dianites, who had conquered them and
overrun their country. When their corn was ripe these enemies came and
destroyed it, so altogether they were in sad plight. One day Gideon
was threshing wheat in a secluded place, so as to escape the notice of
the Midianites, when an angel from God appeared to him, bidding him to
go and save the Israelites from their foes. Gideon obeyed the command:
but before commencing the battle he much desired a sign from God
showing that He would give the Israelites the victory. The sign Gideon
asked for was, that when he laid a fleece of wool on the ground, if
the victory were to be his, then the fleece should be wet and the
ground dry. He placed the wool on the ground, and taking it up the
next morning found it wet, although the ground was dry. So he knew God
had answered him as he desired. But he was not quite satisfied. He
begged God for a second sign. This time the ground was to be wet and
the fleece of wool dry. God gave him this sign also: and then Gideon
felt sure that the Israelites would be victorious over the
Midianites.

[Illustration: EXAMINING THE FLEECE.]

THE DEFEAT OF THE MIDIANITES.

Large numbers of the Israelites gathered around Gideon, prepared to
fight against the Midianites, who were encamped in a valley, "like
grasshoppers for multitude." How Gideon's host was reduced till only
three hundred men remained, and the wonderful dream he heard related,
when he and his servant went down as spies into the enemy's camp, are
recorded in the seventh chapter of Judges. It was not by their own
bravery or power that the Israelites were to overcome their enemies.
God was to give them the victory: and He chose Gideon and three
hundred men to overcome the great and mighty host of the Midianites.

Gideon divided his three hundred men into three companies, and put a
trumpet in every man's hand, and gave to each a pitcher with a lamp
inside. Then he said, "Look on me, and do likewise: when I blow with a
trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on
every side of the camp, and say, 'The sword of the Lord and of
Gideon.'" Gideon and the hundred men of his company approached the
enemy's camp by night, and the other two companies drew nigh also, so
that the Midianites where surrounded. Then all blew their trumpets,
broke their pitchers, held up their lamps (torches), and cried out as
they had been commanded.

The Midianites heard the trumpets' blast and the