Gideon is one of the outstanding judges mentioned in the book of Judges as delivering the people from danger or oppression. His preparation seems to have been more along agricultural lines than along political or military ones, for he was threshing wheat on his father's farm when he received this assurance: "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour" (Judg. 6: 12).
While acknowledging God's previous deliverances of Israel, Gideon admitted that he could see little proof of such protection in his own day, for the roving Midianites, "as grasshoppers for multitude" (verse 5), were ravaging the country, destroying livestock and crops alike. But he was reassured that the Lord would be with him, in spite of, or perhaps because of, his humble plea of personal inadequacy. Through him, the thrall of the Midianites would be broken.
The first task assigned to Gideon was a specific challenge to idolatry. His father, Joash, had erected an altar to the Canaanite deity Baal and had set up beside it what the King James Version terms a "grove"—now generally viewed as a carved wooden idol or totem pole. In obedience to a divine command, Gideon destroyed the altar and used the wood of the pole as fuel for burning a bullock in honor of the Lord. Thus he braved the wrath of his neighbors, who threatened him with death. However his father stood by him, observing sarcastically that if Baal's honor had been violated, it was his responsibility to vindicate it for himself if he were indeed a deity.
Meanwhile the Midianites and other hostile tribes had amassed an army to destroy Israel's forces now rallying to Gideon's standard. At this point, Gideon's army numbered thirty-two thousand men; but a message from the Lord assured him that this number must be reduced lest the forthcoming victory be attributed to human, numerical success rather than to divine support. Any soldiers showing a trace of fear were to return home at once. Twenty-two thousand took advantage of this opportunity, reducing the army to ten thousand.
One further test remained, for God said, "The people are yet too many" (Judg. 7: 4). At a nearby body of water the test was carried out. All but three hundred men disregarded caution and responsibility and kneeled down, burying their faces in the cool water and drinking to their hearts' content. The remainder, alert and ready to meet any emergency, stooped only long enough to scoop up a scant supply of water to quench their thirst. These three hundred were alone chosen to represent Israel.
Learning that the Midianites were already fearful of the outcome of the battle, Gideon divided his men into three groups and equipped each man with a trumpet, a torch, and an earthenware jar to shield its light temporarily. During the night he stationed his men strategically around the Midianite camp. At midnight, following a prearranged signal, all broke the jars and held up the lights; they sounded their trumpets and raised in unison the battle cry, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon" (Judg. 7:20). Their foes were demoralized and fled, even attacking one another.
It is noteworthy that there appear to have been no casualties among the three hundred stalwarts of Israel, even though they pursued their enemies for many miles.
Following Gideon's signal victory, he was offered the seemingly rich reward of hereditary kingship, but he refused it, saying to the Israelites, "The Lord shall rule over you."
