The Bible Book

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS 103

hands. In the event, most go down

on their knees; only a small number

use their hands. These few will

constitute Gideon’s army—a mere

300 men against a much larger

Midianite force. The battle lines

are now set. The Midianites are

encamped in a valley near Moreh

in central Israel. Gideon and his

guerrillalike band are stationed

on the hillside above.

On the eve of battle, God gives

Gideon one last reassurance.

During the night, he tells Gideon

and his servant to creep down to

the Midianite camp and listen to

what they hear. Gideon obeys.

He hears a Midianite recounting

a dream in which a barley cake

came rolling down the hill from

the Israelite camp and upset a

Midianite tent. Another Midianite

replies that this must be a sign of

the sword of the Israelite leader

Gideon and that God has put their

fate in Gideon’s hands.

Seeing the low morale of the

Midianites, Gideon returns to his

men with renewed boldness. “The

Lord has given the Midianite camp

into your hands” (7:15) he cries,

and the men prepare for battle.

His tactics are psychological. He

divides his men into three groups

of a hundred, issuing each of them

with a horn or trumpet, an empty

jar, and a torch. They are to creep

down on the Midianites from three

sides, and when Gideon gives

the word, they are to blow their

trumpets and smash their jars to

reveal the blazing torches. At the

same time, they will shout: “A sword

for the Lord and for Gideon!” (7:20)

The plan works to perfection.

The Midianites are caught by

surprise and stampede in their

panic, turning their swords against

each other. The mighty Midianite

army flees in confusion and disarray.

The cycle continues

Behind this story lie two key

biblical themes: God’s justice and

God’s mercy. According to divine

justice, disobedience brings

punishment. However, divine

mercy also ensures that the cry

of human suffering reaches God,

who intervenes on the part of the

supplicant. The benevolent Lord

continues to protect His chosen

people despite their misdeeds.

God’s deliverance temporarily

restores peace and the grateful

Israelites ask Gideon to become

their king. Although he declines,

he still accepts a lion’s share of the

gold taken from the Midianites, and

uses some of this to make an ephod

(thought to be a vestment for

covering an idol). Judges records

how “Israel prostituted themselves

by worshipping it there” (8:27), and

idolatrous actions begin yet again.

Despite this lapse, the peace

lasts 40 years, until Gideon’s death.

It is broken when his son

Abimelech does what his father

refused to do, by proclaiming

himself king. Other judge-deliverers

are raised up, but when the people

turn against the king, Israel spirals

into violence, as Abimelech turns

his army against them. ■

The Cycle

of Sin

in Judges

Israel serves

the Lord.

Israel is

delivered.

Israel cries out

to the Lord.

Israel falls

into sin and

idolatry.

Israel is

enslaved.

God raises up

a judge.

The anger of the Lord

burned against Israel ...

But when they cried out

to [Him], He raised up

for them a deliverer ...

who saved them.

Judges 3:8–9

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