Study notes ▪ 2019Tags: Gideon; Judges 6:1-8:32; Israel; Spiritual life; Midian; BaalExcerpted from Profiles of the Judges
Description of Spiritual Failure
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“The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord …”
(6:1). |
| Nation(s) Oppressing Israel |
Midian, Amalek, and the people of the East (6:3; 6:33; 7:12); the
coalition is simply referred to as Midian throughout the narrative |
| Nature of Foreign Oppression |
Attacks in massive numbers with an emphasis on plundering Israel’s food
sources, both animal and vegetable (6:2-5; 6:11) |
| Length of Foreign Oppression |
7 years (6:1) |
| Cry for Deliverance |
“the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord” (6:6; cf. 6:7) |
| Provenance of Judge |
Of the tribe of Manasseh (6:15) |
| Special Notes |
Gideon was also known as Jerubbaal (e.g., 6:32; 7:1).
Liberation from Midian’s oppression was not achieved merely by desperate
calls to the Lord. Rather, it necessitated spiritual renewal, thus an unnamed
prophet arrived on the scene before Gideon’s emergence as a deliverer (6:7-10).
The narrative of Gideon’s ministry repeatedly shows that he was
reluctant to exert himself as a spiritual or military leader. The Lord
patiently provided the assurances needed to bolster his faith and spur him to
action.
Although Gideon was used to defeat Midian in a mighty way, he neglected
to lead Israel faithfully. He exacted cruel revenge on towns that had refused
to aid his military actions (8:4-9, 15-17), made a golden object that elicited
idolatry in Israel (8:24-27), and accumulated numerous wives and at least one
concubine (8:30-31). After he died, the nation fell back into the worship of
Baal (8:33-34) and violence and ambition erupted in his family (9:1-5). |
| Length of Judge’s Service |
40 years (8:28ff.) |
| Duration of Peace |
40 years (8:28) |
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