The Midianites were a nomadic people descended from Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). Throughout the Old Testament, they are frequently depicted as adversaries of Israel. One of the most notable accounts involving the Midianites is the account of Gideon, whom God raised up to deliver Israel from their oppression.

Background and Oppression

During the period of the Judges, the Israelites repeatedly fell into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. After the death of Deborah and Barak, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD, and He delivered them into the hands of the Midianites for seven years (Judges 6:1). The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, would invade Israel during the harvest, destroying crops and livestock, leaving the Israelites impoverished and in great distress (Judges 6:3-5).

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? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest 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 Preparation and Faith

Gideon sought confirmation of his calling through signs from God, including the famous fleece test, where he asked for dew to appear on a fleece while the ground remained dry, and vice versa (Judges 6:36-40). God graciously granted these signs, strengthening Gideon's faith.

Gideon gathered an army from the tribes of Israel, but 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 just 300 men (Judges 7:2-7).

The Defeat of the Midianites

With this small force, Gideon executed a surprise attack on the Midianite camp. Armed with trumpets, empty jars, and torches, Gideon's men surrounded the camp and created chaos by blowing the trumpets, breaking the jars, and shouting, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20). The LORD caused confusion among the Midianites, who turned on each other in panic, leading to a decisive victory for Israel (Judges 7:22).

Aftermath and Legacy

Following the defeat of the Midianites, Israel enjoyed peace for forty years during Gideon's judgeship (Judges 8:28). Gideon's victory over the Midianites is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, demonstrating that deliverance comes not by might or numbers, but by the LORD's hand. The account of Gideon and the Midianites serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to use unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes.Judges 6:11-14
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

How the Midianites and Other Nations Fought against the Israelites ...
... he should from that very place have his courage raised, and grow ... And when Gideon
was come to his own country of Ophrah, he slew the kings of the Midianites. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the midianites.htm

The Service Common to the Holy Angels and Other Bodiless Ones.
... with thee, and thou shaft smite the Midianites as one ... Then Gideon built an altar
there unto the Lord and ... chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter iv the service common.htm

Faith and Courage.
... who were left with Gideon routed the Midianites; but it ... the sword of the Lord and
of Gideon." If we ... The old chieftain, perceiving this, raised himself on his ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter iii faith and courage.htm

Judges and Ruth.
... The Judges were raised up as occasion required and were tribesmen upon whom God
laid ... 5. Against the Midianites, Chs.6-10 ... (4) From the story of Gideon and Sampson ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter vii judges and ruth.htm

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... I think it will come to pass as it did with Gideon, a duke, which God raised up
to deliver the children of Israel from the Midianites, in whose ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

The Judges.
... oppressed Israel until Othniel, Caleb's nephew, was raised up to deliver ... (4) The
Midianites came in ... east and greatly oppressed Israel until Gideon defeated and ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm

'Fit, Though Few'
... Much difficulty has been raised about the mention of Mount ... which lay in the valley
near the Midianites' camp ... Gideon alone seems to have known that a test was to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/fit though few.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... CHAPTER 6. How The Midianites And Other Nations Fought ... 7. That The Judges Who Succeeded
Gideon Made War ... And How God, Being Incensed At It, Raised Up Ader And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Judges
... repented and cried to Jehovah He raised up a leader ... According to the later version,
Gideon is the deliverer of ... from the incursions of the Midianites, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

Missions; the Inquisition
... But when Gideon and his men began to fight the Midianites on the ... From all quarters
cries for reform were raised, and a reform was speedily to come, by ...
/.../chapter xxx missions the inquisition.htm

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