Judges 6:29

And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

And they said {H559} one {H376} to another {H7453}, Who hath done {H6213} this thing {H1697}? And when they enquired {H1875} and asked {H1245}, they said {H559}, Gideon {H1439} the son {H1121} of Joash {H3101} hath done {H6213} this thing {H1697}.

They asked each other, "Who could have done this?" But after investigating, they concluded that Gid'on the son of Yo'ash had done it.

“Who did this?” they said to one another. And after they had investigated thoroughly, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

Commentary

Judges 6:29 describes the immediate aftermath of Gideon's night-time act of obedience to God, where he destroyed the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole belonging to his father, Joash, in Ophrah. The men of the city awaken to find their pagan worship site desecrated, leading to a swift investigation to discover the perpetrator.

Context

Prior to this verse, the Israelites were under the oppressive hand of the Midianites, largely due to their idolatry and abandonment of God. Gideon, a timid man from the tribe of Manasseh, was called by God to deliver Israel, a call he initially met with doubt and a request for signs. As part of his divine commission, God commanded Gideon to tear down his father's Baal altar and Asherah pole, and to build an altar to the Lord in its place, offering a second bull as a burnt offering. Out of fear of his family and the townspeople, Gideon carried out this task under the cover of darkness with ten servants. This verse captures the community's reaction upon discovering the audacious act and their successful inquiry into who was responsible, quickly identifying Gideon.

Key Themes

  • Confrontation of Idolatry: Gideon's act is a direct challenge to the pervasive pagan worship that had gripped Israel. It represents the first step in spiritual cleansing necessary before physical deliverance from the Midianites could fully occur. This highlights God's demand for exclusive worship, as seen in the first commandment.
  • Exposure and Accountability: Despite Gideon's attempt to act in secret due to fear, his deed is discovered. The community's thorough inquiry ("enquired and asked") reveals the truth, forcing Gideon and his father, Joash, to face the consequences and the town's anger.
  • Divine Purpose Unveiled: The revelation of Gideon as the perpetrator, while initially threatening, sets the stage for God to defend His chosen servant. It shifts Gideon from a hidden figure to a known agent of God's will, initiating the public phase of his calling.

Practical Application

Judges 6:29 offers several contemporary lessons:

  • Boldness in Obedience: Even when acting out of fear, Gideon's obedience to God had significant, public consequences. Sometimes, our acts of faith, though done in private or with apprehension, will eventually be revealed and draw a reaction from the world.
  • Confronting Modern Idols: Just as Baal and Asherah were idols then, anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives can be an idol today—be it money, power, comfort, or even self-reliance. This verse reminds us of the need to identify and dismantle these spiritual altars in our own hearts and communities.
  • The Unfolding of God's Plan: God often uses imperfect and fearful individuals to accomplish His grand purposes. Gideon's initial fear did not negate God's call or the effectiveness of his obedience. This event is a crucial step in his journey from a hesitant farmer to a mighty judge, demonstrating how God's plan unfolds one obedient step at a time.
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Cross-References

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