In order for us to move forward and live lives of faith, we too must deal with the sin and compromise that weigh us down and distance us from God. (Genesis 25:8), Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Gideon Peyser. This confident humility helped him influence other people, and his deepest weakness became his greatest strength. Will we be able to see and know our friends and family members in Heaven? With Davids will made known, Adonijahs support melts away and Solomon is able to consolidate power. They took their resources over and over again, leaving Gideons people destitute. He had settled for survival, but God took Gideon step by step until he became a courageous, passionate, and empowered leader. What remains to be explained is how David fits into the puzzle. (, Turning to the connection between David and Abraham, we find some clear clues in chapter thirty of Samuel I. An army of 300 The Eternal, not wanting his people to believe their own strength freed them from their enemies, decides to whittle down the initial 32,000 men (Judges 7:2 - 3) who volunteered to fight the Midianites. They couple their martial exploits with religious faith, attributing their success not to their own power, but to God: Returning to the camp of Israel, he shouted, Come on! The second incident was forty years later, when after the war with Midian, the officers give the gold jewelry they captured as an offering to God (. Abraham is the founder of the chosen nation; Gideon becomes a historical footnote. This they gladly do. God commanded him to deal with the sin that had been corrupting his people, so what did he do? It doesnt matter if you have to take people with you, be awkward about it, do it wrong or at a bad time just decide to do it. He is introduced in chapter 6 of the book while he was harvesting wheat and hiding from the Midianites. The Apostle Paul, in Hebrews, calls him a man of great faith (Hebrews 11:32). If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Gideon refused, however, on the basis that "the Lord will rule over you.". Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. We read in Psalm 23:1-2: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He marries many wives (polygamy) who give him seventy sons (verse 30) and many daughters. Abrahams relative (Lot) is taken as prisoner of war and property is looted (, ). /ripe age to contrast the ambiguous Gideon with the unequivocally heroic Abraham and David. But God shaped him into a leader who was confident, humble, strong, and understanding. When dividing the spoils, they both insist that that the non-combat soldiers should share in the spoils as well (, explicitly connects these last two verses. By calling Himself Jehovah-Rapha, He is saying, "Healing is what I am." He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see. Unfortunately, Adonijah fails to understand the new situation and continues scheming. With each step he doubted, and at each stage he turned to God to give him the faith and courage he needed. Let the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him there king over Israel, whereupon you shall sound the horn and shout, Long live King Solomon! Then march up after him and let him come in and sit on my throne. (Genesis 17:6-7), For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is just and right, in order that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what He has promised him. SOURCE: Got Questions Ministries - https://www.youtube.com/@gotquestions, I Love Psalms 2015-2022 copyright all rights reserved, Pray wait and enjoy a coffee break with God, Short 5 minute session on the book of proverbs, Story by I Love Psalms Team (Copyrighted). The verse cited by the midrash refers to Gideons final act. The LORD has delivered the Midianite camp into your hands! (7:15), David replied to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied. (17:45). He is the author of Pachim Ketanim, a collection of brief essays on the weekly Torah portion. What have I accomplished compared to that? When the men of Ephraim heard Gideons answer, their anger subsided. The emotions that come with self-doubt are often inadequacy, insecurity, fear, and often shame. Rather than confront the Midianites and stand strong in the face of difficulty, Gideon did whatever he could to survive and avoid conflict. Salem Media Group. ). This was a gradual process of resisting, responding, and drawing closer to God. David has two contrasting paths from which to choose. The Eternal, not wanting his people to believe their own strength freed them from their enemies, decides to whittle down the initial 32,000 men (Judges 7:2 - 3) who volunteered to fight the Midianites. This approach compellingly explains where the Sages got the story of Abraham smashing the idols. When Gideon pulled down his fathers idol in the middle of the night, he took 10 guys with him. We can embrace who we are and take action without feeling like we have to prove or compare ourselves, because we trust God is with us. When David reigns as king, he does just that. It was the severest scourge ever inflicted upon Israel; and both it and the deliverance under Gideon lived for centuries in the minds of the people (Ps 83:11). He is portrayed in the biblical Book of Judges (chapters 13-16). But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.. He married MARY CATHERINE ERNST 1790 in Loudin City, Virginia. A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. And in Isaiah 40: He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (v. 11). Then h Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. The Ephraimites not only guard some passages but also kill two Midianite princes (Judges 7:22 - 25). The host watched all this in quiet fascination. God wants us to come to him to say whats on our heart and come to a conclusion together. The Sages understand that he means the ephod as a monument to Gods salvation, but there is no evidence in the verse pointing in either direction. His name, which means "feller" (Strong's Concordance #H1439) or "hewer" (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions), is mentioned 40 times in the KJV Bible. We may think that we are the ones who found Godbut God was the One who pursued us. Why didnt you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites? And they argued heatedly with Gideon. The result is horrific: Then he [Abimelech] went to his fathers house in Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal [Gideon], seventy men on one stone. 2023 Deep Spirituality / Privacy Policy. (, ) begins with David an old, tired man. Gideon is a competent wartime commander, but when it comes to long-term plans, he does not communicate well, and such an approach results in disaster. (, When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. Did Jesus drink wine or alcohol? Gideon was a judge and a mighty man of war in Israel. Im way more likely to practice a conversation I need to have with someone over and over again, scripting out what Id say in response to what I predict they would say. Just give me a trial basis." Long before now, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel in war; and the LORD said to you: You shall shepherd My people Israel; you shall be ruler of Israel. (, But Gideon replied, I will not rule over you myself, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD alone shall rule over you. (, All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them in Hebron before the LORD. But no matter how small or insignificant we feel, we can grow and become strong when we believe that God chose us and is bigger than any obstacle or personal fault. Reassured of victory, the Israelites surround the enemy. The intent in these two cases was unambiguous. Endurance is one of the most important qualities Jesus had, and it's one we should all learn to develop. For he shall succeed me as king; him I designate to be ruler of Israel and Judah.. Nathan, with the assistance of Solomons mother, Bathsheba, steers David onto the right track: The king said to them, Take my loyal soldiers, and have my son Solomon ride on my mule and bring him down to Gihon. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. He travels out of town one day and leaves his son to mind the store. With each decision to act despite his fear, Gideon built confidence. Thoughts for Today Throughout the Old Testament, we see an image of God as our caring, protective shepherd. To avoid tragedy, David has to seize control of his legacy. Summary Gideon Peyser was born on September 13, 1921, and died at age 57 years old in April 1979. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you are asking for? Gods responses to both these doubts were five simple words: I will be with you. Going with the strength we have means we can be aware of all of our flaws, fears, inadequacies, abilities or lack thereof, and still move forward with confidence because we know God is going to pull through for us. Why? Gideon was one of many leaders in the book of Judges who saved the Israelites from various enemies. Beyond the semantic link identified by Resh Lakish, there are several remarkable parallels between the two narratives. Now that we have shown the connection and contrasts between Abraham, Gideon, and David, we can explain the final section of Genesis Rabbah 62:1 quoted at the beginning of the article. Likewise, David is the youngest of his brothers, and Jesse does not even bother to invite him to the feast with Samuel and the rest of the family (I Samuel 16:10-11). So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had commanded. Now that Gideon was on board with Gods mission, he needed to deal with the sin and compromise that both he and his people had grown to tolerate. Abraham mocks the impotence of idols who cannot defend themselves, just as Gideons father does (, ). The next question is what this thematic connection comes to teach us. Gathering an army Gideon then sent out messengers to gather men from the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, as well as his own tribe of Manasseh, in order to meet an armed force of Midian and Amalek that had crossed the Jordan River. David wants another son, Solomon, to be the next king, but has done nothing to further this objective. This was true for Gideon, too. Once again, the parallels are striking. Judges 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. They would burn the houses and fields, kill the people, and make off with the produce of the land. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. His failure to do so leads to fratricide and the extermination of his family. Gideon, from the least of the least in terms of tribes, receives a call from God to take on the Midianites, a nomadic and huge group of people who depleted Israel's supplies. 28. David, with some help from the prophet Nathan, is able to follow in the footsteps of Abraham and establish an eternal dynasty of servants of God. Jump to: Biography Memories Family Tree Followers Gideon Permann's Biography Gideon didnt just do this once he did it multiple times throughout the whole story (see Judges 6:36-40). Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in oneyear by the unruly students. [26] Then build an altar to the LORD your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. These allusions tell us that Abraham, like Gideon, should be viewed as a predecessor to David. Davids relatives (wives) are taken as prisoners of war and property is looted (I Samuel 30:5). Didnt they say, The LORD brought us up out of Egypt? However, unlike David, who had been anointed as king by the prophet Samuel, Gideon lacks a divine imprimatur and therefore correctly refuses the crown. The 80 years of peace that resulted from Ehud defeating the king of Moab ended in 1204 BC: 1284-1204 BC b. God tells a man named Abram to leave his homeland, and promises him a great future, but we have no idea why He selected this particular man. The next morning the young man stood before the class He said to theclass, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. Gideons awareness of his own insignificance initially made him insecure, cynical, and self-doubting. It was a chilly evening. I am sending you! [16] The LORD said to him, I will be with you. Wiki User 2011-05-09 14:11:01 Study now See answers (3) Best Answer Copy Gideon was not a major prophet at all. And Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin. Abraham then died at 175 years of age (25 . Gideon, son of Joash, died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah of the Abiezrites. With Gods help, Gideon rallied troops to overthrow the Midianites, and then continued to lead the nation of Israel for another 40 years. Wycliffe Bible (1395) And Gedeon, sone of Joas, diede in good elde, and was biried in the sepulcre of Joas, his fadir, in Ephra, of the meynee of Ezri. David rejects the idea out of hand. Going back to our initial question, it is not arbitrary that the Bible and midrash contrast Gideon to Abraham and David as opposed to any other biblical protagonists; the three share a clear thematic connection. Then the Israelites said to Gideon, Be our ruler! When Gideon is told he is to be Gods messenger, he uses similar wording, , )? What Does It Mean to Be "Spiritually Blind"? (Genesis 18:19), When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. Davids relatives (wives) are taken as prisoners of war and property is looted (, ). Whether we feel we have a lot of strength or barely any, we can go with what we do have and trust God will fill in the rest. It does not happen by itself. This was done as punishment for the people's sins (Judges 6:1). All the citizens of Shekhem and all Beth-millo convened, and they proclaimed Abimelech king at the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem. Take some time to pray about what challenge or difficulty God might be calling you to take on. Did Jesus drink alcohol? The Sages, they argue, understood the textual parallels as an indication that Abrahams backstory was similar. [33] By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. Decide not to settle, work through what youre afraid or doubtful of, and decide to take action on faith anyway. As a result, they became strong and lived lives of significant impact. Abraham, Gideon and David seem like an odd trio. This they gladly do. During his time as Judge the land is at peace (Judges 8:28). Gideon may have only seen who he was and what he could do, but God saw him for who he could become. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. This means that David was seventy years old when he died. (. Many (R Amnon Bazak, R Yaakov Medan, R Nathaniel Helfgot, et al.) They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Only God can set us free from addictions. But the jewelry is not put to good use: Gideon made an ephod of this gold and set it up in his own town of Ophrah. Those Midianites who make it out of their camp alive, for fear of Gideon, begin to travel east toward the Jordan River with three Israelite tribes pursuing them. To learn more about our church and find. While many begin to fight and kill each other, still others flee the area in fear (verses 21 - 22)! But Lord, Gideon replied, how can I rescue Israel? Hi friends, we are very excited you are here. Bible Articles Video Audio Abimelech was a son of Gideon, the King of Israel, and his concubine from Shechem. Perhaps it was for the same reason Gideons line ended in tragedy. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, at Ophrah, the town of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon or Jerubbaal the 5th Judge of Israel. It puts the career of David into the larger biblical context of two precursors, Abraham and Gideon. When God first chose him, he was weak, doubtful, discouraged, inexperienced, and afraid. Clarence Earl Gideon (August 30, 1910 - January 18, 1972) was a poor drifter accused in a Florida state court of felony breaking and entering.While in prison, he appealed his case to the US Supreme Court, resulting in the landmark 1963 decision Gideon v. Wainwright holding that a criminal defendant who cannot afford to hire a lawyer must be provided one at no cost. Yes, there is a record. The nation had a bit of a history with donating golden earrings. However, God was in no long time ready to return Jeroboam's wicked actions, and the punishment they deserved, upon his own head, and upon the heads of all his house. 1 peter 1. However, unlike Abraham, he does not think about succession planning. He died "in a good old age," and it was not until after his death that the Israelites again departed from God. Based on linguistic irregularities in the verses, the midrash gives the source of his strong conviction: From whom did he learn [this principle]? 1 min encouragement 332. However, the connection runs deeper than this single verse. 31 j And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. I am definitely not a do it anyway type of person, especially when it comes to something that might lead to conflict. Not proof of anything, just . But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his fathers household and the people of the town. Both Abraham and David set out with a small band of soldiers (, ). He was resigned to the oppressive circumstances in his life. Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 34 How old was the prophet Gideon when he died? Ive directed you, havent I?, 15 Right, Gideon responded. His victory is alluded to in Isaiah 10:26 , and in Psalm 82:12 , where the four kings mentioned in Judges, vii, viii, are distinctly named- a fact which shows that, at the time when this psalm was composed, the narrative of . The midrash had concluded that unlike Abraham and David, the phrase ripe age was unfitting for Gideon, because of the verse And Gideon made it into an ephod, which is considered an act of idolatry. He had seventy sons, and "died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father in Ephra" (viii, 24-32). Gideon was the son of Joash from the tribe of Manasseh. All the citizens of Shekhem and all Beth-millo convened, and they proclaimed Abimelech king at the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem. It was after this that Isaac married Rebekah and Abraham took Keturah as a wife (possibly a concubine) (see Genesis 24 and 25:1). If youre like me, you may think Gideon was a little cowardly and less than inspiring. Gideon had been living a life of self-protection, trying to shield himself from pain and danger, so he didnt immediately spring into action. God grew Gideon step by step, until who he was in battle was unrecognizable from that guy in the winepress. The Scriptures tell us, He [Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24). What does the Bible say about a man of valor? Only God can heal us of sin. Wiki User 2011-05-09. Gideons father nicknamed Gideon Jerub-Baal let Baal contend. We immediately see a superficial parallel to the parsha: David is old, advanced in years just like Abraham in Hayei Sarah (Genesis 24:1). Now Gideon the son of Joash died k at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, l in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. After Gideon died, Abimelech slew his seventy brothers (except Jotham, the youngest) and set himself up as ruler . And when he died, they abandoned his family and returned to worshiping Baal. And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In Exodus, the people want the gold to make a god; in Numbers they give the gold as an offering to God. And Gideon made it into an ephod for idolatry. (, Abraham, Gideon and David seem like an odd trio. And Gideon made it into an ephod for idolatry. (Genesis Rabbah 62:1). Abraham smashes his fathers idols, just as Gideon destroys the altar of Baal and the Ashera of his father (, ). Imagine who you would be and what you would accomplish if you chose to trust God and take small steps forward each day. He didnt get angry or exasperated over Gideons constant doubt and questioning, but responded with patient encouragement and clarity. From Gideons response, we can see that he had some unresolved feelings that were making him doubt Gods power and Gods care: When we let these emotions go unchecked, we too will question, doubt, and argue with God. ReferencesHoly Bible, a Faithful Version4000 Questions and Answers on the BibleHolman Bible Dictionary. Gideon Brecher was born on January 12, 1797 and died on May 14, 1873. Gideon: His Prayer Tests. Do you stop at just one prayer to get faith? When his father returns and inquires about the damage, Abraham explains that the idols had had an argument and the largest idol destroyed the others. Solomon eventually is forced to have him executed, but Davids line survives. Which list would you like to subscribe to? What doubts do you have about God? Abraham is a paragon of faith and generosity; Gideon is not particularly distinguished in either of these areas. Come, make us a god who shall go before us, for that man Moses, who brought us from the land of Egyptwe do not know what has happened to him. The 10 year old little girl replied, "it's like being a pumpkin. Eventually, God cut Gideons army down even further: The LORD told Gideon, With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Abrahams relative (Lot) is taken as prisoner of war and property is looted (Genesis 14:11-12). After Davids victory, some of his men suggest that only the combat troops get a share in the booty. The story of Gideon in the Bible shows us how God can shape any of us into strong leaders if were willing to take one (very small) step of faith at a time. Their weakness was turned to strength. Who are you meant to influence and lead in your life. But of all biblical heroes, why these two in particular? After addressing his doubts about God, Gideon had to be honest about the doubts he had about himself. There all Israel went astray after it, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household (Judges 8:27). Faiths miraculous victory, Son of Joash ( Great warrior). His sons start jockeying for advantage, and his oldest surviving son, Adonijah, assembles a group of supporters and proclaims himself the heir apparent. In addition to the narrative similarities, there are also semantic similarities between the two stories. What weaknesses of yours could actually be strengths? He had to work through two lines of defense he had wrapped around his heart: Sir, Gideon replied, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Gideons project was much less ambitious than Davids, yet it still failed. Perhaps we can find an answer if we look at the Torah portion that includes Abrahams death and the haftarah about Davids death that goes with it. After Davids victory, some of his men suggest that only the combat troops get a share in the booty. 18 And please dont leave here until Ive come back to you, brought my offering, and set it down in front of you.. Gideon went on to fight and defeat the huge Midianite army with just his 300 men. So how did Gideon respond to God calling him a mighty hero? In short, Gideon can be seen as a proto-David, a young man plucked from obscurity due to his courage in standing up to Israels enemies in the name of God. Judges 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. When we stop getting down on ourselves for not being who we think were supposed to be, we end up seeing what we can do with God. Pull down your fathers altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. Ultimately, many of the remaining 15,000 enemy troops lose their life and two Midianite kings are put to death (Judges 8:10 - 21). 1. Terah takes the bait, rejecting the story as impossible Do idols know anything? and Abraham springs his trap: Let your ears hear what your mouth is saying! Abraham is then put on trial for heresy, thrown into a fiery furnace, and miraculously survives due to his faith in God. This is what it means to wrestle with God in prayerwe keep hashing things out until we are on the same page. When given his mission by God, Gideon demurs: My clan is the humblest in Menashe and I am the youngest in my family (Judges 6:15). In Exodus, the people want the gold to make a god; in Numbers they give the gold as an offering to God. Samson, Hebrew Shimshon, legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength that he derived from his uncut hair. What do you do when you face difficulty, conflict, or challenges that feel beyond your ability to handle? David said to Solomon, My son, I wanted to build a House for the name of the LORD my God. (, Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, and may you succeed in building the House of the LORD your God as He promised you would. "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12, NKJV).As the angel of the Lord greeted Gideon in Old Testament times, He invites you to become one of God's choice warriors. Rather, God says He is healing. If you keep reading Gideons story, youll find that he became self-assured, powerful, and successful. The LORD has delivered the Midianite camp into your hands! (, David replied to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied. (, They are also unlikely heroes. What extra weight has been slackening your pace? God Always Sees the Best in Us In chapter 6 of Judges, we find Gideon going about his business of threshing wheat in a winepress. Lets get started by learning more about the story of Gideon in the Bible, and how God can shape any of us into strong leaders if were willing to take one (very small) step of faith at a time. It could be compromising our relationship with God to find security in something else, like our own abilities, our own success, or our own comfort. 1. records, and died February 05, 1844 in Hillsboro, Loudon, Virginia, Old Potts Cemetery. Such extensive textual links between the two figures cannot be coincidental, but the conceptual connection is not apparent. Lets take a look at some of those small steps Gideon took so we can stop settling, deal with our doubts, and take action. Messengers are also sent to the tribe of Ephraim requesting that they guard some of Jordan's strategic crossing areas. - BIBLE QUIZ, Which mother boiled and ate her own son? He is a young man trying to help his family get the grain they need and keep the Midianites from finding it. Lehrhaus Over Shabbat, The Lehrhaus is a participant in theAmazonServices LLC Associates Program, anaffiliateadvertising program designed to provide a means for The Lehrhaus to earn fees by linking toAmazon.com and affiliated sites.
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