Judges 6:33-40
New English Translation
Gideon Summons an Army and Seeks Confirmation
33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east[a] assembled. They crossed the Jordan River[b] and camped in the Jezreel Valley. 34 The Lord’s Spirit took control of[c] Gideon. He blew a trumpet,[d] summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.[e] 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well.[f] He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.
36 Gideon said to God, “If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel,[g] as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.[h] 37 Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it[i] is dry, then I will be sure[j] that you will use me to deliver Israel,[k] as you promised.” 38 The Lord did as he asked.[l] When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl.[m] 39 Gideon said to God, “Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign.[n] Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew.”[o] 40 That night God did as he asked.[p] Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 6:33 tn Heb “Midian, Amalek, and the sons of the east.”
- Judges 6:33 tn The words “the Jordan River” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- Judges 6:34 tn Heb “clothed.”
- Judges 6:34 tn That is, “mustered an army.”
- Judges 6:34 tn Heb “Abiezer was summoned after him.”
- Judges 6:35 tn Heb “and he also was summoned after him.”
- Judges 6:36 tn More literally, “you are about to deliver Israel by my hand.”
- Judges 6:36 tn The words “then give me a sign as proof” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- Judges 6:37 tn Heb “and on all the ground.”
- Judges 6:37 tn Or “know.”
- Judges 6:37 tn Heb “you will deliver Israel by my hand.”
- Judges 6:38 tn Heb “And it was so.”
- Judges 6:38 tn Heb “dew dripped from the fleece—a bowl full of water.”
- Judges 6:39 tn Heb “Let your anger not rage at me, so that I might speak only this once.”
- Judges 6:39 tn Heb “Let the fleece alone be dry, while dew is on all the ground.”
- Judges 6:40 tn Heb “God did so that night.”
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