Judges 6
6
Midianite Oppression
1Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of Yahweh, so Yahweh handed them over to the Midianites # 6:1 The nomadic Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s concubine, Keturah (see Gen. 25:1). Midian means “strife” or “contending.” Moses married the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite (see Ex. 2:15–21; 18:1–27). The Midianites lived in Arabia and eventually were incorporated into the Arabian tribes. Symbolically, Midian is an illustration of compromise with the world and the strife that results (see James 4:4; 1 John 2:15–17). Midian and Moab had attempted to persuade Balaam to curse Israel (see Num. 22:4; Rev. 2:14), and it was the Midianite and Moabite women who seduced Israel (see Num. 25:1–18; 31:15–16). for seven years. 2The crushing power of the Midianites overwhelmed Israel, forcing the Israelites to make hiding places for themselves in caves and mountain strongholds. 3Whenever the Israelites planted any crops, and before they could reap the harvest, the Midianites would come with the Amalekites and other desert tribes # 6:3 Or “sons of the east [desert tribes].” and invade the land. 4They would camp in their fields and destroy their crops as far as Gaza. They would seize all their sheep, cattle, and donkeys. They left nothing for the Israelites to live on. 5When they invaded the land with their livestock and camels and tents, they were as numerous as locusts, # 6:5 The Hebrew word for “locusts” is taken from a root word meaning “to multiply” or “a multitude.” leaving the land desolate. 6Israel was impoverished and helpless against them. Then the Israelites, with shattered hearts, cried out to Yahweh for mercy.
A Prophet Rebukes Israel
7When the Israelites, with shattered hearts, cried out to Yahweh because of the Midianite oppression, 8he sent them a prophet # 6:8 The Hebrew text utilizes an obscure title, literally “a prophet-man.” Although unnamed, Jewish tradition states that the prophet was Phineas son of Eleazar. (See Seder Olam Rabba, ch. 20, p. 53.) God had fulfilled his ancient promises to them, but they had failed to keep their promises to God, so the prophet rebuked Israel. with this message: “Listen to the words of Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘I delivered you from Egypt and from a life of slavery. # 6:8 Or literally “from the slave barracks.” 9I snatched you from the brutality of the Egyptians. I rescued you from the people who invaded this land and fought against you. I drove them out as you advanced, and I gave # 6:9 The series of verbs in the Hebrew text more forcefully expresses the action than an English translation can. It is describing energetic acts, as the verbs are in the cohortative form. Perhaps the sense could be conveyed as “I handed this land over to you, so now what are you going to do about all this?” their land to you. 10I told you that I am Yahweh your God, and that you must not worship the false gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you did not listen to my voice.’ ”
Gideon, the Champion-Deliverer
11The Angel of Yahweh came to the village of Ophrah # 6:11 Ophrah means “dusty.” It was a city of Manasseh. and sat down under the oak tree # 6:11 Apparently, the Angel of Yahweh was invisible to Gideon. He may have been sitting there watching Gideon for some time before he revealed himself. that belonged to Joash, # 6:11 Joash means “Yahweh is strong.” It is a shortened version of Jehoash. a man of the clan of Abiezer. # 6:11 Abiezer means “my father of help.” His son Gideon # 6:11 Gideon means “warrior,” “one who cuts down [trees],” “to cut in two,” or “destroyer.” God embedded his destiny as a champion-deliverer within his name. He is named in Heb. 11, the faith chapter (see Heb. 11:32), and also referred to in Isa. 9:3–4. A variant form of his name is used repeatedly for cutting down idols (see Deut. 7:5; 2 Chron. 14:3; 31:1; 34:4, 7; Ezek. 6:6). was secretly threshing some wheat in a winepress so that the Midianites would not see him. # 6:11 Wheat was not threshed in a winepress but on an open, elevated place where the wind could blow the chaff away. Jewish and Christian traditions hold that Gideon was a timid, somewhat cowardly man who made excuses concerning himself and his family (see v. 15). God was going to do in Gideon what Gideon was doing with wheat—thresh his heart, and remove the chaff of unbelief from his true identity. God called Gideon to be a hero who would deliver Israel. God rescued a nation by first rescuing a man from his unbelief. Many believers today can draw strength and revelation from the wonderful story of Gideon. 12Yahweh’s Angel suddenly appeared to Gideon and said, “Yahweh’s presence goes with you, man of fearless courage!” # 6:12 God prophesied destiny over Gideon. He would become a fearless warrior. God often speaks things that are not visible and brings them into reality (see Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:1). God called Abraham a father of a multitude before he even had a child. God called Gideon a brave warrior before he even went into battle.
13“Me?” Gideon replied. “But sir, if Yahweh is truly with us, why have all these troubles come to us? Where are all his miracle-wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not Yahweh deliver us out of Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has abandoned us and put us under the power of the Midianites.”
14Then Yahweh # 6:14 The Angel of Yahweh unveiled himself as Yahweh! This divine encounter empowered Gideon to face overwhelming odds and defeat the Midianite armies. He went out in the strength of this encounter, clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit (see v. 34). Gideon found the power that he needed in the commission and authority God imparted to him that day. himself faced Gideon directly and said, “Am I not sending you? With my presence you have all you need. Go in the strength that you now have # 6:14 Perhaps at that moment God infused a surge of his mighty power into Gideon. and rescue Israel from Midian’s power!”
15Gideon said to him, “But Lord, how could I ever rescue Israel? Of all the thousands in Manasseh, my clan is the weakest, and I’m the least qualified in my family.”
16Yahweh replied, “My presence and my power will be with you. # 6:16 These are the same reassuring words God spoke to Moses when he sent him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt (see Ex. 3:12). Believe me, Gideon, # 6:16 The Hebrew is emphatic: “I absolutely will be with you.” you will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man!”
17Then Gideon said, “If it’s really true that you will go with me and that I have found grace before your eyes, then show me a miracle-sign to prove that you are really Yahweh # 6:17 Or “you.” speaking with me. 18Don’t leave until I return with my offering to you.”
And he answered, “I’ll wait until you return.”
19So Gideon went and cooked a young goat and many loaves # 6:19 Or “with an ephah of flour he made bread.” An ephah was about twenty liters or three-fifths of a bushel. Gideon presented a significant offering, for it was a time of scarcity. of unleavened bread. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and took his offering and presented it to him under the oak tree.
20God’s Angel said to Gideon, “Place the meat and the bread on that rock and pour the broth over them.” And Gideon did so. 21Then Yahweh’s Angel reached out the staff he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. All at once, supernatural fire sprang up from the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. # 6:21 Gideon’s offering prefigures the sacrifice of Christ, whose body was laid upon a rock. Then the Angel of Yahweh vanished from his sight.
22Immediately, Gideon realized that he had seen the Angel of Yahweh! Terror stricken, he said, “Oh, Lord Yahweh! # 6:22 Or “Adonai-Yahweh.” I have seen the Angel of Yahweh face-to-face!”
23But Yahweh spoke to him and said, “Be at peace. Don’t be afraid. You will not die.” 24So Gideon built an altar to Yahweh there and named it “In Yahweh there is Peace.” # 6:24 Or “Yahweh-Shalom.” See Eph. 2:14. (The altar is still standing at Ophrah, which belongs to the clan of Abiezer.)
25That night, Yahweh spoke # 6:25 God possibly spoke to Gideon in a dream. See Job 33:14–15. to Gideon and said, “Take your father’s bull and the second bull that is seven years old, # 6:25 The bull was seven years old, the same age as Israel’s oppression (see v. 1). Some Jewish scholars believe that Gideon’s father had raised the bull to be sacrificed to Baal. and go and demolish your father’s altar to Baal. # 6:25 Gideon’s commission began at home. Gideon first tore down the altar to Baal. He broke the stronghold of his family before he could break the stronghold of his nation. The church must first tear down the false altars in our hearts before we can deliver a nation. And cut down the tree of the goddess Asherah, which is beside it. 26And in their place, on top of the stronghold, # 6:26 Some Jewish scholars (Rashi, Kimchi) believe this was the same place (rock) where Gideon placed his offering to Yahweh. build a well-constructed altar to Yahweh your God. Use the Asherah tree you have cut down for firewood. Then take the second bull and burn it whole as an offering.” # 6:26 See Lev. 4:13–21. 27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Yahweh had told him. Because he feared both his family and the men of the town he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28When the people of the town got up early the next morning, they found the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah cut down, and the second bull burned on the new altar that Gideon had built there. 29They asked each other, “Who did this?” After investigating thoroughly, they concluded that it was the work of Gideon son of Joash. 30Enraged, they demanded of Joash, “Bring your son out here and we will kill him! # 6:30 The Hebrew is the jussive form: “and let him die.” He tore down the altar to Baal and chopped down the Asherah tree beside it.”
31But Joash said to all those who confronted him, “Does Baal need you to fight his battles? Are you really going to rescue him? I will kill anyone who stands up for Baal before morning. If Baal is a god, let him fight his own battles and defend his own altar!” 32From then on, Gideon’s nickname was “Jerubbaal,” # 6:32 Or “Baal-Fighter.” that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.
33Now all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the East formed an army. They crossed the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel to fight against Israel. 34Then the Spirit of Yahweh clothed himself in Gideon and enveloped him! # 6:34 Gideon became a powerful warrior, for the Holy Spirit wore Gideon like clothing! Compare 1 Chron. 12:17–18. Gideon sounded a blast of the shofar to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him. 35He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh, and throughout the territory of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali—to call them to follow Gideon into battle. And they all came to join him.
Gideon at the Threshing Floor
36Gideon said to God, “If you have really chosen me to rescue Israel, as you said, 37then give me proof. Here—I am placing a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If in the morning the dew is only on the wool but not on the ground around it, then I will know for sure that I’m the one you have chosen to rescue Israel, as you said.” # 6:37 God had “sheared” both Israel and Gideon (Ezek. 44:17–18) on God’s “threshing floor” of chastening. Dew is consistently a biblical symbol of God’s favor and the anointing of the Holy Spirit (see Deut. 33:28; Pss. 110:3; 133:1–3; Prov. 19:12; Hos. 14:5). 38And that is exactly what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out enough dew to fill a bowl. # 6:38 We are common jars (bowls) of clay (see 2 Cor. 4:7). Gideon was a bowl full of God’s favor.
39Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak just once more. Please let me ask you for one more sign. This time let the fleece be dry, and the ground wet.” 40That night God did what Gideon had asked. The next morning the fleece was dry, but dew covered the ground around it. # 6:40 Gideon wanted not only the assurance that God’s favor was upon him but also the assurance that God’s favor was on the men (ground) around him as well. God does often give a confirming sign that he is with those he calls. See Ex. 3:12; 4:1–9; 1 Sam. 10:7. The two signs Gideon asked for would demonstrate Yahweh as sovereign over the land instead of Baal, who was believed to be the father of morning rain and dew among the Canaanites (as found in the texts of The Baal Cycle at Ras Shamra). Yahweh showed his power over the things the people believed were under Baal’s control.
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Judges 6: TPT
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