XVIII.
And this was not without meaning; but that by means of the number of the ten men, 1 he (Gideon) might appear as having Jesus for a helper, as [is indicated] by the compact entered into with them. And when he did not choose to partake with them in their idol-worship, they threw the blame upon him: for "Jerubbaal" signifies the judgment-seat of Baal.
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See Judg. vi. 27. It is not very clear how Irenaeus makes out this allegory, but it is thought that he refers to the initial letter in the name 'Iesous, which stands for ten in the Greek enumeration. Compare the Epistle of Barnabas, cap. ix. p. 143, of this volume. ↩
