Gideon in the Bible

Meaning: he that bruises or breaks; a destroyerpar

Exact Match

So the five kings of the Amorites the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon gathered their armies together and advanced with all of their armies toward Gideon, camped there, and laid siege to it.

Verse ConceptsEncampmentsFive People

The Lord's angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash's son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites.

Verse ConceptsAgriculture, TermsAppearances Of God In OtGrainThreshingWheatWinepressWarriorsOaksActing In Secretgideon

Gideon said to him, "Pardon me, but if the Lord is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, 'Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian."

Verse ConceptsdoubtersHistoryWhy Does This Happen?God Will Cause DefeatMiraclesgideon

Gideon said to him, "But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family."

Verse ConceptsExcusesClansdoubtersInferiorityMinistry, Qualifications ForModestyWeakness, PhysicalLeadershipHumility, Examples OfThe Youngest ChildWithout StrengthDepressiongideon

Gideon said to him, "If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me.

Verse Conceptsdoubt, results ofdoubtersAssurance in the life of faithSeeking SignsSeeking A SignYou Will Know I Am The LordFavorgideon

Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him.

Verse ConceptsGoatsFlourFoodBrothWeights And Measures, DryEphah [Ten Omers]Those Who Provided A Mealgideon

God's messenger said to him, "Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth." Gideon did as instructed.

Verse ConceptsBrothgideon

When Gideon realized that it was the Lord's messenger, he said, "Oh no! Master, Lord! I have seen the Lord's messenger face to face!"

Verse ConceptsExperience, of GodBeing Face To Face With GodThose Who Saw Godgideon

Now on that same night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it;

Verse ConceptsShrinesAltarsDestruction Of Satan's WorksAnimals At Specific Agesgideon

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father's family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.

Verse ConceptsTen PeopleDuring One NightFearing Other Peoplegideon

They said to one another, "Who did this?" They investigated the matter thoroughly and concluded that Gideon son of Joash had done it.

Verse ConceptsWho Is The Doer?

That very day Gideon's father named him Jerub-Baal, because he had said, "Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down."

Verse ConceptsChanged NamesPeople Renaming People

Gideon said to God, "If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel, as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.

Verse Conceptsartistsgideon

Gideon said to God, "Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew."

Verse ConceptsAskingTestingLet Not God Be AngryTestsexamsgideon

That night God did as Gideon requested: only the fleece was dry, and dew was all over the ground.

Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and his men got up the next morning and camped near the spring of Harod. The Midianites were camped north of them near the hill of Moreh in the valley.

Verse ConceptsThose Who Rose Earlygideon

The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, 'Our own strength has delivered us.'

Verse ConceptsMany CombatantsNot Mearmygideon

Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home.'" And Gideon tested them; twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained.

Verse ConceptsDesertionTens Of ThousandsTwenty Thousand And UpFear Of Enemies

The Lord spoke to Gideon again, "There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water and I will thin the ranks some more. When I say, 'This one should go with you,' pick him to go; when I say, 'This one should not go with you,' do not take him."

Verse ConceptsMany CombatantsSiftinggideon

So he brought the men down to the water. Then the Lord said to Gideon, "Separate those who lap the water as a dog laps from those who kneel to drink."

Verse ConceptsdogsTonguegroupsarmygideon

The Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home."

Verse ConceptsGiven Into One's Handsgroupsarmygideon

The men who were chosen took supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent all the men of Israel back to their homes; he kept only three hundred men. Now the Midianites were camped down below in the valley.

Verse ConceptsTrumpetTrumpets For BattleSending people homegideon

That night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up! Attack the camp, for I am handing it over to you.

Verse ConceptsGod, Activity OfThose God Gave Into Their Hands

When Gideon arrived, he heard a man telling another man about a dream he had. The man said, "Look! I had a dream. I saw a stale cake of barley bread rolling into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent so hard it knocked it over and turned it upside down. The tent just collapsed."

Verse ConceptsGrainTentsCakesTurning Upside DownDreams Involving Unusual Imagesgideon

The other man said, "Without a doubt this symbolizes the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God is handing Midian and all the army over to him."

Verse ConceptsThose God Gave Into Their Handsgideon

When Gideon heard the report of the dream and its interpretation, he praised God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and said, "Get up, for the Lord is handing the Midianite army over to you!"

Verse ConceptsWorship, Times ForThose God Gave Into Their Handsadorationgideon

When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, you also blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then say, 'For the Lord and for Gideon!'"

Verse ConceptsTrumpets For Battlegideon

Gideon took a hundred men to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guards. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars they were carrying.

Verse ConceptsBeginningNightOne Hundredgideon

All three units blew their trumpets and broke their jars. They held the torches in their left hand and the trumpets in their right. Then they yelled, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!"

Verse ConceptsShoutingBattle CriesGod's Swordgideon

When Gideon’s men blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one [Midianite] against another even throughout the whole army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

Verse ConceptsChaosThree To Four HundredTrumpets For BattleThree Hundred And AboveKilling One Another

Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, "Go down and head off the Midianites. Take control of the fords of the streams all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River." When all the Ephraimites had assembled, they took control of the fords all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.

They captured the two Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb. They executed Oreb on the rock of Oreb and Zeeb in the winepress of Zeeb. They chased the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now on the other side of the Jordan River.

Verse ConceptsWinepressSkullsTreading GrapesNamed Gentile RulersTwo Other Men

And the men of [the tribe of] Ephraim said to Gideon, “What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian?” And they quarreled with him vehemently.

Verse ConceptsResentment, Against PeopleDisputesWhat Do You Do?

Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites.

Verse ConceptsPursuing PeopleTirednessThree To Four HundredThree Hundred And AboveTired In PursuitNot Giving Uptiredgideon

Gideon said, "Since you will not help, after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers."

Verse ConceptsWhipsWhipping

So Gideon said also to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will tear down this tower.”

Verse ConceptsDestruction Of Cities

Gideon went up the road of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army.

Verse ConceptsNomadsSecurity

When Zebah and Zalmunna ran away, Gideon chased them and captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He had surprised their entire army.

Verse ConceptsTwo Other Men

Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the pass of Heres.

He caught a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. He wrote out for Gideon a list of the 77 officials of Succoth, including its elders.

Verse Conceptselders, as community leadersInterrogatingSeventies

Then Gideon approached the men of Succoth and announced, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You criticized me about them when you said, "Do you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody already, so that we should give food to your weary army?'"

Verse ConceptsMan's Work Finished

Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.”

Verse ConceptsLike People By NatureWhat Kind?Nature Of Kings

Gideon replied, "They were my brothers sons from my own mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I wouldn't be killing you."

Verse ConceptsKept Alive By MenRestraints From Killinggideon

So [to humiliate them] Gideon said to Jether his firstborn, “Stand up, and kill them!” But the youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still [just] a boy.

Verse ConceptsFirstborn SonsLimitations Of Youth

Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Come on, you strike us, for a man is judged by his strength." So Gideon killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent-shaped ornaments which were on the necks of their camels.

Verse ConceptsCamelsWearing JewelleryApproval To Kill Oneself

The men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us -- you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian's power."

Verse ConceptsGrandchildrenThe Kingdom Of Othersgideon

Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."

Verse ConceptsGovernmentTheocracygideon

Gideon continued, "I would like to make one request. Each of you give me an earring from the plunder you have taken." (The Midianites had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

Verse ConceptsCustomEarringsOrnamentsGold Transferred

Gideon used all this to make an ephod, which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Verse ConceptsephodsProstitutionTrapEvil Trapping

The Israelites humiliated Midian; the Midianites' fighting spirit was broken. The land had rest for forty years during Gideon's time.

Verse ConceptsThe Number FortyConquest40 To 50 YearsLifting HeadsTime Of Peace

Jerubbaal (Gideon) the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.

Gideon son of Joash died at a very old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash located in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Verse ConceptsBurials, Places OfOld Age, Attainment OfTombsDeath Of A FatherFamily Deathgideon

After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

Verse ConceptsBaal Worship, Historygideon

They did not treat the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) fairly in return for all the good he had done for Israel.

Verse ConceptsIngratitudeKindnessMannersUnfaithful

Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and said to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father,

Verse ConceptsPlotting

And they caught every one his fellow by the head, with his sword in his fellow's side, so they fell, together, - and that place was called Helkath-hazzadim, which is in Gideon.

Verse ConceptsCovering HeadsSide Of People

Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth (Gideon)? Was it not a woman who threw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ Then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”

Verse ConceptsMillstonesBeing Killed By A RockKilling Named Individuals

Thematic Bible



Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night.


His friend responded: This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash. For God delivered Midian and its army to this man of Israel.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him. Jehovah's angel appeared to him there and said: Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor! Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites. read more.
Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family. Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him. Jehovah's angel appeared to him there and said: Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor! Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites. read more.
Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family. Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man. Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah. Please do not leave until I return and bring you an offering. Jehovah said: I will stay until you come back. So Gideon went into his house and cooked a young goat and used a bushel of flour to make bread without any yeast. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them to Jehovah's angel under the oak tree, and gave them to him. The angel told him: Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them. Gideon did so. Jehovah's angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared. With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face! Jehovah told him: Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die. Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer.


He also kept a concubine in Shechem. She bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.


That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. read more.
The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there. They asked each other: Who did this? They investigated and found out that Gideon, son of Joash, did it. They said to Joash: Bring your son here. We will kill him! He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah! Joash replied: Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down. From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down. The Midianites, Amalekites, and the desert tribes assembled, crossed the Jordan River, and camped in Jezreel Valley. The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him. He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh to call them to follow him. He sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they also came to join him. Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.


That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water.



He said to them: Look at me, and do as I do. When I come to the outside of the camp do the same as I do.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him.

They captured the two Midianite chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at Oreb Rock, and Zeeb at the Winepress of Zeeb. They continued to pursue the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now east of the Jordan.

Gideon took the men to the water. Jehovah told him: Separate everyone who laps up the water with his tongue like a dog, from everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night.

Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me.

Gideon and the hundred men, who were with him, came to the outside of the camp. It was the beginning of the middle watch and they had just posted the new watch. They blew the trumpets, and broke the jars that were in their hands.

Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun came up (at Heres Pass).

The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites.

Gideon son of Joash died at an old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, at Ophrah. Ophrah was the town of the clan of Abiezer.


Jehovah said: I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Use the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home.

Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me.

Jehovah said to Gideon: You still have too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will separate them for you. If I tell you a man should go with you, he will go. If I tell you a man should not go with you, he will not go.

That night Jehovah commanded Gideon: Get up and attack the camp. I give you victory over it!


The Midianites, Amalekites, and the desert tribes assembled, crossed the Jordan River, and camped in Jezreel Valley. The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him. He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh to call them to follow him. He sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they also came to join him.

Gideon and his three hundred men passed over the Jordan. Their pursuit continued. He said to the men of Succoth: Give my troops some bread. They are tired. I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. The princes of Succoth said: Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army? read more.
Gideon said: When Jehovah delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. He went up to Penuel and made the same request of them. The men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth. He spoke to the men of Penuel: When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor. Their armies were with them, about fifteen thousand men all that were left of all the armies of the children of the east. They had already lost a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen. Gideon went up by the way of the nomads who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah. They attacked the army while the camp felt secure. When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured them and routed the entire army.


He also said: Let me ask one thing of you. Every one of you must give me the earrings you took. (The Midianites wore gold earrings.) They answered: We will gladly give them to you. They spread out a cloth, and everyone put the earrings that he had taken on it. The gold earrings that Gideon got weighed over forty pounds. This did not include the ornaments, necklaces, and purple clothes that the kings of Midian wore. It also did not include the collars that were around the necks of their camels. read more.
Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family. Midian was defeated by the Israelites and was no longer a threat. The land was at peace for forty years, until Gideon died. Gideon went back to his home and lived there. He had many wives and seventy sons. He also kept a concubine in Shechem. She bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.


The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites. Gideon answered: I will not be your ruler, nor will my son. Jehovah will be your ruler!


He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty jars, and lamps within the jars. He said to them: Look at me, and do as I do. When I come to the outside of the camp do the same as I do. When I blow the trumpet, all who are with me should blow the trumpets. Blow the trumpets on every side of the camp and say: 'The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon!'


Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this? They complained bitterly about it. He said: What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer.


So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah.


That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night.


He also said: Let me ask one thing of you. Every one of you must give me the earrings you took. (The Midianites wore gold earrings.) They answered: We will gladly give them to you. They spread out a cloth, and everyone put the earrings that he had taken on it. The gold earrings that Gideon got weighed over forty pounds. This did not include the ornaments, necklaces, and purple clothes that the kings of Midian wore. It also did not include the collars that were around the necks of their camels. read more.
Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family.


The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites. Gideon answered: I will not be your ruler, nor will my son. Jehovah will be your ruler!


He captured a young man from Succoth and questioned him. He described the princes of Succoth, and the elders and even seventy-seven men. Then Gideon went to the men of Sukkoth and said: Remember when you refused to help me? You said that you could not give any food to my exhausted army because I had not captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet. Well, here they are! Then he took the elders of the town and had them crushed on a bed of thorns and sharp stems. read more.
He tore down the tower at Penuel. He also killed the men of that city.


Jehovah's angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared. With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face! Jehovah told him: Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die. read more.
Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him.

Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you.


Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. read more.
Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.


What more shall I say? For the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,


Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this? They complained bitterly about it. He said: What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.


Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man.


He had many wives and seventy sons.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


Gideon son of Joash died at an old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, at Ophrah. Ophrah was the town of the clan of Abiezer.


Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you.


That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. read more.
The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there.

The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there. They asked each other: Who did this? They investigated and found out that Gideon, son of Joash, did it. They said to Joash: Bring your son here. We will kill him! He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah! read more.
Joash replied: Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down. From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down.


He said to them: Look at me, and do as I do. When I come to the outside of the camp do the same as I do.


Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor. Their armies were with them, about fifteen thousand men all that were left of all the armies of the children of the east. They had already lost a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen. Gideon went up by the way of the nomads who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah. They attacked the army while the camp felt secure. When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured them and routed the entire army. read more.
Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun came up (at Heres Pass). He captured a young man from Succoth and questioned him. He described the princes of Succoth, and the elders and even seventy-seven men. Then Gideon went to the men of Sukkoth and said: Remember when you refused to help me? You said that you could not give any food to my exhausted army because I had not captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet. Well, here they are! Then he took the elders of the town and had them crushed on a bed of thorns and sharp stems. He tore down the tower at Penuel. He also killed the men of that city. Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna: What kind of men were the men you killed at Tabor? They answered: They looked like you, every one of them like the son of a king. He said: They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Jehovah lives, if you had saved them alive, I will not kill you. He said to Jether his firstborn: Rise up and kill them. But the youth would not draw his sword. He was afraid because he was still a youth. Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon: Kill us yourself. It takes a man to do this job. Gideon killed them and took the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites. Gideon answered: I will not be your ruler, nor will my son. Jehovah will be your ruler! He also said: Let me ask one thing of you. Every one of you must give me the earrings you took. (The Midianites wore gold earrings.)


Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this? They complained bitterly about it. He said: What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said. read more.
Gideon and his three hundred men passed over the Jordan. Their pursuit continued. He said to the men of Succoth: Give my troops some bread. They are tired. I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. The princes of Succoth said: Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army? Gideon said: When Jehovah delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. He went up to Penuel and made the same request of them. The men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth. He spoke to the men of Penuel: When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor. Their armies were with them, about fifteen thousand men all that were left of all the armies of the children of the east. They had already lost a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen. Gideon went up by the way of the nomads who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah. They attacked the army while the camp felt secure. When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured them and routed the entire army. Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun came up (at Heres Pass). He captured a young man from Succoth and questioned him. He described the princes of Succoth, and the elders and even seventy-seven men. Then Gideon went to the men of Sukkoth and said: Remember when you refused to help me? You said that you could not give any food to my exhausted army because I had not captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet. Well, here they are! Then he took the elders of the town and had them crushed on a bed of thorns and sharp stems. He tore down the tower at Penuel. He also killed the men of that city. Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna: What kind of men were the men you killed at Tabor? They answered: They looked like you, every one of them like the son of a king. He said: They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Jehovah lives, if you had saved them alive, I will not kill you. He said to Jether his firstborn: Rise up and kill them. But the youth would not draw his sword. He was afraid because he was still a youth. Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon: Kill us yourself. It takes a man to do this job. Gideon killed them and took the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites. Gideon answered: I will not be your ruler, nor will my son. Jehovah will be your ruler! He also said: Let me ask one thing of you. Every one of you must give me the earrings you took. (The Midianites wore gold earrings.) They answered: We will gladly give them to you. They spread out a cloth, and everyone put the earrings that he had taken on it. The gold earrings that Gideon got weighed over forty pounds. This did not include the ornaments, necklaces, and purple clothes that the kings of Midian wore. It also did not include the collars that were around the necks of their camels. Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family. Midian was defeated by the Israelites and was no longer a threat. The land was at peace for forty years, until Gideon died.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him. Jehovah's angel appeared to him there and said: Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor! Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites. read more.
Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family. Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man. Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah. Please do not leave until I return and bring you an offering. Jehovah said: I will stay until you come back. So Gideon went into his house and cooked a young goat and used a bushel of flour to make bread without any yeast. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them to Jehovah's angel under the oak tree, and gave them to him. The angel told him: Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them. Gideon did so. Jehovah's angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared. With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face! Jehovah told him: Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die. Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer. That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there. They asked each other: Who did this? They investigated and found out that Gideon, son of Joash, did it. They said to Joash: Bring your son here. We will kill him! He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah! Joash replied: Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down. From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down. The Midianites, Amalekites, and the desert tribes assembled, crossed the Jordan River, and camped in Jezreel Valley. The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him. He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh to call them to follow him. He sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they also came to join him. Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.


The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


They did not show kindness to the family of Gideon for all the good that he had done for Israel.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


He said: What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.


He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty jars, and lamps within the jars. He said to them: Look at me, and do as I do. When I come to the outside of the camp do the same as I do. When I blow the trumpet, all who are with me should blow the trumpets. Blow the trumpets on every side of the camp and say: 'The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon!' read more.
Gideon and the hundred men, who were with him, came to the outside of the camp. It was the beginning of the middle watch and they had just posted the new watch. They blew the trumpets, and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the jars, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands. Then they cried: The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon! Every man stood in his place around the camp. The army ran, and cried, and fled. The three hundred blew the trumpets. Jehovah set every man's sword against his companions. They turned on each other throughout all the army. The army fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, to Tabbath.


That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. read more.
The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there.


Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family.


Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family.

The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him.

He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed.

Gideon son of Joash died at an old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, at Ophrah. Ophrah was the town of the clan of Abiezer.

Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer.


He had many wives and seventy sons.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.

God did what Manoah asked. His angel came back to the woman while she was in the field. Her husband Manoah was not with her,


Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me.

With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face!

Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet.


Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me.

With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face!

Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet.


Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this? They complained bitterly about it. He said: What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you? Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.



The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him. Jehovah's angel appeared to him there and said: Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor! Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites. read more.
Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. Gideon replied: But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family. Jehovah answered: You can do it. I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man. Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah. Please do not leave until I return and bring you an offering. Jehovah said: I will stay until you come back. So Gideon went into his house and cooked a young goat and used a bushel of flour to make bread without any yeast. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them to Jehovah's angel under the oak tree, and gave them to him. The angel told him: Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them. Gideon did so. Jehovah's angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared. With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah's angel he saw. He said in terror: Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face! Jehovah told him: Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die. Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: Jehovah is Peace. (Jehovah-shalom) It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer. That night Jehovah told Gideon: Take your father's bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it. Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night. The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there. They asked each other: Who did this? They investigated and found out that Gideon, son of Joash, did it. They said to Joash: Bring your son here. We will kill him! He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah! Joash replied: Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down. From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down.


That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water.


Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. read more.
Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.

Gideon replied: If you are pleased with me, give me proof that you are really Jehovah.


The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.


The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the jars, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands. Then they cried: The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon!


The Israelites said to Gideon: Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites. Gideon answered: I will not be your ruler, nor will my son. Jehovah will be your ruler!


References

Hastings

Easton

Fausets

Morish

Smith

Watsons

American