6

Israel does evil, and serves Midian for seven years. The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon, and tells him he will deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon is initially suspicious, because he is from Manasseh, the least of the tribes. As a sign, fire shoots from a rock and cosumes Gideon’s offering of meat and bread. Gideon builds an altar at the place, Ophrah. Gideon destroys an altar of Baal-Berith at night, and replaces it with an altar to God. Gideon is found out, but his father says that Baal-Berith himself should plead against him if he is offended. Gideon thus acquires the name Jerubbaal, meaning ‘Let Baal plead’. Gideon gathers an army. Gideon seeks signs – he puts a fleece on the floor, and asks for there to be dew only on the fleece, but not on the ground. This is done. Then Gideon asks for the ground to be bedewed, and the fleece dry. This is done also.

7

Gideon gathers Israelite men to fight. God is anxious lest victory is ascribed to the Israelites’ might, rather than to Him. All those who are afraid are commanded to go home – this reduces the number to 10,000 from 32,000. The number is further reduced to 300 by a test by a river – all those who drink by lapping like a dog, or on their knees, are dismissed. Gideon spies on the Midian camp with his servant Purah. Gideon hears a man relating a dream of a loasf of barley bread striking his tent and causing it to fall. The dream is interpreted as meaning that the Midianites will be given up to Gideon. Gideon divides the company into three groups – upon his signal, the company are to blow their trumpets and shout, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!’ When this is done, the Midianites in a panic kill each other. Two Midianite kings are killed

 

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