Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built. 29 So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And when they had inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it.”

31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you 9plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” 32 Therefore on that day he called him jJerubbaal, 1saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar.”

33 Then all kthe Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in lthe Valley of Jezreel. 34 But mthe Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he nblew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to oAsher, pZebulun, and Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.