Judges 6:28-35--Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

Judges 6:28-35
English Standard Version

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal
28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” 32 Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.

​33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

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Gideon went out at night and destroyed the town's altar to Baal and the Asherah poles that went along with it.  The townspeople woke up early in the morning and saw that their altar to Baal was destroyed and that an altar to the LORD had been built in its place and that a bull had been sacrificed there on that altar.  The people then inquire about and search for who is responsible, and although Gideon had tried to use the cover of darkness so that no one would know that he was the one who did this, somehow, the people find out that he is the one who tore down the altar of Baal and the Asherah poles.

The men of the town are so angry about the loss of this altar to Baal that they come to the house of Gideon's father telling him to bring Gideon out so that he can be put to death.  While Joash, the father of Gideon, also was a Baal worshiper, he answered wisely to save the life of his son by asking why Baal was unable to fight and contend for himself?  Joash realized that all those that stand against the LORD to stand with Baal will surely be counted among the enemies and will be part of those who will be put to death either by the LORD.  If Baal was the LORD's equal or stronger than the LORD (in the eyes of the people), then Baal should be able to fight for himself without putting the lives of his servants at risk.  So, the people started calling Gideon Jerubbaal meaning "Let Baal contend with him" from that day forward.

Then the Midianites along with the Amalekites and the other people of the East that came every harvest like a plague of locusts crossed the Jordan River and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel (an important place where many battles have taken place and will take place in the Bible).  Then the Holy Spirit is poured out on Gideon so that he might be empowered to do all that the LORD has for him to do, and Gideon sounds the trumpet to call the people to battle and sends messengers throughout all the area of Manasseh as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that these tribes may join with him in the battle.  Even with all this and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Gideon still is uncertain and afraid of moving forward, so he will ask for yet another sign.  We'll look at that next time.