The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, leading to seven years of severe oppression by the Midianites, who destroyed their sustenance. When Israel cried unto the LORD, an Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, commissioning him to deliver Israel despite his initial doubts. Gideon then destroyed his father's altar to Baal and the associated grove, and subsequently sought two miraculous signs involving a fleece to confirm God's will.
Midyan exercised its power harshly against Isra'el, and because of Midyan the people of Isra'el hid themselves in mountains, in caves and in other safe places.
They set up camp by them and destroyed the produce of the country all the way to 'Azah; they left nothing for people to live on, no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys.
For they came up with their cattle and tents, and they came in as thick as locusts; both they and their camels were beyond numbering, and they came into the land to destroy it.
ADONAI sent a prophet to the people of Isra'el, who said to them: "ADONAI the God of Isra'el says, 'I brought you up from Egypt, out of a life of slavery.
And I said to you: "I am ADONAI your God; you are not to be afraid of the gods of the Emori in whose land you are living." But you paid no attention to what I said!'"
Then the angel of ADONAI came and sat under the pistachio tree in 'Ofrah that belonged to Yo'ash the Avi'ezri. His son Gid'on was threshing wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from Midyan.
"Excuse me, sir," answered Gid'on, "but if ADONAI is with us, then why is all this happening to us? And where are all his miracles our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Didn't ADONAI bring us up from Egypt?' For now ADONAI has abandoned us and handed us over to Midyan."
But Gid'on answered him, "Forgive me, my Lord, but with what am I to save Isra'el? Why, my family is the poorest in M'nasheh, and I'm the youngest person in my father's house!"
Gid'on went in, cooked a young goat and made matzot from a bushel of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the pistachio tree and presented them.
Then the angel of ADONAI reached out with the stick he was holding, touched the meat and matzot, and fire shot up out of the rock and burned up the meat and matzot. Then the angel of ADONAI disappeared before his eyes.
That very night ADONAI said to him, "Take your father's bull and the other bull, the seven-year-old. Destroy the altar to Ba'al that belongs to your father, cut down the sacred pole next to it,
and build a proper altar to ADONAI your God on top of this strong-point. Then take the second bull; and offer it as a burnt offering, using the wood of the sacred pole you cut down."
Gid'on took ten of his servants and did what ADONAI had told him to do. He didn't do it by day, because he was afraid of the men in his father's household and those from the city, so he did it at night.
When the men of the city got up the next morning, there was the altar of Ba'al destroyed, the sacred pole cut down, and the second bull a burnt offering on the newly built altar.
"Bring out your son," the men of the city demanded of Yo'ash, "so that he may die, because he destroyed the altar of Ba'al and cut down the sacred pole next to it!"
But Yo'ash said to all those crowding around him, "You're defending Ba'al, are you? It's your job to save him? Anyone who defends Ba'al will be put to death before morning! If he's a god, let him defend himself! After all, somebody destroyed his altar!"
Therefore on that day Gid'on was given the name Yeruba'al [let Ba'al defend], because they said, "Let Ba'al defend himself against him, since he destroyed his altar."
He sent messengers throughout all M'nasheh, and they too rallied behind him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Z'vulun and Naftali; and they came up to join them.
then, here: I will lay a wool fleece on the threshing-floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, while all the ground stays dry, I will be convinced that you will save Isra'el through me, as you said you would."
But Gid'on said to God, "Don't be angry with me because I am asking one more thing, let me make one more test, please: this time let it be dry only on the fleece, with dew all over the ground."
And that is what God did that night - it was dry only on the fleece, even though there was dew all over the ground.
Study Notes for Judges 6
Verse 1
This verse initiates the fourth major cycle of sin and judgment in the book of Judges. The seven years of oppression (the longest recorded period of servitude so far) indicates the severity of Israel’s apostasy.
Verse 2
The Israelites were driven out of their homes and forced to live in natural and man-made strongholds in the mountains. This paints a picture of extreme degradation and fear, typical of a subjugated people.
Verse 4
The Midianites acted as seasonal raiders, timing their invasions to destroy the harvest and livestock, thereby crippling Israelite society economically and ensuring dependency.
Verse 6
Impoverishment finally drives Israel to repentance. The cycle of the judges always begins with the people 'crying out' (Hebrew: *za'aq*) to the Lord for rescue.
Verse 8
Before delivering a savior (judge), the Lord sends a prophet to address the root cause: spiritual failure. The prophet reminds them of God’s history of redemption (Exodus) and their covenant obligations.
Verse 10
The core sin was syncretism—worshiping the local Canaanite deities (the gods of the Amorites, specifically Baal) alongside Yahweh, a direct violation of the first commandment.
Verse 11
Gideon is introduced threshing wheat secretly in a winepress (a sunken stone vat), a location completely unsuitable for the task, illustrating his fear of the Midianite raiders.
Verse 12
The 'Angel of the LORD' (*mal'akh Yahweh*) is often interpreted as a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ). The greeting, 'mighty man of valour,' is ironic given Gideon’s hidden activity.
Verse 13
Gideon’s response reflects the theological crisis of the era: if God is sovereign, why has He abandoned His people? He focuses on God’s past miracles versus their present suffering.
Verse 14
The Lord commissions Gideon not based on Gideon’s military prowess or status, but purely on divine appointment: “Have not I sent thee?”
Verse 15
Gideon expresses profound insecurity, claiming the weakest position within his clan and tribe. This pattern of God choosing the marginalized highlights that salvation comes through divine power, not human strength.
Verse 21
The fire consuming the offering demonstrates the divine acceptance of the sacrifice and confirms the identity of the messenger, paralleling the acceptance of priestly offerings (Lev. 9:24).
Verse 22
The ancient belief was that seeing God or His angel face-to-face resulted in death (cf. Exod. 33:20). Gideon’s fear is rooted in traditional reverence.
Verse 24
Gideon names the altar *Jehovah-shalom* ('The LORD is Peace'). This signifies that true peace (*shalom*) is found in the presence of God, who overcomes human fear and threat of death.
Verse 25
Gideon’s first act of deliverance is spiritual: destroying the altar of the fertility god Baal in his own family. The seven-year-old bullock may symbolize the seven years of Midianite oppression.
Verse 27
Gideon’s fear of his own community shows that the spiritual battle against idolatry was deeply personal and dangerous, requiring him to operate under the cover of night.
Verse 31
Joash, Gideon’s father, defends his son by challenging the power of Baal. He argues that if Baal is a true god, he must be able to defend his own altar, marking a powerful shift away from idolatry.
Verse 32
Gideon is given the nickname *Jerubbaal*, meaning 'Let Baal contend/strive.' This name serves as a permanent memorial of his confrontation with the local deity.
Verse 33
The enemy forces gather in the Jezreel Valley, the traditional battlefield of Israel, setting the stage for the upcoming confrontation.
Verse 34
The statement 'the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon' is key to the Judges narrative, indicating divine empowerment that transforms the fearful farmer into a charismatic military leader.
Verse 36
Despite the angelic commission (v. 14) and the empowerment of the Spirit (v. 34), Gideon still seeks tangible, physical reassurance, revealing his persistent insecurity.
Verse 37
The sign of the fleece is a test of God's faithfulness, using an unnatural meteorological event. Gideon asks for the impossible, demonstrating his weak faith but sincere desire for confirmation.
Verse 39
Gideon requests the test be reversed (dry fleece, wet ground), eliminating the possibility of coincidence or natural explanation. God graciously complies, demonstrating patience with Gideon's doubt.
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