Gideon, a Bible character and a favorite hero of the ancient Jews. In Judges vii:19, it is told how Gideon was called upon by an angel of the Lord to deliver his unfortunate people from the Midianites. Thereupon Gideon went to battle, taking only 300 picked men, each armed with a sword, a trumpet and a pitcher containing a torch. Upon blowing the trumpets, breaking the pitchers and exposing the torches at night, the camp of the Midianites was thrown into confusion and Gideon gained a victory. Gideon was later made the fifth judge of Israel.

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