Where Were the Israelites Camped When They Turned to Baal Worship?

Joe Sidlo
Steve Gosik
William Bresnahan
Spring, 1997

The Story of Gideon
Judges 6,1-7,25

In some way the Israelites offended God in return God allowed them to be captured by Midianites for seven years. The Midianites destroyed the crops of the Israelites and also stole their livestock. They left no food for the Israelites. The Lord sent His angel who appeared to Gideon. They talked and the angel said he would be the Israelites champion. God promised Gideon victory and safety. God then asked Gideon to gather some unleavened cakes and some meat and after Gideon did this he set them on a rock and God consumed them with fire. Gideon realizing it was God built an altar to Him. Later at night God commanded him to destroy his father's altar to Baal. The people in the village wanted to kill Gideon, but Joash, Gideon's father, talked the people out of it. Then the people called Gideon "Jerubbaal," meaning "Let Baal take action." The Midianites and the Amalek moved into the Jezreel valley to attack. Gideon wasn't sure so he told God to do one thing for him. Gideon asked that a wool fleece be wet with dew and the floor dry. This happened and Gideon was still not sure and asked God to do the opposite of what He did the last night. The next day the opposite of what had occurred. Because of these signs Jerubbaal knew God was on his side. Gideon had 32,000 soldiers and God told Gideon he had too many soldiers. Then God said " Go tell the men that if they are afraid that they may leave." Twenty thousand men left leaving Gideon with ten thousand men. God again appeared to Gideon and said to him, "There are still too many soldiers. Lead them down to the river, and I will test them for you there. I tell you that a certain man is to go with you, he must go with you. But no one is to go if I tell you he should not go if I tell you he should not." Then Gideon led his men down to the river. The Lord said to Gideon "Tell the men to drink. Those men who lap the water like dogs shall be set free. There were three hundred men remaining. Then Gideon moved his men to the area above the valley of the Midianites. That night the Lord told Gideon to descend upon the camp, and if you are afraid take your aide Purah down to the camp." So Gideon took his aide Purah down to the camp outposts and heard some talking about Gideon's army. Then he returned to the camp of the Israelites and told them to arise because He had delivered them the camp of Midian. Preparing the men for the attack, he divided them into three companies, and supplied them with horns and empty jars. He gave the men some orders for the attack. Gideon and his men came upon the camp at the middle watch. The men blew horns and held torches in their left hands and in their right hands held horns. The camp was fleeing throughout the encampment. The Midianites flew as far as Beth-shitt-ah. The Israelites were called to arms throughout the land. They captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, killing Oreb at the rock of Oreb and killing Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. The men carried the heads back to Gideon.

Where Were the Israelites Camped When They Turned to Baal Worship?

Source: https://www2.sluh.org/msciuto/sluhtheo/Gideteen.html

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