Judges 6

Israel is grievously punished for their sins by the Medianites verse 1 &c. they cry unto the Lord who by a prophet shews them the cause of theses miseries 6 the angel of the Lord cometh to Gideon and calleth him to Israel’s deliverance from the power of the Medianites 11 the relation of the miracle that happened about the meats that Gideon set before the angels 17 Gideon buildeth an altar unto the Lord and breaketh down by the command of the Lord the altar of Baal for which he cometh in danger of the inhabitants but its protected by Joas 24 Gideon prepareth sight against the Medianites and strengthened of God in his calling by a miracle. 33.

1. But the children of Israel did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Medianites [Heb. of Median and so in this whole history see of these Numbers 25:17,18 and 31.2 &c.] seven years.

2. Now when the hands of the Medianites waxed strong against Israel because of the Medianites the children of Israel made [or prepared repaired fitted] themselves the dens which are in the mountains and the caves and the strong holds [to hide and secure themselves in them against the Medianites.]

3. For it came to pass when Israel had sowen that the Medianites came up this they had done formerly every year and now they did it in the seventh year again and the Amalekites and those of the east [that is who dwealt eastwards especially the Arabians who were wont to abide in tents see below chapter 8.10,11 and Genesis 29 on verse 10 and Job 1 on verse 3 Heb. children of the east] came also up against him [Viz. against Israel as is said in the beginning of this verse.]

4. And they camped themselves against them and destroyed the increase of the land till thou come unto Gaza [lying in the land of the great sea thus destroying the whole land of the east to west] and they left no victual in Israel nor small cattle nor ox nor ass.

5. For they came with their cattle and their tents they came like grasshoppers in multitude[for their army consisted of about an hundred and five and forty thousand of fighting men as may be seen below chapter 8.10 besides the revel rout that do usually follow such kind of camps that look for no resistence or opposition] so that they and their camels could not be numbered [Heb. had no number that is they could very hardly by reason of their multitude be numbered so chapter 7.12 on the contrary its said of a small company of the people that were people of number that is easy to be numbered see Genesis 34 on verse 30]and they came into the land to destroy it.

6. So Israel was much impoverished because of [Heb. before the face that is before or because of their presence] the Medianites then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

7. And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Medianites.

8. That the Lord sent unto the children of Israel a man that was a prophet [Heb. A man a prophet compare above chapter 4 on verse 4] who said unto them thus saith the Lord the God of Israel I have caused you to come up out of Egypt and led you forth out of the house of bondage.

9. And I have delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the ahnd of all that oppressed you and I have driven them out of your face and given you their land.

10. And I said unto ye I am the Lord your Godfear not the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwelt but ye obey not my voice.

11. Then came an angel of the Lord [understand the the son of God who below verse 14 and 16 is called by the proper name of God the Lord or Jehovah compare Genesis 18 on verse 17 and 48.16 see also above chapter 5.23.] and set himself under an oak which is an Ophra which he longeth unto Joas[because Joas as it is thought was the chiefest man there or executed the magistrate’s office compare below verse 31.32] the Abi-Ezrites [of the tribe of Manasseh see Joshua 17:2 and below verse 34,35, 1 Chronicles 7:14,18 there was another Ophra situate in the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 18:23] and is son Gideon thressed wheat [not with oxen whereof Detronomy 25 on verse 4 but with a stick of flail as some expound it to give the less suspition or to get speedily some provision] by the press [that is in the place where the wine press or olive press stood where according to the opinion of some they wont to thresh that no man might perceive it and that this wheat might be safer hid and laid up against the approaching want or necessity] to flee the same [that is to take that wheat along with him in his flight or to make his fathers house flee when he should have threshed his wheat for their provision]before the face of the Medianites[who already where upon the march see below verse 33 an dteh following chapter.]

12. Then the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him the Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour.

13. But Gideon said unto him oh![of this phrase or manner of speaking see Genesis 43 on verse 20 so below verse 15.] my Lord [Gideon sheweth him civil honor and respect for as much as he yet knew him to be no more then a man for that he appeared to him in the form of the shape of a man] if the Lord be with us why then should this befallen us?[Heb. hath all this found us ?that is come upon us] and where be all his wonders which our forefathers told us of saying did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt ? But now the Lord hath forsaken us and hath delivered us into the hands of the Medianites.

14. then the Lord turned himself unto him [or the Lord beheld him looked upon him giving him with all the command and power requisite to deliver Israel as followeth] and said go thy way in this thy might[which thou now receives of me] and thou salt deliver Israel out of the hand of the Medianites have I not sent the?[ye indeed will the Lord say for thou hearest say go with promise of a good issue or event therefore doubt not but thou salt accomplishor bring to good effect that for which I give thee a commission compare above chapter 4 on verse 6.]

15. And he said unto him oh! My Lord [see on verse 13] wherewith shall I deliver Israel? [thus he asketh to have further satisfaction and fuller assurance of this high and weighty calling compare Luke 1:34] behold my thousand [viz. unto which belong it appeared from Exodus 18:25 Deuteronomy 1.15that the people of Moseh were divided into thousand each thousand having their Governors and superiors &c.] it is the poorest in Manasseh and I am the least in my fathers house.

16. And the Lord said unto him because I will be with thee therefore thou salt smite the Medianites as one man [as if thou hadst to deal but with one man that is thou salt easily slay them.]

17. And he said unto him if now I have found grace in thine eyes do or shew me a token that it is thou that speaketh with me [that is to assure me thou art for this purpose sent of God that I ,may entertain and embrace this calling with a good conscience.]

18. Depart not hence I pray thee until I come unto thee and bring forth my present and set it before thee [as yet he thanks him to be but a man and a prophet and therefore according to the manner and custome of the patriarchs desire in hast to entertain and welcome him with meat and drink verse 22 he first perceives that it was an angel compare herewith below chapter 13.15] and he said I will tarry until thou come again.

19. And Gideon went in made ready a kid and unleavened cakes and lay them upon the rocks and pour out the broth [viz. upon the meat and cakes to make the miracle the clearer and the word illustrious compare 1 Kings 18:34] and he did so.

20. But the Angel of God said unto him: Take the flesh and the unleavened (cakes) and lay then upon the rock, and pour out the broth: [viz. upon the meat and the cakes, to make the miracle the clearer, and the word illustrious. Compare 1 King. 18.34] and he did so.

21. And the angel of the Lord put forth the uttermost part of the staff that was in the hand and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes [compare Leviticus 9:24 1 Kings 18:38 2 Chronicles 7:1 and the angel of the Lord vanished of his eyes [understand very quickly and unawares so that he saw him no more whereby he was sore terrified and affrighted as followeth.]

22. Then Gideon perceived that it was an angel of the Lord [viz. I must die Gideon feareth that he must die because he hath seen this vision as appeareth by the ways of God in the following verse compare below chapter 13.2 Genesis 16 on verse 13 and 32.30Exodus 33.20 Deuteronomy 5:24,26] from face to face[compare Deuteronomy 5 on verse 4.]

23. But the Lord said unto him peace be unto thee fear not thou salt not die.

24. Then Gideon built there an altar unto Lord and called it is the Lord is peace [Heb. Jehovah Schalom meaning the Lord is our peace promiseth giveth and sendeth us peace Isaiah 9:6 and 53.5 Micah 5:5 Luke 2:14 Acts 10:36 Hebrews 7:2 so is he called the lord our righteousness Proverbs 23:6 2 he had promised here Gideon unto his peace as also unto his people peace and deliverance from the Medianites] it is yet unto this day in Ophar of Abi-Ezrites [see above on verse 11 and compare below verse 34.]

25. And it came to pass the same night that the Lord said unto him take a steer of the oxen which are thy fathers to wit the second steer [others and the other or second understanding that God had commanded to take two steers but as much as in the sequel only mention is made of that steer of seven years old and no command given concerning another what therewith should be done therefore the translation in the text is of the most interpreters approved] of seven years old [even so and which have been fatted so many years as Israel’s miseries under the Medianites had lasted this steer is thought to have been kept and satted by Joas for to offer the same unto Baal according to the idolatrous custom of that time] and break down the altar of Baal, which is thy fathers and cut down the grove that is by it. [God will have Gideon to begin his calling from the purging of Religion.]

26. And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top [Heb. head] of this strong hold, [Understand the rock, out of which the fire issued that consumed the meat with the broth, ver.21. Such kind of rocks they used in time of need for a strong hold and refuge] in a convenient place: [Or, orderly, decently. Heb. in, or, with order, decency, fitness. Oth. With a log (of wood) to place it orderly under the steer for burnt-offering] and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the grove which thou salt have cut down. [This was a special command of God in this back-sliding time, otherwise the offering or sacrificing was ordinarily enjoyed the Priests]

27. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and die according as the LORD had spoken to him: but it came to pass, because he seared his Fathers house, and the men of the city, to do it by day, that he did it by night.

28. Now when the men of the city arose early in the morning; behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove that was by it: and that second bullock was offered upon the altar.

29. So they said the one to the other; [Heb. the man to his neighbor] who hath done this thing? [Heb. word, matter, thing. so in the sequel] and when they enquired, and asked, it was said, Gideon, the son of Joas, hath committed this.

30. Then said the men of that city unto Joas; bring forth thy son that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

31. On the contrary Joas said unto all that stood by him; will ye contend [Plead, argue, dispute; so in the sequel] for Baal? Will ye deliver him? He that shall contend for him, [i.e. he that shall further dare to own his cause, and plead or speak before him. It seemeth that Joas before through humane frailty, yielded or connived at the people wickedness, but now being strengthened and confirmed by this divine apparition, he setteth himself strongly against it] shall yet this morning be put to death: if he be a God, let him contend for himself [or, let him plead against him (viz. Gideon) that he, etc.] because he hath cast down his altar.

32. Therefore he called him on that day Jerubaal, [i.e. Joas called his son Gideon, Jerubaal, i.e. let Baal contend, or Baal shall contend. See below chap.7.1.] saying: Let Baal contend [or, shall contend, plead. Some conceive that the people being as it were drowned in Idolatary, expected that Baal should plague this Gideon in a special manner, but finding the contrary, followed him the more eagerly, as a stout and valiant champion of God] against him, because he hath cast down his altar.

33. Now all the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the children of the East, were gathered together: and they passes over, [i.e. over the Jordan. See below chapter 7.v.24.] And they camped themselves in the valley of Jisreel [Which lay in Issachar, on the other side of mount Gilboa, which was between Manasseh and Issachar. See Jos.19.18. ending Westward by the city of Jisreel. There was another Jisreel in Juda, Jos.15.16.]

34. Then the spirit of the LORD arrayed Gideon, [Or, clothed him, viz. with such gifts of wild dome, zeal, courage, and valour, as the spirit of the Lord knew to be needful for him, as weapons for this work. See of this phrase also, 1 Chronicles 12:18. 2 Chron. 24.20. Luke 24:49. Romans 13:14. And compare Galatians 3:27. Ezr.4.24. Col.3.12.] and he blew with the trumpet [i.e. caused it to be blown: as above chap.3.24.] and the Abi-Ezrites were called together after him. [Heb. Abi-Ezer, i.e. they that were of the family or kindred of Gideon and his father Joas, (above v 11.) were called together, and gathered themselves unto him. So in the sequel.]

35. Also he sent messengers into all Manasseh [Because the one halt tribe dwelt on this, and the other half on the other side Jordan] and they also were called together after him: likewise he sent messengers into Aser, and into Zebulon, and into Naphtali, [these three tribes were nearest, and lay one by another, toward the North, and at the sea. In Issachar which lay between Manasseh and Zebulon, was the whole army of the enemy as above, vers.33.] And they came up to meet them.

36. And Gideon said unto God: [Otherwise, Gideon had said: conceiving that this was done aforetime, before Gideon went up against the Midianites: and that it is here again re-iterated as a reason or ground, whereby Gideon being fully strengthened and confirmed in his faith, embraced and executed the calling with zeal and servancy of spirit, it is worthy our observation, that God granted Gideons request without any reprehension at all from whence, as also from the manner of his request, it plainly appeareth, that he requested it not out of diffidence and unbelief, but out of humility, for the strengthening and confirming of his faith] if thou wilt deliver Israel by mine hand, according as thou hast said.

37. Behold, I will lay a woolen fleece on the floor: [Or, Ground-plat, court-place without doors meaning an even void place in the open air] if there shall be onely dew upon the fleece, and driness upon all upon all the earth [Understand the over earth thereabout, and so below ver.39.] then shall I know that thou wilt deliver Israel by mine hand, as thou hast spoken.

38. And it was so: for he rose up early the next day, and he crushed the fleece together, and he wrang the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39. And Gideon said unto God; Let not thine anger kindle against me, that I may speak but this once: let me prove I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let there I pray thee be driness onely upon the fleece, and let dew be upon all the earth.

40. And God did so the same night: for dryness was onely upon the fleece, and (there) was dew upon all the earth.