Original Word: גִּדְעֹם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Gid`om
Pronunciation: ghee-DOHM
Phonetic Spelling: (ghid-ohm')
KJV: Gidom
NASB: Gidom
Word Origin: [from H1438 (גָּדַע - cut down)]

1. a cutting (i.e. desolation)
2. Gidom, a place in Israel

Gidom

From gada'; a cutting (i.e. Desolation); Gidom, a place in Palestine -- Gidom.

see HEBREW gada'

Word Origin
from gada
Definition
a place in Benjamin
NASB Translation
Gidom (1).

גִּדְעֹם proper name, of a location marking limit of pursuit of Benjamites by rest of Israel Judges 20:45.

Geographical Setting

Gidom is mentioned only once in Scripture, in Judges 20:45, as a point reached by the pursuing forces of Israel during their conflict with the tribe of Benjamin. The exact site has not been located with certainty, but the narrative places it somewhere along the road system east or northeast of Gibeah and south of the rock of Rimmon. Its placement on a “highway” (a public route, as opposed to desert tracks) indicates a location accessible to large troop movements, yet near the wilderness margins where fugitives might hope to escape.

Historical Background

The appearance of Gidom occurs in the closing scene of one of the darkest episodes of the pre-monarchic period. After the atrocity committed at Gibeah, Israelite tribes united to purge the evil from among them (Judges 19–20). During the final engagement, the routed Benjamites fled first toward the wilderness and then were relentlessly pursued “as far as Gidom,” where two thousand more were killed (Judges 20:45). The event marks the near-extermination of Benjamin, leaving only six hundred men who later find refuge at Rimmon.

The brief mention of Gidom therefore stands as a silent witness to national judgment within the covenant community. The battle narrative emphasizes that Israel’s primary concern was not territorial conquest but the moral integrity of the nation before the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 13:12-18). Gidom represents the farthest extent of disciplinary action taken to preserve holiness.

Theological Reflection

1. Covenant Accountability: The pursuit “as far as Gidom” illustrates that sin tolerated in one tribe endangers the entire nation. Israel’s unity was founded on covenant obedience; failure demanded decisive response (Joshua 7:1-26; Judges 20:11-13).
2. Severity and Mercy in Tension: While judgment fell heavily at Gidom, God’s providence preserved a remnant (Judges 21:13-14), foreshadowing the biblical pattern of righteous discipline followed by restorative mercy (Isaiah 10:20-22; Romans 11:5).
3. Cutting Off and Restoration: The name Gidom is often connected with the idea of “cutting” or “hewing,” a fitting emblem for the “cutting off” of wickedness. Yet the narrative immediately transitions to plans for Benjamin’s survival, underscoring that God’s ultimate goal is purification, not annihilation.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Corporate Holiness: Churches must address unrepentant sin within their fellowship, acting with both firmness and compassion (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13).
• Responsible Leadership: The elders of Israel sought divine guidance before each engagement (Judges 20:18, 23, 28). Spiritual leaders today are likewise called to seek God’s will before acting in matters of discipline.
• Hope for the Fallen: Even after the bloodshed at Gidom, Israel wept and sought ways to restore their brother tribe (Judges 21:2-7). Believers are reminded to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1), balancing truth with grace.

Intertextual Echoes

• Deuteronomy 13:5: “You must purge the evil from among you.”
• Hebrews 12:10-11: God disciplines “for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.”
• Revelation 2:16: The risen Christ warns, “Repent, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.”

Summary

Though only a single-verse location, Gidom encapsulates the gravity of covenant violation, the necessity of decisive yet measured discipline, and the faithful preservation of a remnant by God’s grace. Its brief appearance challenges every generation to uphold holiness while extending restorative mercy—a timeless call echoed throughout redemptive history and consummated in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

גִּדְעֹ֔ם גדעם giḏ‘ōm giḏ·‘ōm gidOmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts