Add parallel Print Page Options

Gideon Asks for a Sign

33 Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. 35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” 38 And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

Read full chapter

33 Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the [a]people of the east assembled together; and they crossed over and camped in (A)the Valley of Jezreel. 34 So (B)the Spirit of the Lord [b]covered Gideon like clothing; and he (C)blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were called together to follow him; and he sent messengers to Asher, (D)Zebulun, and Naphtali, and (E)they came up to meet them.

Sign of the Fleece

36 Then Gideon said to God, “(F)If You are going to save Israel [c]through me, as You have spoken, 37 behold, I am putting a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will save Israel [d]through me, as You have spoken.” 38 And it was so. When he got up early the next morning and wrung out the fleece, he wrung the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “(G)Do not let Your anger burn against me, so that I may speak only one more time; please let me put You to the test only one more time with the fleece: let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” 40 And God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 6:33 Lit sons
  2. Judges 6:34 Lit clothed
  3. Judges 6:36 Lit by my hand
  4. Judges 6:37 Lit by my hand

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites(A) and other eastern peoples(B) joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.(C) 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on(D) Gideon, and he blew a trumpet,(E) summoning the Abiezrites(F) to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher,(G) Zebulun and Naphtali,(H) so that they too went up to meet them.(I)

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save(J) Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37 look, I will place a wool fleece(K) on the threshing floor.(L) If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know(M) that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request.(N) Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.(O)

Read full chapter