The Bible Book

100

HAS NOT

THE LORD

GONE AHEAD

OF YOU?

JUDGES 4:14, GIDEON AND THE JUDGES

T

he story of Gideon is

typical of the events of the

Book of Judges. It follows

a familiar cycle of disobedience,

punishment, repentance, and

deliverance, as the Israelites yet

again struggle to remain faithful

to their God. Gideon becomes the

instrument of God’s intervention,

and his miraculous military victory

serves to set the people back on the

right path, if only temporarily.

Fractious tribes

The Book of Judges began as a

cycle of sagas about tribal heroes.

These were pulled together into a

single book probably in the late

7th century bce, with additions

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Judges 4–8

THEME

Deliverance by the judges

SETTING

13th century bce During the

settlement of Canaan, the

Promised Land.

KEY FIGURES

Gideon One of the 12 judges.

Chosen by God to help the

Israelites seize victory over

the Midianites.

Abimelech Gideon’s son

who proclaims himself king

against God’s will and sets

in motion the next cycle of

decline for the Israelites.

The Midianites A semi-

nomadic people from east

of the Jordan, who fight

against Israel.

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