Gideon

a judge of Israel. During his youth Israel was sunk in idolatry and sloth, and was oppre ed by the plundering incursions of the A male kites and Midi a nites. Confident in the a urance of supernatural direction, he mustered the people, reduced the unwieldy host to a handful of resolute men, fell suddenly upon the enemy in the neighborhood of Mount Gilboa, and routed them with great slaughter.