1 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD: H3068 and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 seven H7651 years. H8141
2 And the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 prevailed H5810 against Israel: H3478 and because H6440 of the Midianites H4080 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 made H6213 them the dens H4492 which are in the mountains, H2022 and caves, H4631 and strong holds. H4679
3 And so it was, when Israel H3478 had sown, H2232 that the Midianites H4080 came up, H5927 and the Amalekites, H6002 and the children H1121 of the east, H6924 even they came up H5927 against them;
4 And they encamped H2583 against them, and destroyed H7843 the increase H2981 of the earth, H776 till thou come H935 unto Gaza, H5804 and left H7604 no sustenance H4241 for Israel, H3478 neither sheep, H7716 nor ox, H7794 nor ass. H2543
5 For they came up H5927 with their cattle H4735 and their tents, H168 and they came H935 H935 as H1767 grasshoppers H697 for multitude; H7230 for both they and their camels H1581 were without number: H4557 and they entered H935 into the land H776 to destroy H7843 it.
6 And Israel H3478 was greatly H3966 impoverished H1809 because H6440 of the Midianites; H4080 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 unto the LORD. H3068
7 And it came to pass, when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 unto the LORD H3068 because H182 of the Midianites, H4080
8 That the LORD H3068 sent H7971 a prophet H376 H5030 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 which said H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 I brought you up H5927 from Egypt, H4714 and brought you forth H3318 out of the house H1004 of bondage; H5650
9 And I delivered H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians, H4714 and out of the hand H3027 of all that oppressed H3905 you, and drave them out H1644 from before H6440 you, and gave H5414 you their land; H776
10 And I said H559 unto you, I am the LORD H3068 your God; H430 fear H3372 not the gods H430 of the Amorites, H567 in whose land H776 ye dwell: H3427 but ye have not obeyed H8085 my voice. H6963
11 And there came H935 an angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 and sat H3427 under an oak H424 which was in Ophrah, H6084 that pertained unto Joash H3101 the Abiezrite: H33 and his son H1121 Gideon H1439 threshed H2251 wheat H2406 by the winepress, H1660 to hide H5127 it from H6440 the Midianites. H4080
12 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto him, and said H559 unto him, The LORD H3068 is with thee, thou mighty H1368 man of valour. H2428
13 And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto him, Oh H994 my Lord, H113 if H3426 the LORD H3068 be with us, why then is all this befallen H4672 us? and where be all his miracles H6381 which our fathers H1 told H5608 us of, saying, H559 Did not the LORD H3068 bring us up H5927 from Egypt? H4714 but now the LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5203 us, and delivered H5414 us into the hands H3709 of the Midianites. H4080
14 And the LORD H3068 looked H6437 upon him, and said, H559 Go H3212 in this thy might, H3581 and thou shalt save H3467 Israel H3478 from the hand H3709 of the Midianites: H4080 have not I sent H7971 thee?
15 And he said H559 unto him, Oh H994 my Lord, H136 wherewith H4100 shall I save H3467 Israel? H3478 behold, my family H504 H505 is poor H1800 in Manasseh, H4519 and I am the least H6810 in my father's H1 house. H1004
16 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite H5221 the Midianites H4080 as one H259 man. H376
17 And he said H559 unto him, If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 then shew H6213 me a sign H226 that thou talkest H1696 with me.
18 Depart H4185 not hence, I pray thee, until I come H935 unto thee, and bring forth H3318 my present, H4503 and set H3240 it before H6440 thee. And he said, H559 I will tarry H3427 until thou come again. H7725
19 And Gideon H1439 went in, H935 and made ready H6213 a kid, H5795 H1423 and unleavened cakes H4682 of an ephah H374 of flour: H7058 the flesh H1320 he put H7760 in a basket, H5536 and he put H7760 the broth H4839 in a pot, H6517 and brought it out H3318 unto him under the oak, H424 and presented H5066 it.
20 And the angel H4397 of God H430 said H559 unto him, Take H3947 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes, H4682 and lay H3240 them upon this H1975 rock, H5553 and pour out H8210 the broth. H4839 And he did H6213 so.
21 Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 put forth H7971 the end H7097 of the staff H4938 that was in his hand, H3027 and touched H5060 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes; H4682 and there rose up H5927 fire H784 out of the rock, H6697 and consumed H398 the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes. H4682 Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 departed H1980 out of his sight. H5869
22 And when Gideon H1439 perceived H7200 that he was an angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 Gideon H1439 said, H559 Alas, H162 O Lord H136 GOD! H3069 for because H3651 I have seen H7200 an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 face H6440 to face. H6440
23 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Peace H7965 be unto thee; fear H3372 not: thou shalt not die. H4191
24 Then Gideon H1439 built H1129 an altar H4196 there unto the LORD, H3068 and called H7121 it Jehovahshalom: H3073 unto this day H3117 it is yet in Ophrah H6084 of the Abiezrites. H33
25 And it came to pass the same night, H3915 that the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Take H3947 thy father's H1 young H6499 bullock, H7794 even the second H8145 bullock H6499 of seven H7651 years old, H8141 and throw down H2040 the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 that thy father H1 hath, and cut down H3772 the grove H842 that is by it:
26 And build H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430 upon the top H7218 of this rock, H4581 in the ordered place, H4634 and take H3947 the second H8145 bullock, H6499 and offer H5927 a burnt sacrifice H5930 with the wood H6086 of the grove H842 which thou shalt cut down. H3772
27 Then Gideon H1439 took H3947 ten H6235 men H582 of his servants, H5650 and did H6213 as the LORD H3068 had said H1696 unto him: and so it was, because he feared H3372 his father's H1 household, H1004 and the men H582 of the city, H5892 that he could not do H6213 it by day, H3119 that he did H6213 it by night. H3915
28 And when the men H582 of the city H5892 arose early H7925 in the morning, H1242 behold, the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 was cast down, H5422 and the grove H842 was cut down H3772 that was by it, and the second H8145 bullock H6499 was offered H5927 upon the altar H4196 that was built. H1129
29 And they said H559 one H376 to another, H7453 Who hath done H6213 this thing? H1697 And when they enquired H1875 and asked, H1245 they said, H559 Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 hath done H6213 this thing. H1697
30 Then the men H582 of the city H5892 said H559 unto Joash, H3101 Bring out H3318 thy son, H1121 that he may die: H4191 because he hath cast down H5422 the altar H4196 of Baal, H1168 and because he hath cut down H3772 the grove H842 that was by it.
31 And Joash H3101 said H559 unto all that stood H5975 against him, Will ye plead H7378 for Baal? H1168 will ye save H3467 him? he that will plead H7378 for him, let him be put to death H4191 whilst it is yet morning: H1242 if he be a god, H430 let him plead H7378 for himself, because one hath cast down H5422 his altar. H4196
32 Therefore on that day H3117 he called H7121 him Jerubbaal, H3378 saying, H559 Let Baal H1168 plead H7378 against him, because he hath thrown down H5422 his altar. H4196
33 Then all the Midianites H4080 and the Amalekites H6002 and the children H1121 of the east H6924 were gathered H622 together, H3162 and went over, H5674 and pitched H2583 in the valley H6010 of Jezreel. H3157
34 But the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came H3847 upon Gideon, H1439 and he blew H8628 a trumpet; H7782 and Abiezer H44 was gathered H2199 after H310 him.
35 And he sent H7971 messengers H4397 throughout all Manasseh; H4519 who also was gathered H2199 after H310 him: and he sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto Asher, H836 and unto Zebulun, H2074 and unto Naphtali; H5321 and they came up H5927 to meet H7125 them.
36 And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto God, H430 If thou wilt H3426 save H3467 Israel H3478 by mine hand, H3027 as thou hast said, H1696
37 Behold, I will put H3322 a fleece H1492 of wool H6785 in the floor; H1637 and if the dew H2919 be on the fleece H1492 only, and it be dry H2721 upon all the earth H776 beside, then shall I know H3045 that thou wilt save H3467 Israel H3478 by mine hand, H3027 as thou hast said. H1696
38 And it was so: for he rose up early H7925 on the morrow, H4283 and thrust H2115 the fleece H1492 together, H2115 and wringed H4680 the dew H2919 out of the fleece, H1492 a bowl H5602 full H4393 of water. H4325
39 And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto God, H430 Let not thine anger H639 be hot H2734 against me, and I will speak H1696 but this once: H6471 let me prove, H5254 I pray thee, but this once H6471 with the fleece; H1492 let it now be dry H2721 only upon the fleece, H1492 and upon all the ground H776 let there be dew. H2919
40 And God H430 did H6213 so that night: H3915 for it was dry H2721 upon the fleece H1492 only, and there was dew H2919 on all the ground. H776
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Judges 6
Commentary on Judges 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
Jud 6:1-6. The Israelites, for Their Sins, Oppressed by Midian.
1. and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian—Untaught by their former experiences, the Israelites again apostatized, and new sins were followed by fresh judgments. Midian had sustained a severe blow in the time of Moses (Nu 31:1-18); and the memory of that disaster, no doubt, inflamed their resentment against the Israelites. They were wandering herdsmen, called "children of the East," from their occupying the territory east of the Red Sea, contiguous to Moab. The destructive ravages they are described as at this time committing in the land of Israel are similar to those of the Bedouin Arabs, who harass the peaceful cultivators of the soil. Unless composition is made with them, they return annually at a certain season, when they carry off the grain, seize the cattle and other property; and even life itself is in jeopardy from the attacks of those prowling marauders. The vast horde of Midianites that overran Canaan made them the greatest scourge which had ever afflicted the Israelites.
2. made … dens … in the mountains and caves—not, of course, excavating them, for they were already, but making them fit for habitation.
Jud 6:7-10. A Prophet Rebukes Them.
8. the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel—The curse of the national calamity is authoritatively traced to their infidelity as the cause.
Jud 6:11-16. An Angel Sends Gideon to Deliver Them.
11. there came an angel of the Lord—He appeared in the character and equipments of a traveller (Jud 6:21), who sat down in the shade to enjoy a little refreshment and repose. Entering into conversation on the engrossing topic of the times, the grievous oppression of the Midianites, he began urging Gideon to exert his well-known prowess on behalf of his country. Gideon, in replying, addresses him at first in a style equivalent (in Hebrew) to "sir," but afterwards gives to him the name usually applied to God.
an oak—Hebrew, "the oak"—as famous in after-times.
Ophrah—a city in the tribe of Manasseh, about sixteen miles north of Jericho, in the district belonging to the family of Abiezer (Jos 17:2).
his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press—This incident tells emphatically the tale of public distress. The small quantity of grain he was threshing, indicated by his using a flail instead of the customary treading of cattle—the unusual place, near a wine-press, under a tree, and on the bare ground, not a wooden floor, for the prevention of noise—all these circumstances reveal the extreme dread in which the people were living.
13. if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?—Gideon's language betrays want of reflection, for the very chastisements God had brought on His people showed His presence with, and His interest in, them.
14-16. the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might … have not I sent thee?—The command and the promise made Gideon aware of the real character of his visitor; and yet like Moses, from a sense of humility, or a shrinking at the magnitude of the undertaking, he excused himself from entering on the enterprise. And even though assured that, with the divine aid, he would overcome the Midianites as easily as if they were but one man, he still hesitates and wishes to be better assured that the mission was really from God. He resembles Moses also in the desire for a sign; and in both cases it was the rarity of revelations in such periods of general corruption that made them so desirous of having the fullest conviction of being addressed by a heavenly messenger. The request was reasonable, and it was graciously granted [Jud 6:18].
Jud 6:17-32. Gideon's Present Consumed by Fire.
18. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I … bring forth my present—Hebrew, my mincha, or "meat offering"; and his idea probably was to prove, by his visitor's partaking of the entertainment, whether or not he was more than man.
19-23. Gideon went in, and made ready a kid; … the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot—(See on Ge 18:7). The flesh seems to have been roasted, which is done by cutting it into kobab, that is, into small pieces, fixed on a skewer, and put before the fire. The broth was for immediate use; the other, brought in a hand-basket was intended to be a future supply to the traveller. The miraculous fire that consumed it and the vanishing of the stranger, not by walking, but as a spirit in the fire, filled Gideon with awe. A consciousness of demerit fills the heart of every fallen man at the thought of God, with fear of His wrath; and this feeling was increased by a belief prevalent in ancient times, that whoever saw an angel would forthwith die. The acceptance of Gideon's sacrifice betokened the acceptance of his person; but it required an express assurance of the divine blessing, given in some unknown manner, to restore his comfort and peace of mind.
24-32. it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him—The transaction in which Gideon is here described as engaged was not entered on till the night after the vision.
25. Take thy father's … second bullock—The Midianites had probably reduced the family herd; or, as Gideon's father was addicted to idolatry, the best may have been fattened for the service of Baal; so that the second was the only remaining one fit for sacrifice to God.
throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath—standing upon his ground, though kept for the common use of the townsmen.
cut down the grove that is by it—dedicated to Ashtaroth. With the aid of ten confidential servants he demolished the one altar and raised on the appointed spot the altar of the Lord; but, for fear of opposition, the work had to be done under cover of night. A violent commotion was excited next day, and vengeance vowed against Gideon as the perpetrator. "Joash, his father, quieted the mob in a manner similar to that of the town clerk of Ephesus. It was not for them to take the matter into their own hands. The one, however, made an appeal to the magistrate; the other to the idolatrous god himself" [Chalmers].
Jud 6:33-39. The Signs.
33. all the Midianites … pitched in Jezreel—The confederated troops of Midian, Amalek, and their neighbors, crossing the Jordan to make a fresh inroad on Canaan, encamped in the plains of Esdraelon (anciently Jezreel). The southern part of the Ghor lies in a very low level, so that there is a steep and difficult descent into Canaan by the southern wadies. Keeping this in view, we see the reason why the Midianite army, from the east of Jordan, entered Canaan by the northern wadies of the Ghor, opposite Jezreel.
34. the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon—Called in this sudden emergency into the public service of his country, he was supernaturally endowed with wisdom and energy commensurate with the magnitude of the danger and the difficulties of his position. His summons to war was enthusiastically obeyed by all the neighboring tribes. On the eve of a perilous enterprise, he sought to fortify his mind with a fresh assurance of a divine call to the responsible office. The miracle of the fleece was a very remarkable one—especially, considering the copious dews that fall in his country. The divine patience and condescension were wonderfully manifested in reversing the form of the miracle. Gideon himself seems to have been conscious of incurring the displeasure of God by his hesitancy and doubts; but He bears with the infirmities of His people.