Gideon in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("a hewer"), i.e. warrior, or the hewer down of Baal (Isaiah 10:33). Of Manasseh; youngest son of Joash, of the Abiezrite family at Ophrah (Judges 6:11; Judges 6:15). Fifth of the judges of Israel, called by the angel of the Lord to deliver Israel from the seven years' yoke of the Midianite hosts, which like swarming locusts consumed all their produce except what they could hide in caves and holes (Judges 6:2; Judges 6:5-6; Judges 6:11). There they fled, and "made" artificial caves besides enlarging natural caves for their purpose, God permitting them to be brought so low that their extremity might be His opportunity. Midian had long before with Moab besought Balaam to curse Israel, and through his counsel, by tempting Israel to whoredom with their and the Moabite women, had brought a plague on Israel, and had then by God's command been smitten sorely by Israel (Numbers 25:17-18; Numbers 31:1- 16, etc.)...