Judges 6

AND the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian For although the generality of the Midianites had been cut off by Moses about 200 years ago, yet many of them doubtless fled into the neighbouring Countries, whence afterwards they returned into their own Land, and in that time might easily grow to be a very great Number; especially, when God furthered their increase, that they might be a fit scourge for his People Israel when they transgressed. seven years.

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel, and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves In which they might secure their persons and provisions from the hands of the Midianites., and strong holds.

And so it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east i. e. The Arabians, who are commonly called the children of the east, as Gen. 29. 1. Iudg. 8. 10, 11. Iob 1. 3. Ezek. 25. 4. Not all the Arabians, for in that were man... and divers people; but in the Eastern part of Arabia., even they came up against them.

And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza i. e. From the East, on which side they entred, to the West, where Gaza was near the Sea: so they destroyed the whole Land., and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

For they came up with their cattel, and their tents, and they came as grashoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number i. e. So many that it was not easie to number them. It is an Hyperbole.: and they entred into the land to destroy it.

And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

¶ And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, because of the Midianites,

That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth from the house of bondage.

And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land:

And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God, fear not i. e. Do not serve or worship them. the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

¶ And there came an angel of the LORD, and fate under an oak which was in Ophrah To wit, in Manasseh: for there was another Ophrah in Benjamin, Ios. 18. 23., that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite Of the Posterity of Abiezer, of whom, see Ios. 17. 2. 1 Chron. 7. 18. See Iudg. 8. 27, 32.: and his son Gideon threshed wheat Not with Oxen, as the manner was, Deut. 25. 4. but with a staff to prevent discovery. by the winepress In the place where the Winepress stood, not in the common floor., to hide it from the Midianites.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee i. e. Will assist thee against thine and mine Enemies., thou mighty man of valour To whom I have given strength and courage for this end..

And Gideon said unto him, Oh my lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befaln us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hand of the Midianites.

And the LORD looked upon him With a setled and pleasant countenance, as a testimony of his favour to him, and of his readiness to help him., and said, Go in this thy might Or, go now, or at this time in thy might: the strength which thou hast already received, and dost now further receive from me, is sufficient with my help.: and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee I do hereby give thee command and commission for this Work, and therefore am obliged in Honour to Assist thee in it.?

And he said unto him, Oh my lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold my family Heb. my thousand: for the Tribes were distributed into several thousands, whereof each thousand had his peculiar Governour. is poor i. e. Weak and contemptible. in Manasseh, and I am the least Either for Age, or for Wisdome, and fitness for so great a Work. in my fathers house.

And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man As easily, as if they were all but one man; or, thou shalt destroy them to a man, as he did, Iudges 8..

And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign, that thou talkest with me That it is thou, to wit, an Angel or Messenger sent from God, that appears to me, and discourseth with me; and not a Phancy or Delusion; that thou art in truth what thou seemest and prerendest to be, v. 12. Or, a sign of that which thou talkest with me; i. e. That thou wilt'st by me smite the Midianites..

Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present Not a Sacrifice, because neither was Gideon a Priest, not was this the place of Sacrifice, nor was any Altar here, nor was there any such Sacrifice as here follows, appointed by God; but a repast, or some food for the Angel, which he thought to be a man, as appears by v. 22. Compare Iudg. 13. 15. and Gen. 18. 5., and set it before thee That thou maist eat and refresh thy self.. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

¶ And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an Ephah of flour To wit, out of the choicest part of a whole Ephah; as also he brought to him the best part of a Kid dressed; for a whole Ephah, and a whole Kid had been very superfluous, and improper to provide for, and set before one man.: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh, and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh, and the unleavened cakes, and there rose up fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh, and the unleavened cakes By which, he showed himself to be no man that needed such Provisions, but a true Angel of God, or the Son of God; and by this instance of his Omnipotency, gave him assurance, that he both could, and would consume the Midianites.; then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas I am an undone man; I must dye, and that speedily for that he feared, v. 23. according to the common opinion in that case, of which see Gen. 16. 13. and 32. 30. Exod. 33. 20. Deut. 5. 25, 26., O LORD God: for because Or, for therefore, &c. i. e. Therefore God has showed me this sight as a presage of my death. I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

And the LORD said unto him By inward suggestion, rather than in a visible Apparition., Peace be unto thee Thou shalt receive no hurt by this Vision, as thou fearest; but only peace, i. e. all the blessings needful for thy own happiness, and for the present work; for this is a very comprehensive Phrase among the Hebrews., fear not, thou shalt not dye.

Then Gideon built an altar there To wit, on the top of the Rock, as is evident from v. 20. and especially from v. 26. where that which is here expressed only in general, and by anticipation, is more particularly described, according to the usage of the Scripture. unto the LORD, and called it... ehovah-shalom i. e. The Lords peace; the sign or witness of Gods speaking Peace to me, and to his People: or the place where he spake Peace to me, when I expected nothing but Destruction.: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

¶ And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy fathers young bullock, even the second bullock Thus there was but one Bullock, which was young, to wit, comparatively, but not simply, for it was seven years old, and of such this Hebrew word is used, Iob 21. 10. For these Creatures are fruitful above seven years. Or thus, thy Fathers young Bullock, and the second Bullock: so there were two Bullocks. But because there is but one of them mentioned both in the next verse, and in the execution of this Command, v. 28. it is probable it was but one; and the Hebrew Particle, vau, and, is put exegetically for even, or, to wit, as is very usual. And this he calls his Fathers young Bullock, both because his Father was the owner of it, and because his Father kept and fed it for a Sacrifice to Baal. But because it is likely his father kept divers of these Cattel of differing Ages and Statures for that use, either at his own, or at the Peoples charge; therefore he adds by way of limitation, that he should not take the eldest and the greatest, but the second; to wit, in age, or stature, or goodliness, or in the order of Sacrifice, that which was to have been Sacrificed to Baal in the second place. And this he singled out because of its age; for being seven years old, it began with the Midianitish Calamity, and being now to be Sacrificed, did fitly signifie, that the Period of that Misery was now come., of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father has Which thy Father built in his own ground, though for the common use of the whole City, v. 28, 29, 30., and cut down the grove that is by it Planted by the Altar for Idolatrous or impure uses, as the manner of Idolaters was. See Iudg. 3. 7. This Action might seem injurious to his Fathers Rights and Authority, but Gods Command was sufficient warrant, and Gideon was now called to be the Supreme Magistrate, whereby he was made his Fathers Superiour, and was impowered, and authorized, and enjoyned to... oot out all Idolatry and Superstition, and the instruments thereof..

And build an altar unto the LORD thy God, upon the top of this rock Of which v. 20, 21. Heb. of this strong hold: for in that Calamitous time the Israelites retreated to such Rocks, and hid and fortified themselves in them., in the ordered place i. e. In a plain and smooth part of the Rock, where an Altar may be conveniently built. Or, in order, i. e. in such manner as I have appointed; for God had given Rules about the building of Altars., and take the second bullock, and offer a burntsacrifice Gideon was no Priest, nor was this the appointed place of Sacrifice; but God can dispense with his own Institutions, though we may not; and his Call gave Gideon sufficient Authority. with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants Whom doubtless he had acquainted with his design, and the assurance of success in it; whereby they were easily induced to assist him, if not sincerely, yet for the expectation of advantage to themselves by it., and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared Not so much, lest he should suffer for it, for he knew very well the doing it by night with so many hands could not hinder the discovery, and consequently the punishment of it; but lest he should be prevented from doing it. his fathers houshold, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

¶ And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built Not upon Baals Altar, for which it was designed; but upon an Altar erected in contempt of Baal..

And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they enquired, and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing Which they might easily conjecture, partly by his known aversion from the Worship of Baal, and partly because no other person durst presume to do such a thing, but they might more certainly learn it from some of the persons imployed in it, who through fear or favour might inform them..

Then the men of the city said unto Joseph, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he has cast down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the grove that was by it.

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal Why are you so zealous in pleading for that Baal, for the Worship whereof you suffer such grievous Calamities at this day, and from whom you have no help? It is plain, that Ioash had been a Worshipper of Baal: either therefore he was now convinced by Gideon's information and action, or he makes use of this pretence to preserve his Son, being indeed indifferent in matters of Religion; and therefore as he did worship Baal to comply with his Neighbours, so now he deserts him, to rescue his Son.? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death He that shall further plead for such a god as this, deserves to die for his folly and impiety. It is not probable, that this was all which he said for his Son's defence; or that he would neglect to mention the Call his Son had from God to it, the Apparition of an Angel, the Promise of Deliverance: but it is usual in Scripture to give only some short hints of those things which were more largely discoursed., whilest it is yet morning i. e. Instantly, without delay; for it was now Morning-time, as appears from v. 28, &c.: if he be a god, let him plead for himself As the God of Israel has often done when any indignity or injury has been done to him. But Baal has now showed, that he is neither able to help you, nor himself; and therefore is not worthy to be served any longer. This couragious and resolute Answer was necessary to stop the torrent of the Peoples fury; and it was drawn from it, partly by the sense of his Sons extreme danger; and partly by the confidence he had, that God would Plead his Sons Cause, and use him for the Rescue of his People., because one has cast down his altar.

Therefore on that day he called him i. e. Ioash called Gideon so, Iudg. 7. 1. in remembrance of this noble Exploit, and to put a brand upon Baal. Jerub-baal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he has thrown down his altar.

¶ Then all the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east were gathered together and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel Not that Iezreel in Iudah, of which Ios. 15. 56. but another in the borders of Manasseh and Issachar, Ios. 17. 16. and 19. 18. which was not far distant from Ophrah, where Gideon dwelt, and now was..

But the spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon Inspiring him with extraordinary Wisdom, and Courage, and Zeal to vindicate Gods Honour, and his Countries Liberty. Compare 1 Chron. 12. 18. and 24. 20., and he blew a trumpet, and Abiezer i. e. The Abiezrites, his kindred, and their servants, and others; who finding no harm coming to him for the destroying of Baal, but rather a blessing from God, in giving him strength and courage for so great and dangerous an Attempt, changed their minds, and followed him as the person by whose hands God would deliver them. was gathered after him.

And he sent Messengers throughout all Manasseh On both sides of Iordan., who also was gathered after him, and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali Because these Tribes were nearest to him, and so could soonest joyn with him; and were nearest the Enemy also, v. 33. and therefore were most sensible of the Calamity, and would in all reason be most forward to rescue themselves from it., and they came up to meet them.

¶ And Gideon said unto God In way of humble Supplication, partly for the strengthning of his own Faith, and partly for the greater encouragement of his Souldiers in this great and strange Attempt., If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor: and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside i. e. Upon all that spot of ground which adjoyneth to, and encompasseth the Fleece.; then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew Which was more difficult and preternatural than the former instance, because if there be any moisture, such bodies as fleeces of Wool are most likely to drink it up..

And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.