Judges 6:30

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

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.

"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!"

Then the men of the city said to Joash, โ€œBring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baalโ€™s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.โ€

Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.

Commentary

Judges 6:30 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of Gideon, immediately following his divinely commanded act of destroying his father Joash's altar to Baal and cutting down the adjacent Asherah pole. This verse reveals the intense public outrage and the direct threat to Gideon's life as a consequence of his obedience to God.

Context

This verse is set in the period of the Judges, a time when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25), often leading to widespread idolatry and oppression. God had just called Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, but Gideon's first task was to cleanse his own household and community of pagan worship. He obeyed God's command to tear down the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole belonging to his father, doing so under the cover of night (Judges 6:27). The discovery of this act at dawn ignited the fury of the townspeople, who demanded Gideon's execution for desecrating their false god's sanctuary.

Key Themes

  • Conflict Between True Worship and Idolatry: This verse starkly illustrates the deep-seated conflict between the worship of the Lord and the prevalent idolatry of Baal and Asherah during the period of the Judges. The community's fierce reaction reveals how deeply ingrained these pagan practices had become in Israelite society, superseding their covenant with God.
  • Courage and Obedience: Gideon's actions, though performed secretly, were acts of immense courage and obedience to God's direct command (Judges 6:25). The demand for his death underscores the danger and cost of following God's will when it directly confronts popular sin.
  • Divine Protection and Vindication: While not immediately evident in this specific verse, the subsequent verses (Judges 6:31-32) show Joash, Gideon's father, defending him, ultimately leading to Gideon being named Jerubbaal, meaning "let Baal contend against him." This foreshadows God's protection over those who stand for Him.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Baal" (Hebrew: ื‘ึผึทืขึทืœ, Ba'al) was a prominent Canaanite deity, often associated with fertility, storms, and kingship. The "grove" refers to an Asherah (Hebrew: ืึฒืฉืึตืจึธื”, 'Asherah), a sacred pole or tree associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah, Baal's consort. These were central elements of pagan worship that God had explicitly forbidden Israel to engage with or maintain, commanding their destruction (Deuteronomy 7:5).

Practical Application

Judges 6:30 reminds believers that standing for God's truth can sometimes lead to opposition from those who cling to false ideologies or practices. Like Gideon, we are called to prioritize obedience to God over popular opinion or societal norms, even when it is unpopular or dangerous. This verse encourages us to examine what "altars" or "groves" (idols, be they material possessions, power, or even popular approval) might exist in our own lives or cultures that need to be torn down for the sake of true worship and devotion to the Lord. It highlights the importance of courage in faith and trusting in God's ultimate vindication and protection, even when facing hostility for righteousness.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Philippians 3:6

    Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  • Acts 26:9

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

  • Jeremiah 26:11

    Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man [is] worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

  • Jeremiah 50:38

    A drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols.
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