Comments on Judges 6 In chapters 6-7 we have the famous story of Gideon, the less than zealous, but easily persuaded deliverer of Israel. v1 Here appears the same apostasy cycle formula in 5:31-6:1 as we saw in 3:30-4:1. v1-6 Rebellion results in a curse. Compare v. 4 with Deut. 28:33. On the "grasshoppers" imagery, cp. 7:12, Joel 1:4. Verse 6 follows the theme of Lev. 26, where the Lord afflicts them in order to get them to repent. v7-9 In response to Israel's outcry in v. 6, the Lord sends a prophet to inform them that their current situation is a result of their own rebellion. Presumably Israel is repentant enough at this point for the Lord to send a deliverer. And thus Gideon is called. v11-24 Gideon's calling as deliverer is made. An interesting points here are the angel looks so human that Gideon doesn't even recognize him to be a heavenly messenger until v. 21. Also, Gideon is something of a skeptic. In v. 13 Gideon questions the angel as to where the Lord is and if He is around, where are all of the miracles? Obviously, Gideon is at least somewhat familiar with Israel's history and Law, but he isn't familiar with it enough to recognize Israel's apostate condition and therefore the underlying cause for the Lord's rejection and their captivity. The result is he questions the loyalty and perhaps the reality of the Lord. However, on Gideon's behalf, he is easily persuaded to believe in the Lord (cp. v. 22) where many, if not most, would have hardened their hearts. v14 "the Lord looked upon him", i.e., the angel of the Lord from v. 11 vicariously acting in the behalf of the Lord. v15-16 Gideon questions the calling given to him as he feels he is nothing (v. 15). The angel's response is that it doesn't matter what he is in his own or the world's eyes, the Lord has invested him with the calling and will support him in it. On the divine commission of "I will be with thee", compare Exod. 3:12. v21 Compare 13:16. v25-32 Here Gideon is told to knock down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah (this was a female diety typically associated with fertility rites, it was probably a carved tree or tree stump-totem pole arrangement). He is then to build an alter to the Lord and sacrifice upon it. Gideon isn't too excited about this, but goes ahead and does it under the cover of night. When the people find about what has happened and the word gets out that it was Gideon, they want to kill him over it (thus we can see his concern about doing it at all). However, since the altar and Asherah were apparently his father's (v. 25) his father exercises prerogative over what to do about them. And in this case, Gideon's father chooses him over the idols. So, it seems that here father and son are much alike when it comes to worship. Both have a sort of "prove it" attitude and are a little bit skeptical when it comes to matters of religion, but when the cards are down they make the right decisions. v26 I would assume the altar to the Lord would be one easily recognized by all as it would surely be constructed of unhewn stones and be unadorned, as opposed to the altar of Baal which would probably be of carved stones and rather ornate. Thus, even though the sacrifice was done at night, it would be plain the next morning when the people saw it exactly what the message was. v30-31 The KJV is obscure, here is the JPS: 30 The townspeople said to Joash, "Bring out your son, for he must die: he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the sacred post beside it!" 31 But Joash said to all who had risen against him, "Do you have to contend for Baal? Do you have to vindicate him? Whoever fights his battles shall be dead by morning! If he is a god, let him fight his own battles, since it is his altar that has been torn down!" On the "whoever fights his battles shall be dead by morning!", I would see this as a threat by the father indicating that whoever kills his son will be killed by him. v33-35 The opposing armies gather for war. Gideon is impelled by the spirit to lead Israel into battle. The shofar, or ram's horn, is blow to summon Israel. v36-40 We see Gideon's somewhat skeptical nature show through again. He is concerned about the upcoming battle and wants some sure sign. He chooses one that seems odd to us, but if we compare similar passages we can see what Gideon's got in mind, cp. 2 Sam. 17:12, Micah 5:7-9. And again, even though Gideon asked for signs, when they were delivered he believed and acted accordingly. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.