Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, was a judge of Israel who led the Israelites to victory against the Midianites. The name Gideon means “hewer” or “one who cuts down” in Hebrew, while Jerubbaal means “let Baal contend against him.” Gideon was the son of Joash, of the clan of Abiezer in the tribe of Manasseh. His birth date is uncertain, but his story is recorded in the Old Testament, primarily in Judges 6-8.
Early Life of Gideon
Little is known about Gideon’s early life. He was a member of the Abiezrite clan and lived in Ophrah. When the angel of the Lord first appeared to him, Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide the grain from the invading Midianites (Judges 6:11).
Biblical Timeline
The Call of Gideon
The Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, and they cried out to the Lord for help. God sent an angel to Gideon, telling him that he would save Israel from the Midianite oppression (Judges 6:12-16). Initially, Gideon questioned his ability to carry out this task and asked for a sign from God to confirm the call (Judges 6:17-24).
Destruction of the Altar of Baal
God instructed Gideon to destroy the altar of the Canaanite god Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, which belonged to his father, Joash. In its place, Gideon was to build an altar to the Lord (Judges 6:25-32). Gideon carried out this command at night, fearing the reaction of the townspeople. The next day, the townspeople demanded Gideon’s death, but Joash defended him, saying, “Let Baal contend with him,” giving Gideon the name Jerubbaal.
Defeat of the Midianites
Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to fight the Midianites, but God told him that the army was too large. Gideon reduced the army to 10,000 men, and eventually, God further reduced the army to just 300 men (Judges 7:1-8). With this small force, Gideon attacked the Midianite camp at night, causing confusion and panic, which led the Midianites to turn on each other, and the survivors fled (Judges 7:9-25). This victory is seen as an example of God’s power working through a humble and obedient individual.
Gideon’s Sin and Later Years
After defeating the Midianites, Gideon requested gold from the plunder to craft an ephod, a priestly garment, which he placed in his city, Ophrah. However, this ephod became an idol, leading the Israelites into idolatry and becoming a snare to Gideon and his family (Judges 8:24-27). Despite Gideon’s previous faith and obedience, this incident reveals his susceptibility to sin and the dangers of idolatry. Following the victory, the Israelites offered to make Gideon their king, but he declined, proclaiming the Lord as their ruler (Judges 8:22-23). The sincerity of this statement is brought into question within the narrative. Gideon named one of his sons Abimelech, meaning “my father is king” in Hebrew—an intriguing name since Gideon had rejected kingship (Judges 8:22-23). Though he claimed to reject kingship at first, it appears during his time as a judge, he either developed or revealed his kingly aspirations. Gideon’s self-perception as a king is further evidenced by Abimelech’s action to take his fathers role as ruler of Israel after Gideon’s death (Judges 9). It was presumed by the people in Shechem that Gideon’s sons would have a joint rule over the people. (Judges 9:2) However, with the support of the Shechemites, Abimelech seized power by killing all of Gideon’s sons, except Jotham, who had managed to escape. Abimelech ruled for three years until he faced a Shechemite rebellion and met his demise when a woman dropped a millstone on his head. (Judges 9:50-57).
Gideon’s sin serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of pride, selfish ambition, and seeking power. Due to his desire to rule in God’s place, almost all of his sons perished in vain pursuit of power.
Despite Gideon’s sin and idolatry, he led Israel as a judge for forty peaceful years and died at a good old age. He was buried in his father Joash’s tomb (Judges 8:28, 32)
Additional Notes
Gideon is often remembered for his faith and obedience, despite initial doubts. His story serves as an example of how God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.