GEDEON (Heb. Gidh’on; Septuagint Tedkov, Vulg. Gedeon). — A “judge” of Israel. After the activity of Deborah (q.v.), a period of raids and disturbances occurred in Palestine caused by incursions of Midianites, Amalekites, and trans-Jordanian Bedouins (Judg. 6:3). Oppressed by the calamity, the Israelites returned to the Lord, who raised up a new “judge” in Gedeon, son of Joash, a descendant of Manasseh in the Abiezrite branch (cf. Josh. 17:2). While Gedeon was threshing wheat in Ophrah (a locality not identified, but doubtless in the Cis-Jordanian part of the tribe of Manasseh), an angel of the Lord appeared to him with his new mission. To assure him of the angel’s heavenly origin, the angel offered Gedeon a sign by producing miraculous fire upon some food (Judg. 6:11-24).
First, the new judge purified his native land, indeed even his father’s house, from an idolatrous altar dedicated to Baal (q.v.). He demolished the altar, then cut down the sacred pole of the Asherah (q.V. Astarte) and with it burned a sacrifice to the true God. The indignant townspeople demanded his death, accusing him of sacrilege. His father protected Gedeon, affirming that Baal himself could show his power by taking vengeance on the impious. The demonstrators were satisfied with changing Ioas’ skeptical words into a blessing; from then on, Gedeon was called Jerubbaal (= “Let Baal contend for himself”).
Before attacking the Midianites, Gedeon sought a sign from heaven, namely the miracle of the fleece and the dew, much exploited in the typological and allegorical exegesis of the Fathers. Then, with only 300 men, selected by the hasty way in which they drank from a stream, he attacked the raiders from Transjordan. The first encounter took place near the Jordan north of Samaria, probably between ‘Ayin Gālād (= “Spring of Harad”) and the hill Nebi Dāhī or Little Hermon. By a stratagem, the 300 men managed to enter the enemy camp and spread panic there. Gedeon pursued the enemy, some of whom were captured, such as the two Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb, at the fords of the Jordan. After crossing the river, despite the hostility of some Israelite centers, against which he took harsh vengeance, Gedeon defeated the enemy. Among the prisoners expressly mentioned are Zebah and Zalmunna, whom Gedeon put to death with his own hand to avenge the massacre of his brothers perpetrated by the two.
Having freed the people from the raiders, Gedeon refused royal dignity and contented himself with the great war spoils. He asked only for some gold ornaments. When received, weighing about 28 kg., he melted them down to make an ephod, which does not seem to have been the priestly garment (q.V. EPHOD), but rather an object used for divinatory purposes. Indeed, the sacred author states that it became a cause of “spiritual fornication,” i.e., idolatry, among the people. Gedeon died, leaving behind him as many as 70 legitimate sons and one illegitimate son, who would slaughter his half-brothers and prepare his own ruin (q.V. ABIMELECH; GAAL; JOTHAM; PHILISTINES).
The events of Gedeon’s life are narrated in Judg. 6-8; elsewhere, however, the Bible alludes to his deeds (cf. Ps. 82 [Heb. 83]:12) and to his faith (cf. Heb. 11:32-33).