Oppression of Israel by the Midianites; Gideon Judge. Judges vi, vii, viii.

1252-1245

Israel was next oppressed by the host of the Midianites. Their subjugation appears to have been more entire and severe than under any of their former conquerors. They were driven to mountains, caves, and dens; and even when a deliverer was commissioned to defend their cause, he made his first movement in the night, lest he should be put to death by the Midianites if he attempted it in the day. While they were in this deplorable state, a prophet of the Lord was sent to reprove them for their disobedience, folly, and ingratitude, which had been the fruitful source of all their calamities. This message, it is probable, was carried from city to city throughout the the land,—and it appears to have had considerable effect on the minds of the people, and to have prepared the way for their deliverance.

The people were so oppressed and impoverished by the Midianites, as to be driven to contrive by various means to conceal a scanty portion of their harvest, just sufficient to keep them from starving. It was thus that Gideon son of Joash, of the tribe of Manasseh, the appointed reformer and deliverer of Israel, was found of the Angel who brought him his commission-beating out corn in the wine-press, to keep it concealed from the

Midianites. He was probably meditating on the miserable state of Israel, and conceiving bold designs against their invaders, when the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Gideon, with a truly patriotic spirit, pleaded for the presence of the Lord with his people Israel, and reminded Him of his former loving-kindnesses. And the Lord, the AngelJehovah, who stood before him, "looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites; have not I sent thee?" The might referred to, was the might of divine faith which he already possessed, that nothing was wanting but the presence of the Lord, to secure the deliverance of his people; and in the strength of this confidence, Gideon was encouraged to "attempt great things, and expect great things."

He, however, implored a sign for the confirmation of his faith, that the heavenly visitant would be pleased to accept an offering at his hands; which he immediately prepared, and which would serve, either for a hospitable meal, or for a sacred oblation. He was directed to lay the meat and cakes on the rock, and pour over them the broth; and then the Angel, with the staff in his hand, touched them, and, by fire miraculously kindled, the whole was consumed as a sacrifice, not as a meal; for He was God, and not man; and forthwith the vision departed.

Gideon, convinced of the dignity of the heavenly appearance, was overwhelmed with terror and

dismay; but he was encouraged by an audible voice saying to him," Peace be to thee,—fear not; thou shalt not die !" He then erected an altar as a memorial of the transaction, and called it Jehovah-shalem, "The Lord send peace." The same night Gideon received instructions to throw down the altar of Baal belonging to his father, and the wood of the grove, and to offer a bullock unto the Lord; thus commencing his work by entering a protest against idolatry, and setting up the worship of the true God. The men of his city, finding the altar and grove of their idol destroyed, were exceedingly incensed against Gideon, and demanded his blood; but his father Joash, though he had himself concurred in the idolatry, was unwilling to have his son punished, and probably convinced of the sin and folly of worshipping an idol, which could not defend itself from being thrown down, he shrewdly replied, "Let Baal plead for himself, and avenge his own cause."

Shortly after this, the Midianites and Amalekites gathered themselves together, an immense multitude, and pitched by the valley of Jezreel; and Gideon blew a trumpet, and assembled together the men of his own city Abiezer; he also sent and collected men through all Manasseh, Asher, Zebulon, and Napthali. Gideon, perhaps somewhat discouraged at the sight of so immense a host of enemies, or rather perhaps desiring a sign for the confirmation of his own faith and that of his troops, that the Lord would indeed deliver Israel by his hand, implored

hat a fleece of wool, which he should spread on the ground, might be full of moisture, and all the ground beside be dry; and then, that the signal might be reversed, the ground being moist around, and the fleece alone dry. This miracle has been fitly considered as an emblem of the people of Israel, who then were the recipients of spiritual blessings, while all the earth beside was dry and destitute; and now that the nations of the earth enjoy the blessings of redemption, the Jews alone remain like a dry

fleece.

The army collected to Gideon amounted to upwards of thirty thousand, a small number compared with the hosts of Midian and Amalek, yet enough to give occasion to vaunting and self-confidence in the event of success, which would have ascribed it to their own valour, not to the special help of God. Gideon, therefore, was directed to proclaim that whosoever among them was afraid of the battle and its issue, should return to his place; and there returned twenty-two thousand, leaving with Gideon, only ten thousand. But the number was to be yet further reduced, and an apparently singular mode of trial prescribed, but which probably distinguished those who were hardy and capable of enduring fatigue, and not given to the indulgence of appetite. After a long march, on arriving at a stream, their manner of drinking was to be tried; those who stooped down to lap, were put by themselves to be dismissed, and those only who drank,