It is likely that the evil committed by the children of Israel was the worship of Baal. One of the first public acts the Lord commanded Gideon to take was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole.
The length of the oppression by Midian was seven years. It is noteworthy that after the tearing down of the altar of Baal God commanded Gideon over a bull that was seven years old.
Timeline
Baal worship begins.
Oppression comes
Israel is made destitute
The people hid in the caves and strongholds
The people cry out to God.
God sends a nameless prophet to confront sin and speak deliverance.
