Judges 6
6
Oppression and Confrontation
1 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight,#tn Heb “in the eyes of.” so the Lord turned them over to#tn Heb “gave them into the hand of.” Midian for seven years. 2 The Midianites#tn Heb “the hand of Midian.” overwhelmed Israel.#tn Heb “The hand of Midian was strong against Israel.” Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters#tn Or possibly “secret storage places.” The Hebrew word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops,#tn Heb “Whenever Israel sowed seed.” the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.#tn Heb “Midian, Amalek, and the sons of the east would go up, they would go up against him.” The translation assumes that וְעָלוּ (vÿ’alu) is dittographic (note the following עָלָיו, ’alayv). 4 They invaded the land#tn Heb “They encamped against them.” and devoured#tn Heb “destroyed.” its crops#tn Heb “the crops of the land.” all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat,#tn Heb “They left no sustenance in Israel.” and they took away#tn The words “they took away” are supplied in the translation for clarification. the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. 5 When they invaded#tn Heb “came up.” with their cattle and tents, they were as thick#tn Heb “numerous.” as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted.#tn Heb “To them and to their camels there was no number.” They came to devour#tn Heb “destroy.” The translation “devour” carries through the imagery of a locust plague earlier in this verse. the land. 6 Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help because of Midian, 8 he#tn Heb “the Lord”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. sent a prophet#tn Heb “a man, a prophet.” Hebrew idiom sometimes puts a generic term before a more specific designation. to the Israelites. He said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I brought you up from Egypt#tc Some ancient witnesses read “from the land of Egypt.” מֵאֶרֶץ (me’erets, “from the land [of]”) could have been accidentally omitted by homoioarcton (note the following מִמִּצְרַיִם [mimmitsrayim, “from Egypt”]). and took you out of that place of slavery.#tn Heb “of the house of slavery.” 9 I rescued you from Egypt’s power#tn Heb “hand” (also a second time later in this verse). and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you. 10 I said to you, “I am the Lord your God! Do not worship#tn Heb “Do not fear.” the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!” But you have disobeyed me.’”#tn Heb “you have not listened to my voice.”
Gideon Meets Some Visitors
11 The Lord’s angelic messenger#tn The adjective “angelic” is interpretive.sn The Lord’s angelic messenger is also mentioned in Judg 2:1. came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash’s son Gideon#tn Heb “Now Gideon his son…” The Hebrew circumstantial clause (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + predicate) breaks the narrative sequence and indicates that the angel’s arrival coincided with Gideon’s threshing. was threshing#tn Heb “beating out.” wheat in a winepress#sn Threshing wheat in a winepress. One would normally thresh wheat at the threshing floor outside the city. Animals and a threshing sledge would be employed. Because of the Midianite threat, Gideon was forced to thresh with a stick in a winepress inside the city. For further discussion see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 63. so he could hide it from the Midianites.#tn Heb “Midian.” 12 The Lord’s messenger appeared and said to him, “The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!” 13 Gideon said to him, “Pardon me,#tn Heb “But my lord.” but if the Lord is with us, why has such disaster#tn Heb “all this.” overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said,#tn Heb “saying.” ‘Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” 14 Then the Lord himself#sn Some interpreters equate the Lord and the messenger in this story, but they are more likely distinct. In vv. 22-23 the Lord and Gideon continue to carry on a conversation after the messenger has vanished (v. 21). turned to him and said, “You have the strength.#tn Heb “Go in this strength of yours.” Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites!#tn Heb “the hand of Midian.” Have I not sent you?” 15 Gideon#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said to him, “But Lord,#tn Note the switch to אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Lord”). Gideon seems aware that he is speaking to someone other than, and superior to, the messenger, whom he addressed as אֲדֹנִי (’adoniy, “my lord”) in v. 13. how#tn Heb “with what.” can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.”#tn Heb “in my father’s house.” 16 The Lord said to him, “Ah, but#tn Or “certainly.” I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.”#tn Heb “You will strike down Midian as one man.” The idiom “as one man” emphasizes the collective unity of a group (see Judg 20:8, 11). Here it may carry the force, “as if they were just one man.” 17 Gideon#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said to him, “If you really are pleased with me,#tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.” then give me#tn Heb “perform for me.” a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. 18 Do not leave this place until I come back#tn The Hebrew text adds “to you,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons. with a gift#tn Heb “and I will bring out my gift.” The precise nuance of the Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minkhah, “gift”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a gift offered as a sign of goodwill or submission. In some cases it is used of a gift offered to appease someone whom the offerer has offended. The word can also carry a sacrificial connotation. and present it to you.” The Lord said, “I will stay here until you come back.”
19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat,#tn Heb “a kid from among the goats.” along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food#tn The words “the food” are not in the Hebrew text (an implied direct object). They are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons. to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. 20 God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock,#tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.” and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed.#tn Heb “and he did so.” 21 The Lord’s messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff.#tn Heb “extended the tip of the staff which was in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread.” Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord’s messenger then disappeared.#tn Heb “went from his eyes.”
22 When Gideon realized#tn Heb “saw.” that it was the Lord’s messenger, he#tn Heb “Gideon.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. said, “Oh no!#tn Or “Ah!” Master, Lord!#tn The Hebrew text reads אֲדֹנַי יְהוִה (’adonay yÿhvih, “Lord [the same title used in v. 15], Lord”). I have seen the Lord’s messenger face to face!” 23 The Lord said to him, “You are safe!#tn Heb “Peace to you.” For a similar use of this idiom to introduce a reassuring word, see Gen 43:23. Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!” 24 Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.”#tn Heb “The Lord is peace.” Gideon’s name for the altar plays on the Lord’s reassuring words to him, “Peace to you.” To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Gideon Destroys the Altar
25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take the bull from your father’s herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old.#tn Or “Take a bull from your father’s herd, the second one, the one seven years old.” Apparently Gideon would need the bulls to pull down the altar. Pull down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole. 26 Then build an altar for the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern.#tn Possibly “in a row” or “in a layer,” perhaps referring to the arrangement of the stones used in the altar’s construction. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants#tn Heb “men from among his servants.” and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father’s family#tn Heb “house.” and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.#tn Heb “so he did it at night.”
28 When the men of the city got up the next morning, they saw#tn Heb “look!” The narrator uses this word to invite his audience/readers to view the scene through the eyes of the men. the Baal altar pulled down, the nearby Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar. 29 They said to one another,#tn Heb “each one to his neighbor.” “Who did this?”#tn Heb “this thing.” They investigated the matter thoroughly#tn Heb “they inquired and searched.” The synonyms are joined to emphasize the care with which they conducted their inquiry. and concluded#tn Heb “and said.” Perhaps the plural subject is indefinite. If so, it could be translated, “they were told.” that Gideon son of Joash had done it. 30 The men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, so we can execute him!#tn Heb “and let him die.” The jussive form with vav after the imperative is best translated as a purpose clause. He pulled down the Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.” 31 But Joash said to all those who confronted him,#tn Heb “to all who stood against him.” “Must you fight Baal’s battles?#tn Heb “Do you fight for Baal?” Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause#tn Heb “fights for him.” will die by morning!#sn Whoever takes up his cause will die by morning. This may be a warning to the crowd that Joash intends to defend his son and to kill anyone who tries to execute Gideon. Then again, it may be a sarcastic statement about Baal’s apparent inability to defend his own honor. Anyone who takes up Baal’s cause may end up dead, perhaps by the same hand that pulled down the pagan god’s altar. If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles!#tn Heb “fight for himself.” After all, it was his altar that was pulled down.”#tn Heb “for he pulled down his altar.” The subject of the verb, if not Gideon, is indefinite (in which case a passive translation is permissible). 32 That very day Gideon’s father named him Jerub-Baal,#tn Heb “He called him on that day Jerub-Baal.” The name means, at least by popular etymology, “Let Baal fight!” because he had said, “Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down.”
Gideon Summons an Army and Seeks Confirmation
33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east#tn Heb “Midian, Amalek, and the sons of the east.” assembled. They crossed the Jordan River#tn The words “the Jordan River” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification. and camped in the Jezreel Valley. 34 The Lord’s spirit took control of#tn Heb “clothed.” Gideon. He blew a trumpet,#tn That is, “mustered an army.” summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.#tn Heb “Abiezer was summoned after him.” 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well.#tn Heb “and he also was summoned after him.” He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.
36 Gideon said to God, “If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel,#tn More literally, “you are about to deliver Israel by my hand.” as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.#tn The words “then give me a sign as proof” are supplied in the translation for clarification. 37 Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it#tn Heb “all the ground.” is dry, then I will be sure#tn Or “know.” that you will use me to deliver Israel,#tn Heb “you will deliver Israel by my hand.” as you promised.” 38 The Lord did as he asked.#tn Heb “And it was so.” When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl.#tn Heb “dew dripped from the fleece – a bowl full of water.” 39 Gideon said to God, “Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign.#tn Heb “Let your anger not rage at me, so that I might speak only this once.” Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew.”#tn Heb “let the fleece alone be dry, while dew is on all the ground.” 40 That night God did as he asked.#tn Heb “God did so that night.” Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew.
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Judges 6
6
1Afterwarde the children of Israel committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gaue them into the handes of Midian seuen yeres. 2And the hand of Midian preuayled against Israel, and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them dennes in the mountaines, and caues, and strong holdes. 3When Israel had sowen, then came vp the Midianites, the Amalekites, and they of the East, and came vpon them, 4And camped by them, and destroyed the fruite of the earth, euen til thou come vnto Azzah, and left no foode for Israel, neither sheepe, nor oxe, nor asse. 5For they went vp, and their cattel, and came with their tentes as grashoppers in multitude: so that they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. 6So was Israel exceedingly impouerished by the Midianites: therefore the children of Israel cryed vnto the Lord. 7And when the children of Israel cryed vnto the Lord because of the Midianites, 8The Lord sent vnto the children of Israel a Prophet, who sayd vuto them, Thus sayth the Lord God of Israel, I haue brought you vp from Egypt, and haue brought you out of the house of bondage, 9And I haue deliuered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and haue cast them out before you, and giuen you their land. 10And I sayde vnto you, I am the Lord your God: feare not the gods of the Amorites in whose lande you dwell: but ye haue not obeyed my voyce. 11And the Angell of the Lord came, and sate vnder the oke which was in Ophrah, that perteined vnto Ioash the father of the Ezrites, and his sonne Gideon threshed wheate by the winepresse, to hide it from the Midianites. 12Then the Angel of the Lord appeared vnto him, and said vnto him, The Lord is with thee, thou valiant man. 13To whome Gideon answered, Ah my Lord, if the Lord be with vs, why then is all this come vpon vs? and where be all his miracles which our fathers tolde vs of, and sayd, Did not the Lord bring vs out of Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken vs, and deliuered vs into the hand of the Midianites. 14And the Lord looked vpon him, and sayd, Goe in this thy might, and thou shalt saue Israel out of the handes of the Midianites: haue not I sent thee? 15And he answered him, Ah my Lord, whereby shall I saue Israel? beholde, my father is poore in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house. 16Then the Lord sayd vnto him, I wil therefore be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites, as one man. 17And he answered him, I pray thee, if I haue founde fauour in thy sight, then shewe me a signe, that thou talkest with me. 18Depart not hence, I pray thee, vntil I come vnto thee, and bring mine offring, and lay it before thee. And he sayde, I will tary vntill thou come againe. 19Then Gideon went in, and made ready a kidde, and vnleauened bread of an Ephah of floure, and put the flesh in a basket, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it out vnto him vnder the oke, and presented it. 20And the Angell of God saide vnto him, Take the flesh and the vnleauened bread, and lay them vpon this stone, and powre out the broth: and he did so. 21Then the Angell of the Lord put forth the ende of the staffe that he had in his hand, and touched the flesh and the vnleauened bread: and there arose vp fire out of the stone, and consumed the flesh and the vnleauened bread: so the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 22And when Gideon perceiued that it was an Angel of the Lord, Gideon then sayde, Alas, my Lord God: for because I haue seene an Angell of the Lord face to face, I shall die. 23And the Lord said vnto him, Peace be vnto thee: feare not, thou shalt not die. 24Then Gideon made an altar there vnto the Lord, and called it, Iehouah shalom: vnto this day it is in Ophrah, of the father of the Ezrites. 25And the same night the Lord sayd vnto him, Take thy fathers yong bullocke, and an other bullocke of seuen yeeres olde, and destroy the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut downe the groue that is by it, 26And build an altar vnto the Lord thy God vpon the top of this rocke, in a plaine place: and take the seconde bullocke, and offer a burnt offringe with the woode of the groue, which thou shalt cut downe. 27Then Gideon tooke tenne men of his seruants, and did as ye Lord bade him: but because he feared to doe it by day for his fathers housholde, and the men of the citie, he did it by night. 28And when the men of the citie arose early in the morning, beholde, the altar of Baal was broken, and the groue cut downe that was by it, and the seconde bullocke offred vpon the altar that was made. 29Therefore they saide one to another, Who hath done this thing? and when they inquired and asked, they saide, Gideon the sonne of Ioash hath done this thing. 30Then the men of the citie said vnto Ioash, Bring out thy sonne, that hee may dye: for he hath destroyed the altar of Baal, and hath also cut downe the groue that was by it. 31And Ioash said vnto all that stood by him, Will ye pleade Baals cause? or will ye saue him? he that will contend for him, let him dye or the morning. If he be God, let him pleade for himselfe against him that hath cast downe his altar. 32And in that day was Gideon called Ierubbaal, that is, Let Baal pleade for himselfe because he hath broken downe his altar. 33Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and they of ye East, were gathered together, aud went and pitched in the valley of Izreel. 34But the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and Abiezer was ioyned with him. 35And he sent messengers thorowout al Manasseh, which also was ioyned with him, and he sent messengers vnto Asher, and to Zebulun and to Naphtali, and they came vp to meete them. 36Then Gideon said vnto God, If thou wilt saue Israel by mine hand, as thou hast sayd, 37Beholde, I wil put a fleece of wooll in the threshing place: if the dewe come on the fleece onely, and it be drie vpon all the earth, then shall I be sure, that thou wilt saue Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38And so it was: for he rose vp earely on the morow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, and filled a bowle of water. 39Againe, Gideon sayde vnto God, Be not angry with me, that I may speake once more: let me prooue once againe, I pray thee, with the fleece: let it now be drie onely vpon the fleece, and let dewe be vpon all the ground. 40And God did so that same night: for it was drie vpon the fleece onely, and there was dewe on all the ground.
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