Gideon the fifth Judge of Israel

Judges 6:1-8:35. Gideon 5th Judge of Israel ruled Israel between 1191BC-1151BC for about 40 years.

Gideon was of the tribe of Manasseh and was used by God to achieve a mighty victory over the Midianites, who had been oppressing Israel.

Gideon was asked by God to get a group of fighting men. God then told him how to select these men. Following God’s plan, Gideon led the Israelites to victory against their enemies.

Faith’s miraculous victory, Son of Joash ( Great warrior)

Gideon had 70 sons and many wives. The next Judge was one of his sons.

Gideon in Hebrew means: feller or hewer.

Gideon’s father nicknamed Gideon Jerub-Baal – let Baal contend.

Background Reading:

Gideon is Visited by the Angel of the LORD

11 After this, the angel of the LORD arrived and sat down in the shade of the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash, a descendant of Abiezer, while his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press in order to safeguard it from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and told him, “The LORD is with you, you valiant warrior!”

13 But Gideon replied, “Right… Sir, if the LORD is with us, then why has all of this happened to us? And where are all of his miraculous works that our ancestors recounted to us when they said, ‘The LORD brought us up from Egypt, didn’t he?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us over to Midian!”

14 The LORD looked straight at him and replied, “Go with this determination of yours and deliver Israel from Midian’s domination. I’ve directed you, haven’t I?”

15 “Right…,” Gideon responded. “Sir, how will I deliver Israel? Look—my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I’m the youngest in my father’s household.”

16 The LORD told him, “Because I’ll be with you, and you’ll defeat Midian—every single one of them!”

17 So Gideon asked him, “Please, if I have received favor from you, then do a miracle for me that shows that you’re making this promise to me. 18 And please don’t leave here until I’ve come back to you, brought my offering, and set it down in front of you.”

The LORD replied, “I’ll stay until you return.”
Judges 6:11—18
Continued Judges 6:1-8:35.

If you want to read to full story look it up in a Bible.

More Information:

Gideon or Jerubbaal the 5th Judge of Israel.
Called a mighty man of valor

Characteristics of Gideon:

  • Humility
  • Caution
  • Spirituality
  • Divine inspiration
  • Divine Fellowship
  • Strategy
  • Tact
  • Loyalty to God
  • Weakened by prosperity

Other slides in this module: