| Gideon
This article contains a free Bible Study resource on the subject of Gideon. It provides facts, a biography and information about this famous Biblical character for bible study. There is also reference to where Gideon is mentioned in the Holy Bible. Bible Dictionary Definition - Who was Gideon?
The definition and outline of Gideon is as follows: According to the Old Testament he was a warrior judge of Israel. He was the son of Joash, from the clan of Abiezer in the tribe of Manasseh, and the father at least 71 sons. Gideon Bible Story Biography, Facts and Information about Gideon
The following info provides a concise biography with facts and information about Gideon: Called also Jerubbaal (Judges 6:29,32), was the first of the judges whose history is circumstantially narrated (Judg. 6-8). His calling is the commencement of the second period in the history of the judges. After the victory gained by Deborah and Barak over Jabin, Israel once more sank into idolatry, and the Midianites (q.v.) and Amalekites, with other "children of the east," crossed the Jordan each year for seven successive years for the purpose of plundering and desolating the land. Gideon received a direct call from God to undertake the task of delivering the land from these warlike invaders. He was of the family of Abiezer (Joshua 17:2; 1 Chronicles 7:18), and of the little township of Ophrah (Judges 6:11). First, with ten of his servants, he overthrew the altars of Baal and cut down the asherah which was upon it, and then blew the trumpet of alarm, and the people flocked to his standard on the crest of Mount Gilboa to the number of twenty-two thousand men. These were, however, reduced to only three hundred. These, strangely armed with torches and pitchers and trumpets, rushed in from three different points on the camp of Midian at midnight, in the valley to the north of Moreh, with the terrible war-cry, "For the Lord and for Gideon" (Judges 7:18, RSV). Terror-stricken, the Midianites were put into dire confusion, and in the darkness slew one another, so that only fifteen thousand out of the great army of one hundred and twenty thousand escaped alive. The memory of this great deliverance impressed itself deeply on the mind of the nation (1 Samuel 12:11; Psalms 83:11; Isaiah 9:4; 10:26; Hebrews 11:32). The land had now rest for forty years. Gideon died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. Soon after his death a change came over the people. They again forgot Jehovah, and turned to the worship of Baalim, "neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal" (Judges 8:35). Gideon left behind him seventy sons, a feeble, sadly degenerated race, with one exception, that of Abimelech, who seems to have had much of the courage and energy of his father, yet of restless and unscrupulous ambition. He gathered around him a band who slaughtered all Gideon's sons, except Jotham, upon one stone. Gideon
We have selected Gideon as one of the most important people and character from the Bible and provided a biography and character outline of this famous person. Much of the information is taken from the classic reference books including Matthew George Easton "Easton's Bible Dictionary" and Ashley S Johnson "Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia". Gideon - A Free Christian Bible Study Resource
We hope that this Gideon article will provide useful information and ideas for those following a Bible Study plan. This article about Gideon, together with other tools, activities, aids and materials and are designed to be used by an individual or a Christian Bible study group. This biography of Gideon may prove useful as the basis for fun Sunday School lessons for Christian children and kids other topics will prove a useful asset to teens, youth or adults taking a Bible Study course or Biblical degree. All information on this Gideon page is free to be used as an educational Christian Bible Study resource. Gideon |
