6:1–8:35 The story of Gideon, recorded in 6:1–8:35, is the first of several extended narratives focused on the career of a single leader. The narratives recounting the lives of the judges vary greatly in length. Some are terse references of a few verses (3:31; 10:1–5; 12:8–15); others are relatively brief self-contained tales (3:7–11, 12–30; 4:1–24) while others are more extensive. Gideon is the first major judge with an extended multi-scene story. While Gideon’s death is reported in 8:32–35, his story leads directly into ch. 9—the tale of how Gideon’s son Abimelech attempts to set himself up as a king. The other two judges featured in extended narratives are Jephthah (10:6–12:7) and Samson (chs. 13–16). The precise date for individual judges is unknown, but the overall timeframe of the judges is roughly 1250–1050 bc. Pre-Monarchic Israel DOT: HB

Judges and Their Rule Table

6:1 The Israelites did evil The wording used here situates the narrative at the beginning of the repetitive cycle that reverberates throughout the book (see note on 2:11–15; note on 3:7–11).

into the hand of the Midianites for seven years The Midianites inhabited the northern Sinai Peninsula and western Arabia. The Bible describes them as distant relatives of the Israelites through Keturah, Abraham’s second wife (Gen 25:2–4). Compare Judg 6:3, where the Amalekites join the Midianite oppressors.

6:2 made for themselves hiding places The Midianites’ oppression drove the Israelites to dwell in caves.

6:3 the people of the east See v. 33 (compare 7:12; 8:10; Gen 29:1; 1 Kgs 4:30).

6:4 Gaza Located on the southern coast of Canaan.

they left no produce in Israel The Midianite invaders were taking the crops that the Israelites needed for subsistence—hence their flight to the mountains and caves (Judg 6:2). See v. 5.

6:6 cried out to Yahweh The cyclical pattern of Judges continues (see note on 3:7–11).

6:8 Yahweh sent a prophet In the standard narrative template, God raises up a judge as deliverer at this point (compare 3:15). However, the previous judge Deborah was a prophetess who reported God’s words to the people (4:6–8). Here, the unnamed prophet only shares Yahweh’s message while Gideon is raised up as the judge and deliverer. The message of the prophet essentially summarizes the failures of Josh 24:1–Judg 2:3.

I brought you from the house of slavery See Exod 1–2; 7–14.

6:10 do not fear the gods of See Josh 24:15.

6:11 The angel of Yahweh This label is often interchanged with the name Yahweh or other names for Yahweh (see Gen 16:7 and note; Exod 3:2 and note). Often this figure is Yahweh in human appearance (see note on Gen 48:16; see note on Exod 23:20). In this scene, the figure that appears to Gideon may be identified as both the Angel of Yahweh (Judg 6:11–12, 22) and as Yahweh Himself (vv. 14, 16, 23).

Old Testament Godhead Language

the oak A sacred tree in Israelite religion. The patriarchal narratives often refer to trees marking sacred sites in commemoration of divine encounter and oracle (see Gen 12:6; 13:18; 18:1; Josh 24:26).

Sacred Trees in Israelite Religion

Ophrah Gideon’s hometown (Judg 8:27, 32; 9:5). The overall geographic setting of Gideon’s activity suggests Ophrah was located east of Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley. A different Ophrah is part of the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18:23).

that belonged to Jehoash the Abiezrite Joash is an abbreviation of Jehoash, which means “Yahweh is strong.”

was threshing wheat in the winepress The oppressive conditions of the time (see Judg 6:2–6) are driving the Israelites to be secretive about food production and use unusual methods; a winepress would not be the normal place for processing wheat.

6:12 The angel of Yahweh appeared to him See v. 11 and note. Having come to the tree, the angel apparently watches Gideon before appearing to him.

Yahweh is with you The angel’s greeting is quite incongruous with Gideon’s circumstances—hence his challenging response in the next verse.

6:13 Excuse me, my lord The word adoni is the generic term for “lord” and the appropriate address to an authority figure (e.g., Gen 18:12; 23:6; 32:5), not the divine name.

all his wonderful deeds Gideon contrasts the miracles his generation has heard about with Israel’s current situation, which to him proves God’s apathy (Psa 44:1–3, 9–16). Gideon apparently knows the real reason for Israel’s oppression—articulated by God’s prophet in Judg 6:8–10.

6:14 And Yahweh turned to him The text uses the divine name, Yahweh, meaning either that the text identifies the Angel of Yahweh (vv. 11–12) as Yahweh or that Yahweh now joins the discussion. The narrative may suggest the presence of two supernatural figures in vv. 21–23. But if the Angel of Yahweh is here identified as Yahweh, Yahweh Himself must be presumed to be invisibly present, observing the discussion but not revealed until vv. 21–23. In the case of two distinct supernatural beings (the second view), the disembodied Yahweh enters the scene here.

6:15 lord The traditional Hebrew text uses adonai (“Lord,” but not the divine name, Yahweh) here. The usage of adonai implies that Gideon recognizes that there is something unusual about the person with whom he is talking. However, Gideon expresses surprise in v. 22 when he realizes the figure was the Angel of Yahweh.

6:16 And Yahweh said to him Again the text reports Yahweh, not the Angel of Yahweh, speaking to Gideon (see v. 14 and note). Deliberate ambiguity in the text makes it unclear whether one or two individuals are talking to Gideon.

Old Testament Godhead Language

6:17 show me a sign Gideon may believe he is speaking to a prophet who here gives him the words of Yahweh, not Yahweh Himself. Consequently, he asks for a sign. This interpretation makes sense of Gideon’s surprise in v. 22 at having been in the presence of the Angel of Yahweh.

6:18 my gift A gift offering, often presented to maintain good will.

6:19 under the oak Gideon returns to the person—the Angel of Yahweh—with whom he has been talking under the tree (vv. 11, 6:14–15).

Sacred Trees in Israelite Religion

6:20 The angel of God The Angel of Yahweh. The context clearly indicates that the “Angel of Yahweh” is under the tree (v. 11, confirmed by v. 21), so the two phrases are synonymous.

6:21 And the angel of Yahweh went The Angel of Yahweh departs at this point, but Gideon is not left alone (see v. 23 and note).

6:22 And Gideon realized See v. 11; compare 16:20 and note, and 16:21 and note.

I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face Gideon fears he will die, as ancient Israelites believed that face-to-face divine encounters could be lethal (see Exod 24:9–11; 33:20; Deut 34:1).

6:23 Yahweh said to him Yahweh is still in the scene even though the angel has left. This could indicate that only the voice of Yahweh speaks to Gideon now or that Yahweh is still present after the Angel of Yahweh has left, with them both speaking to Gideon earlier as two separate figures (see Judg 6:11 and note; note on v. 14). Considering that the text does not indicate that just a voice speaks to Gideon, it seems that Yahweh and the Angel of Yahweh appeared to Gideon as two separate figures and that their identities are intentionally blurred.

Old Testament Godhead Language

6:24 And Gideon built there an altar To Yahweh.

Altars in the Old Testament Table

and he called it “Yahweh is peace The name commemorates Yahweh’s mercy; He has spared Gideon’s life.

Names of God in the Old Testament Table

the Abiezrites See vv. 11; Judg 8:27, 32.

6:25 a second bull seven years old Refers to a mature bull.

cut down the Asherah Gideon’s own family is involved in worship of the Canaanite gods Baal and Asherah. Gideon must destroy the religious center on his father’s land (compare Deut 7:5; 12:3). Worship of Asherah involved trees or wood poles which would supply the wood for Gideon to burn a sacrifice to Yahweh (Judg 6:26).

Pagan Deities in the Old Testament Table

6:26 the Asherah that you will cut down Gideon likely uses the bull (or bulls) to help pull down the stone altar. He will then offer a bull as a burnt offering (to Yahweh) using the wood of the Asherah pole. The reversal of Midianite/Baal (compare Num 25) religion begins at home.

6:27 to do it during the day God does not rebuke Gideon; despite his trepidation, Gideon obeys.

6:31 let him contend for himself Joash refuses to slay his son, arguing that if a deity like Baal had any real power, he ought to be able to defeat his own enemies. Whether Joash simply uses a clever ruse to protect Gideon or his words reflect his own doubts about Baal’s efficacy as a god—or both—is unclear.

6:32 Jerub-Baal Gideon’s new name would always conjure the idea his father expresses: “Baal will deal with you!” (presuming Baal has any power). Every day Gideon lived would be an indictment on Baal’s power.

Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew Table

6:34 the Spirit of Yahweh took possession of Gideon The Spirit of Yahweh comes to empower the judges for their divinely-appointed mission of deliverance (Judg 3:10; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19, 15:14).

he blew on the trumpet See 3:27; the trumpet was used to gather the troops.

the Abiezrites were called to follow him That Gideon’s own clan (vv. 11, 24) follows him shows that they have had a change of heart about Baal and now follow Gideon in his fight for Yahweh.

6:35 all Manasseh Gideon’s tribe (see v. 15).

throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali Manasseh’s northern neighbors. Zebulun and Naphtali fought with Deborah and Barak (ch. 4).

6:36–40 Gideon seems to lack confidence in Yahweh’s protection. His repeated request for signs suggests doubt and uncertainty rather than faith. Nevertheless, Yahweh does not condemn Gideon’s uncertainty here; rather, He patiently acts to encourage his faith by granting the signs for which Gideon asks. Yahweh also gave signs to Moses when he expressed doubt (Exod 4:1).

6:37 I will know that you will deliver Israel See note on Judg 6:36–40. A waterlogged fleece on dry ground would not be the result of a natural act.

6:39 let there be dew on the ground See note on vv. 36–40. Gideon asks Yahweh to reverse the miracle; he may be attempting to convince himself that no natural explanation is possible.