Judge living before Israel's Monarchy
Gideon
Joash’s son, of the clan of Abiezer in Manasseh, who was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites when Yahweh’s angel greeted him, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:11–12). Gideon protested that his family was the poorest in Manasseh and he the least in his father’s house; God answered, “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:15–16). He tore down his father’s altar of Baal and was named Jerub-Baal (Judges 6:25–32).
God cut his army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred, so that Israel could not brag that its own hand had saved it (Judges 7:2–7). With trumpets, jars, and torches the three hundred put the Midianites to flight (Judges 7:15–22). When the men of Israel asked him to rule over them, he refused: “Yahweh shall rule over you” (Judges 8:22–23). He later made an ephod of gold that became a snare to Israel (Judges 8:24–27). The New Testament names him among the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:32).
Family
- Father
- Joash
- Children
- Jether, Abimelech, Jotham