Judges 6-7

The Israelites made hiding places in the mountains because the Midianites who ruled over them were cruel and powerful. This suggests that the Israelites needed to protect themselves and find safe locations to hide from the oppressive rule of the Midianites.

Gideon, from the family of Manasseh, was chosen by the Lord to defeat the Midianites. This is stated in Judges 6:16.

Just before the angel of the Lord disappeared from speaking with Gideon, he touched the meat, bread, and broth with the tip of his walking stick. As a result, fire came out of the rock and consumed the offering. This event demonstrated the divine power and presence of the angel of the Lord, confirming his message to Gideon and solidifying his role as a messenger from God.

The Midianites caused the Israelites to become poor by engaging in a series of destructive actions. They destroyed all their crops, leaving them with no means of sustenance. Additionally, they left them no animals, further depriving them of resources. Furthermore, they destroyed the land itself, making it difficult for the Israelites to recover and rebuild. All of these factors combined led to the impoverishment of the Israelites.

Gideon did the thing the Lord had told him to do at night because he was afraid his family and the other people of the town would see him. This suggests that Gideon may have been concerned about the potential backlash or ridicule he could face from his community if they witnessed him carrying out the task. By doing it at night, he could maintain a level of anonymity and avoid any potential negative consequences.

Gideon's father worshipped Baal and Asherah, as stated in Judges 6:25. Baal and Asherah were pagan gods that were commonly worshipped in the region during that time. The worship of Baal and Asherah involved rituals and sacrifices, which were part of the religious practices of the Canaanites. Gideon's father's choice of worshipping these gods reflects the prevalent polytheistic beliefs and practices of the society in which he lived.

When the 300 men of Gideon blew their trumpets, God caused the Midianites to kill each other with their swords. This suggests that the sound of the trumpets, combined with the confusion and fear it caused among the Midianites, led to chaos and infighting within their ranks. As a result, the Midianites turned against each other, resulting in their own demise. This demonstrates the power and intervention of God in assisting Gideon and his men in their battle against the Midianites.

Gideon knew what order of events to carry out to defeat the Midianites because the Holy Spirit filled him. This divine intervention provided him with guidance and wisdom, enabling him to make the right decisions and lead his people to victory.

Gideon gained confidence in defeating the Midianites because he overheard a dream that the Midianites were discussing. This dream likely revealed their fear and vulnerability, which boosted Gideon's morale and reassured him that God was on his side. By overhearing the dream, Gideon saw it as a sign from God that he would be victorious in battle.

At the Jordan River where people cross is the correct answer because Judges 7:25 states that Gideon was at the Jordan River when the men of Ephraim brought him the heads of the Midianite leaders. The passage does not mention anything about Gideon being at the grave of Joshua or at the tabernacle in the city of Shiloh.

According to Judges 6:19, Gideon used 20 pounds of flour to make bread for the Lord.