Gideon’s 300 Men

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This Bible story podcast for kids tells the story of Gideon’s 300 Men. We referenced the following Biblical passages: Judges 7. Hey-O Kids Curriculum’s primary goal with the Stories of the Bible animation is to tell the stories from God’s word accurately and in a way that is engaging to children of all ages.

This is Gideon who was a judge of Israel. In the time when Gideon lived, the Israelites were being over taken by a group called the Midianites. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites hid from them and were starving because the Midianites were taking all their food and ruining the land. So the Israelites called out to God and ask Him to help. God chose Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the Midianites and gave him the power to lead an army of Israelites. 

One day Gideon and his army got up early and came close to the Midianite camp. God told Gideon that he had too many warriors with him. God said, “If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.” So God told Gideon to let all the men who were scared go home. So 22,000 men went home and Gideon was left with only 10,000. 

But God told Gideon that he still had too many men with him. He told Gideon to bring the men down to the water and that God would give them a test. Gideon did as God asked and then God said, “Divide the men in two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. 

God told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” So Gideon did as God said. 

Now the Midianite camp was in the valley just below where Gideon and his 300 men were. That night God told Gideon to get up and go down to the camp to listen to what the Midianites were saying. God told Gideon that if he was afraid he could take his servant Purah with him. So Gideon and Purah went to the edge of the enemy camp. 

The enemy army was huge! There were too many men and camels for Gideon to even count! Gideon crept up close to the camp and heard a man telling his friend about his dream. The man said that in his dream a loaf of bread came tumbling down to the camp and knocked a tent down flat. His friend said the dream could only mean one thing – that God had given Gideon victory over the Midianites. 

When Gideon heard this, he worshipped God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For God had given you victory over the Midianites!” He divided his 300 men into three groups and gave them a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. 

Then he said, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do.” So the Israelite army went down to the enemy camp. It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard. Suddenly, the Israelites blew their horns and broke their jars. They held blazing torches in one hand and horns in their other and all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 

Gideon and his 300 men stood in position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic and tried to escape! Then they blew their ram horns and God caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other. Some of them escaped, but Gideon called for the warriors of the other tribes in Israel to cut them off and so God used Gideon and his army of 300 men to defeat the Midianite army, just as He said He would. 

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