The angel of Yahweh came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
The writer presented Gideon as sort of a second Moses in his calling. Both men were very reluctant to lead God’s people (cf. Exodus 3-4).