The story of Gideon is recounted in the Old Testament of the Bible, primarily in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8. Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, was a judge, military leader, and prophet of the Israelites during a period of oppression by the Midianites.

 

The story of Gideon begins with the Israelites having strayed from the worship of the one true God and turning to idolatry. As a consequence, they faced repeated invasions and oppression by neighboring peoples, including the Midianites. In their distress, the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance.

 

God responded to their cries by choosing Gideon, a member of the tribe of Manasseh, to be the instrument of their deliverance. Gideon was initially hesitant and doubted his ability to lead, but God assured him of His presence and power.

 

One day, as Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and greeted him as a "mighty warrior." The angel instructed Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites and assured him of God's support. Gideon, still unsure, asked for a sign, and the angel provided one by consuming a sacrifice with fire.

 

Emboldened by the sign, Gideon rallied the Israelites to fight against the Midianites. However, before engaging in battle, he sought further confirmation from God. Gideon placed a fleece of wool on the ground overnight, asking God to make it wet with dew while keeping the ground dry. God granted his request, and Gideon gained confidence in God's guidance.

 

With an army of 32,000 men, Gideon prepared to face the Midianites, who had a much larger force. However, God instructed Gideon to reduce his army to a mere 300 men by selecting those who drank water from a stream in a certain manner. With this small but dedicated force, Gideon launched a surprise attack on the Midianite camp during the night, using trumpets, torches, and shouts of "For the Lord and for Gideon!"

 

Confusion and panic spread among the Midianites, and they turned on each other in the darkness. The Israelites pursued and defeated them, securing a decisive victory. Gideon's leadership and faith in God's power were instrumental in delivering the Israelites from their oppressors.

 

Following the victory, Gideon was offered kingship by the Israelites, but he refused, acknowledging that only God should rule over them. However, he made a request for gold earrings, which he used to make an ephod (a priestly garment), which later became an object of idolatry among the Israelites.

 

Despite his initial faithfulness, Gideon's later years were marked by a lapse into idolatry, and his family faced internal strife and tragedy. Nevertheless, Gideon is remembered as a courageous leader and judge who answered God's call to deliver his people from oppression.