Joash יוֹאָשׁ
The father of Gideon, a judge of Israel
Biography
Joash, an Abiezrite from the tribe of Manasseh, was the father of Gideon, one of the judges of Israel. He first appears in Jdg.6.11, where the Angel of the Lord visits Gideon while he is threshing wheat in Joash's winepress to hide from the Midianites.
When Gideon tears down the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, the men of the city demand that Joash surrender his son to be put to death (Jdg.6.29-30). However, Joash defends Gideon, saying that if Baal is truly a god, he can defend himself (Jdg.6.31). This event earns Gideon the name Jerubbaal, meaning "Let Baal contend against him."
Joash is mentioned again in Jdg.7.14, where the Midianites interpret a dream as a sign that God has given them into the hand of Gideon, the son of Joash. After Gideon's victory over the Midianites, he returns to his father's house in Ophrah (Jdg.8.13,29). Joash dies at a good old age and is buried in the tomb of his father in Ophrah (Jdg.8.32).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 5 verses
- Judges 6:11
"Yahweh’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites."
- Judges 6:29
"They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”"
- Judges 6:30
"Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”"
- Judges 6:31
"Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”"
- Judges 7:14
"His fellow answered, “This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has delivered Midian into his hand, with all the army.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹאָשׁ | H3101G |