Judg 6:24-27 | NETfull | STEP | Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Judges 6:24-27

24 Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” ^{▼▼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. ^{▼▼ 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. ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼Heb “men from among his servants.”} and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father’s family ^{▼▼Heb “house.”} and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime. ^{▼▼Heb “so he did it at night.”}