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[[Image:Gideon-Trumpets.jpg|thumb|250px|Gideon and his men blow their trumpets]]
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'''Gideon''' ('''גִּדְעוֹן''', [[Standard Hebrew]] '''Gidʻon''', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] '''Giḏʻôn'''), also known as '''Jerubbaal''', is a judge appearing in the [[Book of Judges]], in the [[Bible]]. His story is told in [http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Judges+6-8&passage2=&passage3=&passage4=&passage5=&version1=9&version2=0&version3=0&version4=0&version5=0&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0 chapters 6 to 8]. He is also named in the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] as an example of a man of faith. He is the son of [[Joash]], from the clan of [[Abiezer]] in the [[tribe of Manasseh]]. The name Gideon means "Destroyer", "Mighty warrior" or "Feller (of trees)".
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[[Image:Gideon-judge.jpg|thumb|250px|]]  
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'''Gideon''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''גִּדְעוֹן''', '''Gidʻon'''), also known as '''Jerubbaal''', was a judge appearing in the biblical [[Book of Judges]]. He was the son of [[Joash]], from the clan of [[Abiezer]] in the [[tribe of Manasseh]], and the father at least 71 sons. He lived probably in the twelth century B.C.E. The name Gideon means "Destroyer," "Mighty warrior," or possibly "Feller (of trees)."
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Gideon was one of the more significant judges whose story is recorded in the [[Bible]] (Judges [http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Judges+6-8&passage2=&passage3=&passage4=&passage5=&version1=9&version2=0&version3=0&version4=0&version5=0&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0 chapters 6 to 8]) in some detail. The narrative portrays not only his military exploits, but also his sometimes cantankerous relationship with [[God]]. He won a dramatic victory over the [[Midianites]] and restored the [[Jordan River]] valley to [[Israelites|Israelite]] rule. His influence, unlike that of some other judges, appears to have extended to several other tribes, especially [[Ephraim]] and [[Napthali]]. A ruthless war leader, he severely punished not only Israel's enemies, but also two Israelite towns that failed to support his armies. Although he reportedly refused a king's crown when it was offered to him, he is criticized in the Bible for having made a golden [[ephod]] (a breast plate used for divination) which became an object of [[idolatry]]. His legacy is a particularly tragic one, as his son [[Abimelech]] would go on to assume the kingship briefly after killing all but one of his brothers.
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Biblical scholars have identified a number of thorny issues in Gideon narratives (see ''Critical views'', below.)
  
 
==Biblical Account==
 
==Biblical Account==
 
{{Book of Judges}}
 
{{Book of Judges}}
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The story of Gideon begins with a prologue detailing the oppression of the Israelites by the [[Midianites]]. So strong was the Midianite pressure on the [[Israelite]] tribes that the latter were forced to live in caves and watch helplessly as their crops and cattle were destroyed. An unnamed [[prophet]] appears who explains that the Israelites' troubles are due to their abandoning [[Yahweh]] in favor of the [[Amorite]] gods.
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===Gideon's calling===
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Gideon was the son of a man called Joash the Abiezrite, of the tribe of [[Manasseh]], in the town of Ophrah. The family, like many Israelites of the time, maintained an altar devoted to the [[Canaan]]ite deity [[Baal]], while also believing in the Hebrew God [[Yahweh]].
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An [[angel]] comes to Gideon while he is threshing wheat in a wine press, an action made necessary by Midianite domination. "Yahweh is with you, mighty warrior!" the angel declares. Gideon, an unlikely champion, doubts both his calling and God's power, saying: "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about?" (Judges 6:13) When the angel persists and commands him to save Israel from the Midianite power, Gideon protests: "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
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The angel reassures Gideon, who responds at last by offering a [[sacrifice]] and building an [[altar]], which reportedly remained a place of religious significance until at least the time when the [[Book of Judges]] was compiled. On God's further instruction, Gideon destroys the clan's altar to [[Baal]] and replaces it with a "proper" altar devoted to Yahweh. Threatened with death for his crime, Gideon is protected by his father, who insists that Baal himself, not mere men, should be the one to execute judgment on his son.
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===Mustering the tribes===
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Gideon then sends messengers to gather men from the tribes of [[tribe of Asher|Asher]], [[tribe of Zebulun|Zebulun]], and [[tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]], as well as his own tribe of [[tribe of Manasseh|Manasseh]] in order to meet an armed force of [[Midianites]] and the [[Amalekites]] that had crossed the [[Jordan River]] and have encamped in the [[Valley of Jezreel]].
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Still uncertain of his calling, Gideon then tests God by asking him, on successive nights, to cause a woolen fleece to be wet, then dry. God obliging complies. The episode is the origin of the saying "laying the fleece before the Lord" to signify asking God for a confirming [[sign]]. (Judges 6:36-40)
  
The story of Gideon begins with a prolog detailing the oppression of the Israelites by the Midianites. So strong was the Midianite pressure on the Israelite tribes that the latter were forced to live in caves and watch helpflessly as their crops and cattle were destroyed. And unnamed prophet appears who explains that the Israelites' troubles are due to their abandoning Yahweh in favor of the Amorite gods.  
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The tribes respond to Gideon's call and assemble at Mount [[Gilead]], but God instructs Gideon that the troops are too numerous. God is concerned that He get the primary credit for the victory. He instructs Gideon to send home those men who "tremble with fear." The Bible reports that 22,000 men return home while 10,000 remain.
  
Gideon was the son of a man called Joash the Abiezrite, of the tribe of Manasseh, in the town of Ophrah. An angel comes to Gideon while he is treshing wheat in a winepress, an action made necessary by Midianite domination. "Yahweh is with you, mighty warrior!" the angel declares. Gideon, an unlikely champion, doubts both his calling and God's power, saying: "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about." (Judges 6:13) When the angel persists an commands him to save Israel from the Midianite power, Gideon protests: "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
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This number is still too great in God's view. He separates the remaining men by having Gideon observe how the men drink water from a stream. Gideon is to retain only those who drink directly from the stream rather than scooping the water up with their hands. In the end a force of only 300 remains.
  
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===Victory and its aftermath===
  
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With a huge Midianite army encamped in the nearby valley, Gideon gives each of his men a trumpet, a torch, and a clay jar. They quietly surround the enemy camp, with their torches hidden inside their jars. At Gideon's signal, every man blows his trumpet and breaks his jar. The surprised Midianites are thrown into a panic, turning on one another. The confused survivors flee for their lives. The previously dismissed forces of Naphtali and Manasseh pursue them. Ephraim intercepts their flight at the Jordan. Two chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb, are captured and put to death, their heads being brought to Gideon (Judges 7:21-26).
  
On God's instruction, Gideon destroyed the town's altar to the foreign god [[Baal]] and the symbol of the goddess [[Ashera]] beside it. He went on to send out messengers to gather together men from the tribes of [[tribe of Asher|Asher]], [[tribe of Zebulun|Zebulun]], and [[tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]], as well as his own tribe of [[tribe of Manasseh|Manasseh]] in order to meet an armed force of the people of [[Midian]] and the [[Amalek]] that had crossed the [[Jordan River]] and were encamped in the [[Valley of Jezreel]].  
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The Ephraimites, however, are offended for not having been included in the initial battle. Gideon allays their anger and renews the pursuit of Midian across the Jordan. Refused food by the men of Succoth and Peniel, he presses on, promising vengeance. Finally overtaking the Midianites, he takes two kings prisoners. Returning homeward, he takes vengeance on the men of Succoth, and destroys Peniel, slaying its inhabitants. He then executes the captured kings Zebah and Zalmunna.
  
God instructed Gideon that the men he had gathered were too many. With so many men, there would be reason for Gideon's army to claim the victory as their own, instead of giving the credit to God. He instructed Gideon to send home those men who were afraid. 22,000 men returned home and 10,000 remained:
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With the Midianites vanquished, a movement arises to make Gideon king, but he refuses, saying that God alone should rule. However, he orders that an "[[ephod]]" be made for him out of the [[gold]] plundered in battle. The biblical writers inform us that this later become an object of idolatry.
  
:<sup>4</sup>Then the Lord said to Gideon, "You still have too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will separate them for you there. 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." <sup>5</sup>Gideon took the men down to the water, and the Lord 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." <sup>6</sup>There were three hundred men who scooped up water in their hands and lapped it; all the others got down on their knees to drink. <sup>7</sup> The Lord said to Gideon, "I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites with the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home." ''(Judges 7:4-7, Good News Bible)''
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===Legacy===
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Gideon lived to a ripe old age and was buried in his home town of Ophrah. A period of 40 years of peace reportedly followed Gideon's victory over the Midianites. Although he declined the honor of kingship, he seems to have lived in royal fashion, fathering 70 sons with "many wives."  
  
God waited until night fell before instructing Gideon to attack the Midianite camp. Gideon gave each of his men a trumpet, a torch, and a clay jar. They quietly surrounded the enemy camp, each torch hidden inside a jar. At Gideon's signal, every man blew his trumpet and broke his jar. God confused the Midianites, and made them turn on one another. The confused survivors ran and continued to retreat across [[Israel]].
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It was a son by concubine, however, who became the most famous. [[Abimelech (Judges)|Abimelech]] ("my father is king") of Shechem rose to power by killing all of his brothers and ruling for three years as king himself.
  
Although God did not instruct him to do so, Gideon then called for a large number of men to pursue the Midianites and cut off their retreat. He eventually caught them and subsequently murdered [[Zebah]] and [[Zalmunna]], the two Midianite Kings, in cold blood, in order to avenge his brothers, who had been killed in battle.
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==Critical views==
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The critical school considers the story of Gideon to be a composite narrative, drawn from three main sources: the [[Yahwist]] ("[[J]]"), the [[Elohist]] ("[[E]]"), and the [[Deuteronomist|Deuteronomic]] ("[[D]]") writers. Later interpolations and editorial comments have also been pointed out. The account of Gideon's war against [[Midian]] may be an expression of his particular tribe's struggle against hostile [[Bedouin]] clans across the Jordan. Also evident are recollections of bitter tribal animosities between [[Manasseh]], [[Ephraim]] and other [[proto-Israelite]] tribes.
  
The Israelites pleaded with Gideon to be their king, but he refused, telling them that only God was their ruler. Interestingly, however, he carries on to make an "[[ephod]]" out of the gold won in battle, which causes the whole of Israel again to turn away from God, and marries a large but unspecified number of women. He also had a concubine who bore him a son that he named [[Abimelech (Judges)|Abimelech]] (which means "my father is king"). There was peace in Israel for forty years during the life of Gideon.
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Gideon's alternate name, "Jerubbaal," is a ''theophorous'' name in which "[[Baal]]" seems once to have been harmonious or synonymous with "Yahweh." The story (Judges 5:29-32) that the name actually means "Let Baal contend" is designed by later writers to explain away this inconvenient fact. The composite nature of the Gideon narrative is apparent not only from the two names "Gideon" and "Jerubbaal," but also from several repetitions in the narrative: two encounters with the Angel of God, two layings of the fleece before the Lord, two sacrifices made by Gideon, two altars erected, two sets of similarly-named Midianite chiefs executed, etc.
  
{{start}}
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Gideon's son, the short-lived King [[Abimelech]], whose name means "father is king," may have seen himself as continuing his father's royal lineage, which has been downgraded to that of a judge in the biblical record just as Abimelech himself has been removed from the list of judges. The stories of Gideon's ruthlessness toward his enemies (both Midianite and Israelite)&mdash;together with his golden [[ephod]], his many wives, and his 70 sons&mdash;presents a picture of a man who perhaps "would not be king," but would certainly be a wealthy and powerful chieftain. Compared to other judges, Gideon appears to have been quite successful, and perhaps even a little too much so.
{{s-hno|[[Abiezer|Clan of Abiezer]]|[[Tribe of Manasseh]]}}
 
{{s-bef|before=[[Barak]]}}
 
{{s-ttl|title=[[Biblical judges|Judge of Israel]]}}
 
{{s-aft|after = [[Abimelech (Judges)|Abimelech]]}}
 
{{end}}
 
  
===Rabbinical tradition===
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==References==
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*Matthews, Victor J. ''Judges and Ruth''. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0521000666
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*Smith, R. Houston. "The Book of Judges," in ''The Interpreters One-Volume Commentary on the Bible''. Abingdon Press, 1984. ISBN 0687192994
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*Schneider, Tammi J. ''Judges: Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry''. Liturgical Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0814650509
  
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[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
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[[Category: Religion]]
  
 
{{credit|101633519}}
 
{{credit|101633519}}

Latest revision as of 22:57, 28 August 2021


Gideon-judge.jpg

Gideon (Hebrew: גִּדְעוֹן, Gidʻon), also known as Jerubbaal, was a judge appearing in the biblical Book of Judges. He was the son of Joash, from the clan of Abiezer in the tribe of Manasseh, and the father at least 71 sons. He lived probably in the twelth century B.C.E. The name Gideon means "Destroyer," "Mighty warrior," or possibly "Feller (of trees)."

Gideon was one of the more significant judges whose story is recorded in the Bible (Judges chapters 6 to 8) in some detail. The narrative portrays not only his military exploits, but also his sometimes cantankerous relationship with God. He won a dramatic victory over the Midianites and restored the Jordan River valley to Israelite rule. His influence, unlike that of some other judges, appears to have extended to several other tribes, especially Ephraim and Napthali. A ruthless war leader, he severely punished not only Israel's enemies, but also two Israelite towns that failed to support his armies. Although he reportedly refused a king's crown when it was offered to him, he is criticized in the Bible for having made a golden ephod (a breast plate used for divination) which became an object of idolatry. His legacy is a particularly tragic one, as his son Abimelech would go on to assume the kingship briefly after killing all but one of his brothers.

Biblical scholars have identified a number of thorny issues in Gideon narratives (see Critical views, below.)

Biblical Account

Judges in Bible
In the Book of Judges
Othniel
Ehud
Shamgar
Deborah
Gideon
Abimelech
Tola
Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson
In the First Book of Samuel
Eli
Samuel

The story of Gideon begins with a prologue detailing the oppression of the Israelites by the Midianites. So strong was the Midianite pressure on the Israelite tribes that the latter were forced to live in caves and watch helplessly as their crops and cattle were destroyed. An unnamed prophet appears who explains that the Israelites' troubles are due to their abandoning Yahweh in favor of the Amorite gods.

Gideon's calling

Gideon was the son of a man called Joash the Abiezrite, of the tribe of Manasseh, in the town of Ophrah. The family, like many Israelites of the time, maintained an altar devoted to the Canaanite deity Baal, while also believing in the Hebrew God Yahweh.

An angel comes to Gideon while he is threshing wheat in a wine press, an action made necessary by Midianite domination. "Yahweh is with you, mighty warrior!" the angel declares. Gideon, an unlikely champion, doubts both his calling and God's power, saying: "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about?" (Judges 6:13) When the angel persists and commands him to save Israel from the Midianite power, Gideon protests: "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

The angel reassures Gideon, who responds at last by offering a sacrifice and building an altar, which reportedly remained a place of religious significance until at least the time when the Book of Judges was compiled. On God's further instruction, Gideon destroys the clan's altar to Baal and replaces it with a "proper" altar devoted to Yahweh. Threatened with death for his crime, Gideon is protected by his father, who insists that Baal himself, not mere men, should be the one to execute judgment on his son.

Mustering the tribes

Gideon then sends messengers to gather men from the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, as well as his own tribe of Manasseh in order to meet an armed force of Midianites and the Amalekites that had crossed the Jordan River and have encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.

Still uncertain of his calling, Gideon then tests God by asking him, on successive nights, to cause a woolen fleece to be wet, then dry. God obliging complies. The episode is the origin of the saying "laying the fleece before the Lord" to signify asking God for a confirming sign. (Judges 6:36-40)

The tribes respond to Gideon's call and assemble at Mount Gilead, but God instructs Gideon that the troops are too numerous. God is concerned that He get the primary credit for the victory. He instructs Gideon to send home those men who "tremble with fear." The Bible reports that 22,000 men return home while 10,000 remain.

This number is still too great in God's view. He separates the remaining men by having Gideon observe how the men drink water from a stream. Gideon is to retain only those who drink directly from the stream rather than scooping the water up with their hands. In the end a force of only 300 remains.

Victory and its aftermath

With a huge Midianite army encamped in the nearby valley, Gideon gives each of his men a trumpet, a torch, and a clay jar. They quietly surround the enemy camp, with their torches hidden inside their jars. At Gideon's signal, every man blows his trumpet and breaks his jar. The surprised Midianites are thrown into a panic, turning on one another. The confused survivors flee for their lives. The previously dismissed forces of Naphtali and Manasseh pursue them. Ephraim intercepts their flight at the Jordan. Two chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb, are captured and put to death, their heads being brought to Gideon (Judges 7:21-26).

The Ephraimites, however, are offended for not having been included in the initial battle. Gideon allays their anger and renews the pursuit of Midian across the Jordan. Refused food by the men of Succoth and Peniel, he presses on, promising vengeance. Finally overtaking the Midianites, he takes two kings prisoners. Returning homeward, he takes vengeance on the men of Succoth, and destroys Peniel, slaying its inhabitants. He then executes the captured kings Zebah and Zalmunna.

With the Midianites vanquished, a movement arises to make Gideon king, but he refuses, saying that God alone should rule. However, he orders that an "ephod" be made for him out of the gold plundered in battle. The biblical writers inform us that this later become an object of idolatry.

Legacy

Gideon lived to a ripe old age and was buried in his home town of Ophrah. A period of 40 years of peace reportedly followed Gideon's victory over the Midianites. Although he declined the honor of kingship, he seems to have lived in royal fashion, fathering 70 sons with "many wives."

It was a son by concubine, however, who became the most famous. Abimelech ("my father is king") of Shechem rose to power by killing all of his brothers and ruling for three years as king himself.

Critical views

The critical school considers the story of Gideon to be a composite narrative, drawn from three main sources: the Yahwist ("J"), the Elohist ("E"), and the Deuteronomic ("D") writers. Later interpolations and editorial comments have also been pointed out. The account of Gideon's war against Midian may be an expression of his particular tribe's struggle against hostile Bedouin clans across the Jordan. Also evident are recollections of bitter tribal animosities between Manasseh, Ephraim and other proto-Israelite tribes.

Gideon's alternate name, "Jerubbaal," is a theophorous name in which "Baal" seems once to have been harmonious or synonymous with "Yahweh." The story (Judges 5:29-32) that the name actually means "Let Baal contend" is designed by later writers to explain away this inconvenient fact. The composite nature of the Gideon narrative is apparent not only from the two names "Gideon" and "Jerubbaal," but also from several repetitions in the narrative: two encounters with the Angel of God, two layings of the fleece before the Lord, two sacrifices made by Gideon, two altars erected, two sets of similarly-named Midianite chiefs executed, etc.

Gideon's son, the short-lived King Abimelech, whose name means "father is king," may have seen himself as continuing his father's royal lineage, which has been downgraded to that of a judge in the biblical record just as Abimelech himself has been removed from the list of judges. The stories of Gideon's ruthlessness toward his enemies (both Midianite and Israelite)—together with his golden ephod, his many wives, and his 70 sons—presents a picture of a man who perhaps "would not be king," but would certainly be a wealthy and powerful chieftain. Compared to other judges, Gideon appears to have been quite successful, and perhaps even a little too much so.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Matthews, Victor J. Judges and Ruth. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0521000666
  • Smith, R. Houston. "The Book of Judges," in The Interpreters One-Volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press, 1984. ISBN 0687192994
  • Schneider, Tammi J. Judges: Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry. Liturgical Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0814650509

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