rrative; if he is
represented in the first part of the account as a man of
humble origin (Judges vi. 15, 16), it was to exalt the power
of Jahveh, who was accustomed to choose His instruments from
amongst the lowly. The name Jerubbaal (1 Sam. xii. 11:2 Sam.
xi. 21, where the name is transformed into Jerubbesheth, as
Ishbaal and Meribbaal are into Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth
respectively), in which "Baal" seems to some not to
represent the Canaanite God, but the title Lord as applied
to Jahveh, was supposed to mean "Baal fights against him,"
and was, therefore, offensive to the orthodox. Kuenen
thought it meant "Lord, fight for him!" Renan read it
Yarebaal, from the Vulgate form Jerobaal, and translated "He
who fears Baal." Gideon signifies "He who overthrows" in the
battle.

Assembling all his people at the call of the trumpet, Jerubbaal chose
from among them three hundred of the strongest, with whom he came
down unexpectedly upon the raiders, put them to flight in the plain of
Jezreel, and followed them beyond the Jordan. Having crossed the river,
"faint and yet pursuing," he approached the men of Succoth, and asked
them for bread for himself and his three hundred followers. Their fear
of the marauders, however, was so great that the people refused to give
him any help, and he had no better success with the people of Penuel
whom he encountered a little further on. He did not stop to compel them
to accede to his wishes, but swore to inflict an exemplary punishment
upon them on his return. The Midianites continued their retreat, in the
mean time, "by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of
Nobah and Jogbehah," but Jerubbaal came up with them near Karkar, and
discomfited the host. He took vengeance upon the two peoples who had
refused to give him bread, and having thus fulfilled his vow, he began
to question his prisoners, the two chiefs: "What manner of men were they
whom ye slew at Tabor?" "As thou art, so were they; each one resembled
the children of a king." "And he said, They were my brethren, the sons
of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would
not slay you. And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them.
But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a
youth." True Bedawins as they were, the chiefs' pride revolted at the
idea of their being handed over for execution to a child,