Gideon's Three Hundred
Midianite raiders have driven Israel to threshing wheat in hiding, which is where the angel finds Gideon and greets him as a mighty warrior. Gideon's reply is a complaint — if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? He asks for a sign, then for another, twice testing God with a fleece and dew.
Thirty-two thousand answer his call and God says there are too many, lest Israel claim the credit. The fearful are sent home, then all but three hundred are dismissed by how they drink at the water. The attack is made at night with trumpets, torches hidden in jars, and a shout; the Midianite camp turns on itself in the dark.
Offered the kingship afterwards, Gideon refuses it — then makes a gold ephod from the plunder that the people treat as an idol.
Where in scripture
[1] The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. [2] The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds. [3] So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them. [4] They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey. [5] For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it. …
Judges 6:1–40 — opening verses
[1] Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. [2] Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ [3] Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. …
Judges 7:1–25 — opening verses
[22] Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” [23] Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. Yahweh shall rule over you.” [24] Gideon said to them, “I do have a request, that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] They answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it. …
Judges 8:22–27 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
