Gideon, surnamed Jerubbaal, the fifth judge in Israel, was the son of Joash, of the tribe of Manasseh, and dwelt at Ophrah. His history is narrated in Judges vi.-ix. Israel had been for seven years humbled by the Midianites and Amalekites, when Gideon by a double miracle was roused to become their deliverer. When he had fulfilled his mission, the Israelites solicited him to become their king, but he declined, and held for 40 years the office of judge.