Judges 6:30

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

"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!"

Berean Standard Bible

Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Judges 6:30 captures a dramatic confrontation in the early stages of Gideon's ministry, immediately following his divinely commanded act of dismantling his father Joash's altar to Baal and felling the adjacent Asherah pole. This verse vividly portrays the intense outrage of the local populace, who, upon discovering the desecration of their pagan worship site, demand Gideon's immediate execution, highlighting the profound spiritual apostasy prevalent in Israel and the dangerous cost of obedience to the Lord in a hostile environment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the unfolding narrative of Gideon's call and initial acts of obedience. It follows directly after the Lord's specific instruction to Gideon to tear down his father's Baal altar and Asherah pole, and to build an altar to the Lord in its place (Judges 6:25-26). Gideon, out of fear of his family and the townspeople, performs this act under the cover of night (Judges 6:27). The discovery of the destroyed pagan symbols at dawn (Judges 6:28) immediately precedes the furious demand for Gideon's life in Judges 6:30. This sequence sets the stage for Joash's unexpected defense of his son (Judges 6:31-32), which not only saves Gideon but also gives him the prophetic name Jerubbaal, "let Baal contend against him," signifying the Lord's vindication and the beginning of Gideon's role as a deliverer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 12th-11th century BCE) was marked by a cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression by foreign powers, Israel's cry for deliverance, and God raising up a judge to save them. This era is famously summarized by the phrase, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" [Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel"). The worship of Baal, the Canaanite storm and fertility god, and Asherah, his consort, was rampant, often syncretized with the worship of Yahweh. These practices were explicitly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, which commanded the destruction of all pagan altars and images [Deuteronomy 7:5](/deuteronomy/7-5 "Deuteronomy 7:5 - Command to Destroy Idols"). The townspeople's demand for Gideon's death reflects the deep cultural entrenchment of Baal worship and the perceived blasphemy and sacrilege of destroying their deity's symbols, indicating a complete disregard for the covenant with Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 6:30 powerfully illustrates the **conflict between true worship and idolatry**, a central theme throughout the book of Judges and the Old Testament. The community's violent reaction underscores the pervasive nature of Baal worship and its direct opposition to the Lord's sovereignty. This verse also highlights the **cost of obedience** and the **courage required to stand for God** in a hostile environment; Gideon's act, though divinely commanded, immediately places his life in jeopardy. Furthermore, it subtly introduces the theme of **divine protection and vindication**, as the subsequent verses reveal Joash's unexpected defense of Gideon, foreshadowing God's ultimate safeguarding of His chosen instruments, even when they face overwhelming opposition for their faithfulness, as seen in the broader narrative of God's deliverance through Gideon against the Midianites in [Judges 7](/judges/7 "Judges 7 - Gideon's Victory").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Baal (Hebrew, בַּעַל, _Ba'al_):** This term refers to the chief male deity of the Canaanite pantheon, often associated with storms, rain, fertility, and kingship. His worship involved various rituals, including sacred prostitution and child sacrifice, and was a constant snare for Israel. The destruction of his altar was a direct assault on the spiritual power structure of the community and a declaration of Yahweh's supremacy.
* **Grove (Hebrew, אֲשֵׁרָה, _'Asherah_):** This term refers to a sacred pole, tree, or cult object associated with Asherah, the Canaanite mother goddess and consort of Baal. Asherah poles were often erected alongside Baal altars and represented the fertility aspect of Canaanite religion. Their destruction, alongside the Baal altar, signified a complete rejection of the pagan fertility cults and a return to exclusive worship of Yahweh, who alone grants fruitfulness and blessing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the men of the city said unto Joash,"**: This phrase immediately establishes the collective outrage of the community. "The men of the city" represent the local populace, deeply invested in and reliant upon the pagan religious system. Their address to Joash, Gideon's father, indicates their understanding of the family connection and their expectation that Joash, as the head of the household and likely a prominent figure, would be responsible for his son's actions.
* **"Bring out thy son, that he may die:"**: This is a direct, unequivocal demand for capital punishment. The severity of their reaction underscores the perceived gravity of Gideon's offense—not merely vandalism, but an act of sacrilege against their gods, which they believed could bring divine wrath or misfortune upon the entire community. It reveals the depth of their commitment to Baal and their willingness to enforce their religious norms through violence.
* **"because he hath cast down the altar of Baal,"**: This clause specifies the primary reason for their fury. The altar was the central place of worship and sacrifice to Baal, symbolizing the community's devotion and connection to the deity. Its destruction was an act of profound disrespect and defiance against their god and their established religious order.
* **"and because he hath cut down the grove that [was] by it."**: This second reason reinforces the first, emphasizing the thoroughness of Gideon's iconoclasm. The "grove" (Asherah pole) was an integral part of the Baal cult, representing fertility and the feminine divine. Its destruction, alongside the altar, signified a complete dismantling of the pagan worship site, leaving no trace of their idolatrous practices.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 6:30 employs several powerful literary devices. **Conflict** is immediately evident, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation between Gideon, representing obedience to Yahweh, and the idolatrous townspeople. The explicit demand for Gideon's death creates intense **Suspense**, leaving the reader to wonder how Gideon will escape this dire predicament. There is also a strong element of **Irony** at play: the very people of Israel, chosen by God to be His holy nation, are now so deeply entrenched in paganism that they demand the death of one who obeys the Lord's command to cleanse their land. The destroyed altar and grove function as powerful **Symbols**, representing not only the physical objects of idolatry but also the spiritual rebellion and moral decay that permeated Israelite society during the period of the Judges.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the theological truth that God is a jealous God who demands exclusive worship and will not tolerate rivals (Exodus 20:3-5). The community's violent reaction to the destruction of their idols reveals the spiritual blindness and deep-seated rebellion against Yahweh that characterized Israel during the Judges period. It underscores the pervasive nature of idolatry, not merely as a private sin but as a communal practice that held society captive. Gideon's act, though dangerous, was a necessary step in breaking the spiritual strongholds that prevented Israel from experiencing God's deliverance. It highlights the principle that true spiritual revival often begins with radical obedience that confronts entrenched sin, even when it is unpopular or life-threatening. The Lord's command to Gideon to destroy these idols was not merely about physical objects but about dismantling the spiritual allegiance of His people to false gods.

* [Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-5 - The First Commandment")
* [Deuteronomy 12:2-3](/deuteronomy/12-2 "Deuteronomy 12:2-3 - Destroying Pagan Sites")
* [1 Kings 18:21](/1_kings/18-21 "1 Kings 18:21 - Elijah's Challenge to Baal Worship")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 6:30 presents a stark challenge to believers today, prompting us to examine our own lives and cultures for "altars of Baal" and "Asherah poles"—anything that competes for the ultimate allegiance of our hearts and minds, whether it be material possessions, career success, social approval, political ideologies, or even self-worship. Like Gideon, we are called to radical obedience to God's truth, even when it means confronting popular opinion, cultural norms, or personal comforts. This verse reminds us that genuine faith often requires courage to stand against the tide of societal sin and to dismantle the idols that subtly or overtly draw our devotion away from the one true God. It encourages us to prioritize God's commands above all else, trusting that He will vindicate and protect those who faithfully serve Him, even when facing hostility for righteousness. What "altars" or "groves" might we need to tear down in our own lives or spheres of influence to truly honor God alone?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "altars of Baal" or "Asherah poles" (idols) might exist in my own life or in the culture around me that demand my allegiance away from God?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to compromise my obedience to God due to fear of opposition or desire for social acceptance?**
* **How can I cultivate the courage to stand for God's truth, even when it is unpopular or costly?**
* **What practical steps can I take to dismantle idolatry in my own heart and promote exclusive worship of God in my community?**

### FAQ
**Why were the townspeople so furious about the destruction of the altar and grove?**

Answer: The townspeople's fury stemmed from several deeply rooted reasons. First, Baal and Asherah were central deities in Canaanite religion, widely adopted by many Israelites during the period of the Judges. Their worship was believed to ensure agricultural fertility, rain, and prosperity. The destruction of their altar and sacred pole was seen as a direct assault on their spiritual well-being and their very means of livelihood, potentially inviting divine wrath or famine upon the community. Second, it was an act of sacrilege and defiance against their established religious and social order, a profound disrespect for what they considered holy. Finally, it represented a challenge to the syncretistic practices that had become normalized, where Yahweh worship was often blended with Baal worship. Gideon's act was a radical, exclusive declaration for Yahweh, which directly threatened the comfortable, albeit unfaithful, status quo of the community, as seen in the broader context of Israel's spiritual decline in [Judges 2](/judges/2 "Judges 2 - Israel's Apostasy").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 6:30, with its depiction of Gideon's confrontation with idolatry and the community's violent demand for his life, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate confrontation with spiritual darkness embodied in Jesus Christ. Just as Gideon was called to dismantle the physical altars of Baal, Jesus came to dismantle the spiritual strongholds of sin and death, which are the ultimate forms of idolatry that enslave humanity. His cleansing of the temple, overturning the tables of money-changers, was a similar act of confronting corrupted worship and challenging the religious establishment that had turned God's house into a "den of thieves" [Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"). The demand for Gideon's death by an idolatrous people finds its ultimate fulfillment in the crucifixion of Christ, where the world, entrenched in its rebellion against God, cried out, "Crucify him!" [Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - The Demand for Jesus' Crucifixion"). Jesus, the true Lamb of God, did not merely tear down altars; He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, destroying the power of sin and death and establishing a new covenant where true worship is in "spirit and truth" [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth"). Through His death and resurrection, Christ has delivered us from the dominion of idols, calling us to be living temples of the Holy Spirit, cleansed from all unrighteousness, and to live lives of radical obedience and exclusive devotion to Him, the only true God and Savior [1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Our Bodies, Temples of the Holy Spirit").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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.