Introduction:
Gedeon, more commonly known as Gideon, is a prominent figure in the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. He is recognized as a judge of Israel, a military leader, and a man of faith who delivered Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. His account is primarily found in Judges chapters 6 to 8.

Historical Context:
Gedeon lived during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, characterized by a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The Israelites had 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.

Divine Calling:
Gedeon's account begins with an angel of the Lord appearing to him while he was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. The angel addressed him as a "mighty warrior" and informed him that the Lord was with him (Judges 6:12). Despite his initial doubts and feelings of inadequacy, Gedeon was chosen by God to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression.

Signs and Assurance:
Gedeon sought confirmation of his divine calling through signs. He prepared an offering, which the angel of the Lord consumed with fire (Judges 6:21). Later, Gedeon requested further assurance by placing a fleece on the threshing floor, asking for dew to appear only on the fleece and not on the ground, and then the reverse (Judges 6:36-40). God graciously granted these signs, strengthening Gedeon's faith.

Destruction of Baal's Altar:
In obedience to God's command, Gedeon 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, an act that incited the anger of the townspeople but demonstrated Gedeon's commitment to the Lord (Judges 6:25-27).

The Battle Against the Midianites:
Gedeon assembled an army to confront the Midianites, 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 300 men (Judges 7:2-7). Armed with trumpets, jars, and torches, Gedeon's men surrounded the Midianite camp. At Gedeon's signal, they blew the trumpets, broke the jars, and shouted, causing confusion and panic among the Midianites, who turned on each other and fled (Judges 7:19-22).

Aftermath and Leadership:
Following the victory, the Israelites sought to make Gedeon their king, but he refused, insisting that the Lord would rule over them (Judges 8:22-23). However, Gedeon 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:
Gedeon is remembered as a man of faith, as highlighted in the New Testament in Hebrews 11:32, where he is commended for his role in the deliverance of Israel. Despite his imperfections and moments of doubt, Gedeon's life exemplifies the power of faith and obedience to God's call. His account serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the importance of relying on divine strength rather than human might.Gedeon

The Greek form of the Hebrew name GIDEON. (Hebrews 11:32)

GEDEON

ged'-e-on (Hebrews 11:32 the King James Version).

See GIDEON.

1066. Gedeon -- Gideon, an Israelite
... 1065, 1066. Gedeon. 1067 . ... Gideon. Of Hebrew origin (Gid'own); Gedeon (ie
Gid(e)on), an Israelite -- Gedeon (in the King James Version). see HEBREW Gid'own. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1066.htm - 6k

Whether Divination by Auguries, Omens, and by Like Observations of ...
... Objection 3: Further, Gedeon is numbered among the saints (Heb.11:32). Yet
Gedeon made use of an omen, when he listened to the relation ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether divination by auguries omens.htm

Whether it is a Sin to Tempt God?
... him. Again Gedeon asked God for a sign of the victory promised to him
(Judges 6:36, sqq.). Yet they were not blamed for so doing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a sin 2.htm

The Interior Castle, or The Mansions
... i.12. Fuente, Don Vicente de, VII. ii.7. Gaze, the simple, VI. vii.14. Gedeon, II.
i.13. Give all to God, V. i.3. God compels the soul to listen when He speaks, ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/index 2.htm

Psalm LXXII.
... rain into a fleece, and like drops distilling upon the earth" (ver.6). He hath called
to our minds and admonished us, that what was done by Gedeon the Judge ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxii.htm

Only Chapter Treats of the Great Importance of Perseverance in ...
... vi. 1; Vii. 4. [68] With Gedeon. Jud. 7. 5: Qui lingua lambuerint aquas, sicut solent
canes lambere, separabis eos seorsum.'. [69] Life, ch. xi 16. [70] St. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/only chapter treats of the.htm

The Greek Versions as Aids to Biblical Study.
... om. en. to mk en Th.). viii.13 epestrepsen Gedeon . . . apo epanothen tes
parataxeos Hares (A ek tou polemou apo anaeaseos Hares). ...
/.../chapter iv the greek versions.htm

The Perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary.
... Raguel, Moses' father-in-law, is also called Jethro. Gedeon, [4220] without any
apparent reason for the change, all at once becomes Jerubbaal. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the perpetual virginity of blessed.htm

Unbelievers Upbraided
... for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and
of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/unbelievers upbraided.htm

Psalm LXVIII.
... but "of Thy dogs:" nor are their teeth praised, but their tongue is: for it was
not indeed to no purpose, not without a great mystery, that Gedeon was bidden ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxviii.htm

Gedeon (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GEDEON. ged'-e-on (Hebrews 11:32 the King James
Version). See GIDEON. Multi-Version Concordance Gedeon (1 Occurrence). ...
/g/gedeon.htm - 6k

Jephthae (1 Occurrence)
... for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of
Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (KJV). ...
/j/jephthae.htm - 6k

Geder (1 Occurrence)

/g/geder.htm - 7k

Geddur

/g/geddur.htm - 6k

Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Gideon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is it acceptable to "lay out a fleece" before God in prayer? | GotQuestions.org

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