of Gideon was a Figure of Our Lord's Incarnation, The
... Gideon, too, was willing to wash the feet of the Angel of the Lord who appeared ... from
the faith she received as a suppliant the enemy himself, the judge of kings ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/the choice of gideon was.htm

Judges and Ruth.
... (3) What elements of strength and of weakness are to be found in the character of
each judge. (4) From the story of Gideon and Sampson, point out New Testament ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter vii judges and ruth.htm

The Kingdom Conquering
... No Prophecy. The work of each judge is analogous to the work of Christ. XIV. Questions:
1. Name the three signs by which Gideon was assured of his call. ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/iii the kingdom conquering.htm

The Judges.
... (3) What each judge accomplished against the enemy and what weapon he used ... (5) The
New Testament truths illustrated in the life and work of Gideon and Samson. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm

Judges
... follow"the stories of Othniel, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Jephthah and ... period
by twelve judges, Abimelech being apparently reckoned a judge, though he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... such a hero, judge, statesman, or tribune of the people, especially in the days
of the judges, when it is said of Joshua, Othniel, Barak, Gideon, Samson, Samuel ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

The Third Season
... but write this motto upon his ensign: The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. ... We judge
by sense, and reckon things good or evil, according to our present taste. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/iii the third season.htm

The Miracles
... 822. Abraham and Gideon are above revelation. ... If there were no rule to judge of them,
miracles would be useless and there would be no reason for believing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xiii the miracles.htm