Gideon, also called Jerub-Baal, was the son of Joash and a judge of Israel. Although he had no self confidence, God chose Gideon to free the people of Israel and condemn their idol-worshipping. The narrative of Gideon is where we get the term "laying a fleece before the Lord," as this is how he confirmed that it was actually God who was telling him to destroy the altar to Baal. Preparatory to the battle with the Midianites, God had Gideon prune his army from 22,000 men to 300. Miraculously, Gideon's army was victorious.
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