Judges 6: Yahweh's angel calls Gideon, and the sign of the fleece
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Israel does evil, and Yahweh gives them into the hand of Midian for seven years. Midian, Amalek and the people of the east come in like locusts and ruin the land, and Israel hides in caves; when they cry out, Yahweh sends a prophet to remind them that he brought them out of Egypt and they have not listened. Yahweh's angel comes to Gideon at the oak in Ophrah, and Yahweh sends him to save Israel; fire from the rock burns up his offering, and he builds an altar he calls "Yahweh is Peace". That night he tears down his father's altar of Baal and cuts down the Asherah, and when the men of the city want him killed, his father Joash defends him, and he is named Jerubbaal. Yahweh's Spirit comes on Gideon, he calls the tribes together, and he asks God for two signs with a fleece of wool, and both happen as he asked.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 6 of the 40 verses: Yahweh's words to Gideon in verses 14, 16 and 23, the reply "I will wait until you come back" in verse 18, and his command to tear down the altar of Baal in verses 25 and 26. In verses 8 to 10 a prophet brings Yahweh's message ("Yahweh, the God of Israel, says"): those are the prophet's words, so they are not in gold. Yahweh's angel speaks in verse 12, and "the angel of God" in verse 20. Gideon speaks in verses 13, 15, 17 and 18, 22, 36 and 37, and 39. The men of the city speak in verses 29 and 30, Joash answers them in verse 31, and verse 32 gives the words behind Gideon's new name. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, so Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
In plain English: The Israelites did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, and Yahweh gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.
Good to know: This is the same pattern the book sets out in to : Israel does evil, Yahweh gives them into an enemy's hand, they cry out (verse 6), and Yahweh raises up someone to save them.
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2The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
In plain English: The hand of Midian was strong against Israel. Because of Midian, the Israelites made themselves hiding places (this Bible: dens) in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds.
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3So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
In plain English: Whenever Israel had sown, the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the east came up and attacked them.
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4They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
In plain English: They camped against them and destroyed the crops of the land as far as Gaza. They left nothing to live on in Israel, no sheep, no ox, and no donkey.
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5For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
In plain English: They came up with their livestock and their tents, as many as locusts. They and their camels could not be counted, and they came into the land to ruin it.
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6Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
In plain English: Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to Yahweh.
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7When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh because of Midian,
In plain English: When the Israelites cried out to Yahweh because of Midian,
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8Yahweh sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
In plain English: Yahweh sent a prophet (literally: a man, a prophet) to the Israelites. He said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery (this Bible: bondage).
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9I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
In plain English: I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you. I drove them out ahead of you and gave you their land.
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10I said to you, “I am Yahweh your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
In plain English: I said to you, "I am Yahweh your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live." But you have not listened to my voice.'"
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11Yahweh’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
In plain English: Yahweh's angel came and sat under the oak (or: the great tree) at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
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12Yahweh’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
In plain English: Yahweh's angel appeared to him and said to him, "Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor (or: brave warrior)!"
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13Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
In plain English: Gideon said to him, "Please, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about, when they said, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has abandoned us (this Bible: cast us off) and given us into the hand (literally: the palm) of Midian."
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14Yahweh looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh turned to him (this Bible: looked at him) and said, "Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?"
Good to know: In verses 11, 12, 20, 21 and 22 the text speaks of "Yahweh's angel" (in verse 20, "the angel of God"). But in verses 14, 16 and 23, in the same scene, it says "Yahweh" spoke to Gideon. In to the text moves in the same way between "Yahweh's angel" in the bush and God speaking from it.
Church tradition: Jewish and Christian readers differ on who the angel is. Some read him as a messenger who speaks for Yahweh with Yahweh's own words. Many Christian readers read him as Yahweh himself appearing in a form people could see. The text does not explain it.
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15He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
In plain English: Gideon said to him, "Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Look, my clan (literally: my thousand) is the weakest (this Bible: poorest) in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."
The Hebrew word: "My family" is literally "my thousand", eleph, the usual word for "a thousand". This Bible says "family" for it here: the group of families within Manasseh that Gideon belongs to.
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16Yahweh said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to him, "I will be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were one man."
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17He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
In plain English: Gideon said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, then give me a sign that it is you who are speaking with me.
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18Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”God speaks
In plain English: Please do not leave here until I come back to you, bring out my gift (or: my offering), and set it before you." He said, "I will stay until you come back."
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19Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
In plain English: Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened cakes made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the oak, and set them before him.
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20The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
In plain English: The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, put them on this rock, and pour out the broth." He did so.
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21Then Yahweh’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then Yahweh’s angel departed out of his sight.
In plain English: Then Yahweh's angel reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. Fire came up from the rock and burned up the meat and the unleavened cakes. And Yahweh's angel went out of his sight.
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22Gideon saw that he was Yahweh’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Because I have seen Yahweh’s angel face to face!”
In plain English: Gideon saw that he was Yahweh's angel, and Gideon said, "Oh no (this Bible: Alas), Lord Yahweh! For I have seen Yahweh's angel face to face!"
Good to know: Gideon is afraid because he has seen Yahweh's angel face to face. In Yahweh tells Moses, "man may not see me and live." In Jacob says, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." In verse 23 Yahweh tells Gideon, "You shall not die."
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23Yahweh said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to him, "Peace to you! Do not be afraid. You will not die."
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24Then Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh, and called it “Yahweh is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
In plain English: So Gideon built an altar to Yahweh there and called it "Yahweh is Peace". To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
The Hebrew words: "Yahweh is Peace" is Yahweh shalom. The dictionary gives shalom as "safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also ... welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace". It is the word Yahweh used in verse 23, "Peace be to you!", so the name of the altar takes up his words.
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25That same night, Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.God speaks
In plain English: That same night Yahweh said to him, "Take your father's young bull, the second bull, seven years old (or: Take your father's young bull and a second bull seven years old). Tear down your father's altar of Baal, and cut down the Asherah beside it.
Good to know: The Hebrew of the first words is unclear. It can be read as one animal, "your father's young bull, the second bull, seven years old", or as two, "your father's young bull, and a second bull seven years old". Verses 26 and 28 speak only of "the second bull".
The Hebrew word: "The Asherah" is asherah, which the dictionary gives as "Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same". Here it is something that stands beside the altar and can be cut down, and verse 26 speaks of "the wood of the Asherah".
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26Then build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”God speaks
In plain English: Then build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold, in the proper order (this Bible: in an orderly way). Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah you cut down."
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27Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
In plain English: So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as Yahweh had told him. But because he was afraid of his father's household and of the men of the city, he did not do it by day. He did it by night.
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28When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
In plain English: When the men of the city got up early in the morning, they saw that the altar of Baal had been torn down, the Asherah beside it had been cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been built.
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29They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
In plain English: They said to one another, "Who has done this?" They asked and searched, and they said, "Gideon the son of Joash has done this."
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30Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
In plain English: Then the men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son, so that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it."
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31Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
In plain English: Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you plead (this Bible: contend) for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads for him will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because someone has torn down his altar."
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32Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
In plain English: So on that day he (or: someone) named Gideon Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal contend against him, because he has torn down his altar."
The Hebrew word: The text itself explains the name. Jerubbaal sounds like "Let Baal contend": the first part is from riv, which the dictionary gives as "to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend", the word Joash uses three times in verse 31.
What changes: Read as "let Baal contend against him", the name dares Baal to fight Gideon, who tore down his altar. Read with Joash's words in verse 31, "let him contend for himself", it says Baal must defend himself if he is a god. The Hebrew also says only "he called him": it can be read of Joash or of the people.
Good to know: From here on the text calls Gideon by both names, as in , "Jerubbaal, who is Gideon". calls him "Jerubbesheth", and the dictionary gives bosheth as "shame".
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33Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
In plain English: Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the east gathered together, crossed over, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
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34But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
In plain English: But Yahweh's Spirit (or: spirit) came on Gideon (literally: clothed Gideon), and he blew a ram's horn (this Bible: a trumpet). The men of Abiezer were called out to follow him.
The Hebrew words: "Came on" is labash, which the dictionary gives as "properly, wrap around, i.e. ... to put on a garment or clothe". This is the only verse in Judges that uses it, so the Spirit "clothed" Gideon. It is used in the same way in and . "Spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind; by resemblance breath ... by resemblance spirit".
Good to know: The text says what happened next: Gideon blew the ram's horn and the men of Abiezer came out after him, and then men from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali came (verse 35).
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35He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
In plain English: He sent messengers all through Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali, and they came up to meet them.
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36Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
In plain English: Gideon said to God, "If you are going to save Israel by my hand, as you have said,
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37behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
In plain English: look, I am putting a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said."
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38It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
In plain English: And so it was. He got up early the next morning, squeezed the fleece, and wrung the dew out of it, a bowl full of water.
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39Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
In plain English: Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, and let me speak just once more. Please let me test (this Bible: make a trial) just once more with the fleece. This time let the fleece alone be dry, and let there be dew on all the ground."
Good to know: "Make a trial" is nasah, which the dictionary gives as "to test". It is the word of , "You shall not tempt Yahweh your God". Gideon asks for a sign twice (verses 36 to 40), and asks God not to be angry. The text does not say whether this was right or wrong; it says only that it was so (verse 38) and that God did so (verse 40). Readers see Gideon's request in different ways.
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40God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
In plain English: God did so that night. The fleece alone was dry, and there was dew on all the ground.
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