Judges 6:11-32
Summary for Judg 6:11-32: 6:11-32 a Gideon encountered the angel of the Lord and emerged as a hero. He overthrew the syncretistic Baal cult of his family and town and called his people to fight in the Lord’s name.6:12 b Mighty hero translates a Hebrew term that is elsewhere translated as “strong warriors” (Josh 6:2 c), pointing to Gideon’s potential military heroism, and as “the rich” (2 Kgs 15:20 d), pointing to his social standing as a member of a leading family.
• the Lord is with you: A commission to fight God’s war is usually accompanied by assurance of his presence (see Deut 1:30 e; Josh 1:1-9 f).
Summary for Judg 6:13-15: 6:13-15 g Like others called to be prophets or judges, Gideon was reluctant to obey. He questioned God’s presence and his own adequacy (see study note on 4:8; Exod 3:1–4:17 h; Jer 1:4-19 i).
6:15 j Gideon’s personal and clan status was itself insufficient to muster troops.
6:22 k Encounters with divine holiness are inherently dangerous (cp. Gen 32:30 l; Deut 5:4-5 m).
6:24 n The symbolically named altar commemorates the divine presence and favor. By the time the account was written down (to this day), the altar had probably become a pilgrimage site.
Summary for Judg 6:25-32: 6:25-32 o In a provocative act that was commanded by God, Gideon destroyed and desecrated a community altar to Baal and its Asherah pole. 6:25 p In Canaanite worship, Baal was a storm and fertility god, while Asherah was often represented as a sacred tree.
6:31 q The first person to follow Gideon’s inspired act of leadership and abandon Baal for the Lord was Gideon’s father Joash, who was, ironically, the keeper of the Baal shrine.
Copyright information for
TNotes