over the winter months.


GIDEON, THE ABIEZRITE

In the tribe of Manasseh there was a little clan called Abiezer. One
night a band of Midianites came on camels and raided the villages of
this clan, killing some of the people, and carrying away whatever they
found of value. They then fled back across the Jordan River to the
desert before enough Hebrew men could get together to resist them.

=The counter-raid.=--In the heart of one young man, the brother of
some who were killed, God planted a sudden determination to put a stop
to these murders and robberies. He called for volunteers to pursue
this band across the river, and when some three hundred had responded
they set out in hot haste, down the hillsides into the plain of the
Jordan, up the slopes on the eastern side, and out onto the plains
where the Midianites supposed they were safe. It was hard to track
them over these solitary wastes; and they had their swift camels. But
Gideon trailed them; stealing up at night, he surprised them. They
fled in terror leaving much spoil, and for many years the Hebrews were
not molested by this particular tribe of desert wanderers.

=The kingdom of Gideon.=--Out of this experience the Hebrews in
central Canaan gained another lesson in cooperation; and they made up
their minds to profit by it. Here is a man, they said to themselves,
who can lead us to victory against our foes. If we all agree to do as
he says we can all stand together, each for all and all for each. So
they came to Gideon, and asked him to be their ruler. He refused at
first, but it is clear that he finally accepted and really became king