The family to which Gideon belonged was grievously infected with idolatry. His father erected at Ophrah, where he dwelt, a large altar to Baal, at which the people of the towns worshiped. Gideon was commanded to destroy this altar, to cut down the groves that surrounded it, and in its stead to erect an altar to Jehovah, over the rock on which the offering had been consumed, and then to offer a sacrifice unto the Lord. Gideon faithfully carried out these directions, performing the work by night, lest he should be compelled to desist if he attempted it by day.

Den familie Gideon kom fra stærkt inficeret med afgudsdyrkelse. Hans fader rejste et stort alter ved Ofra, hvor han boede for Baal, som byernes folk skulle dyrke. Gideon blev befalet at udslette dette alter, og nedhugge de små lunde omkring det, og i dets sted rejse et alter for Jehova, på den klippe hvorpå offeret blev fortæret, og der give et offer til Herren. Gideon udførte trofast disse anvisninger, gjorde det om natten, så han ikke skulle tvinges til at afstå det, om han forsøgte om dagen.