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Bible Encyclopedias
Fleece
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (גֵּז, ga, no called from shearing, Deuteronomy 18:4; Job 31:20; or גִּזָּה, the fem. form, Judges 6:37; Judges 6:39-40), the wool of a sheep whether on the back .of the animal, or shorn of, or attached to the flayed skin, which last appears to have been the case in the passage last cited. The threshing-floor of Gideon appears to have been an open uncovered space, upon which the dews of heaven fell without interruption. (See THRESHING-FLOOR). The miracle of Gideon's fleece consists in the dew having fallen one time upon the fleece, without any on the floor, and that at another time the fleece remained dry while the ground was wet with it. (See GIDEON). It may appear a little improbable to us who inhabit northern climates where the dews, are inconsiderable, how Gideon's fleece in one night should contract such a quantity of water that when be came to wring it, a bowl-full was produced; but Kitto observes (Pict. Bible, note ad loc.), " We remember, while tramelling in Western Asia, to have found all the baggage, which had been left in the open air, so wet, when we came forth from the tent in the morning, that it seemed to have been exposed to heavy rain, and we could with difficulty believe that no rain had fallen. So also, when sleeping in the open air, the sheep-skin cloak which served for a covering has been found in the morning scarcely less wet than, if it had been immersed in water." (See DEW).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Fleece'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/f/fleece.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
