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JUDGES.
#6. The Six Deliverers of Israel (cont.).
Gideon, Jephthah and Samson (6: - 16:).
pp. 88 - 98
Gideon.
The reader will remember that we were unable to complete our survey of the account
of the six deliverers of Israel in the last article (pages 54-58) of this series when we
compared them with each other and gave some attention to the more outstanding details
that are recorded of the first three. We now proceed to consider the outstanding typical
features of the exploits of the remaining three, Gideon, Jephthah and Samson.
The oppression of Israel by the Midianites and the execution of Zeba and Zalmunna
by Gideon are referred to by later writers of Israel, as being of prophetic interest.
"For Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of
his oppressor, as in the days of Midian" (Isa. 9: 4).
"And the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for him, according to the slaughter of
Midian at the rock of Oreb" (Isa.10: 26).
"Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison
. . . . . Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb, yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as
Zalmunna" (Psa. 83: 9, 11).
These references indicate the necessity of a knowledge of the record of Judges if the
prophecies given later in the Word are to be appreciated.
The oppression of the Midianites was very great. Israel were driven to dens and caves
of the earth, while much that they had sown in the fields was consumed by their enemies.
Before Gideon was raised up as a deliverer, a prophet was sent who reviewed the history
of Israel's defection and their sad departure from the Lord, in spite of His deliverance of
them from the oppression of Egypt. The appearance of the prophet seems to indicate the
failure of the priest, and this is borne out by the history of the time. Following the
prophet, came the angel of the Lord, and Gideon asked for signs in order that he might be
assured that his commission was of the Lord. His first act of deliverance was the
breaking down of the altar of Baal which is own father had set up (Judges 6: 25). This
earned for Gideon the title Jerubbaal (Judges 7: 1), or "Let Baal plead". The argument
of Joash concerning Baal pleading for himself is like that of Elijah at Mount Carmel.
The host of the Midianites and the Amalekites is likened to locusts, or the sand of the
sea, for multitude, whereas the total number of Gideon's men is said to be, in the A.V.,
32,000. Had an army of even this size vanquished the Midianite host the victory would
have been a signal one, but the Lord, Who knew the heart of men, said to Gideon.