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25 Now it happened on the same night that Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull [a]and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the [b](A)Asherah that is beside it, 26 and build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly manner, and take the second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as Yahweh had spoken to him; and now it happened that because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.

Gideon Tears Down the Altar of Baal

28 Then the men of the city arose early in the morning, and behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah which was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar which had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who did this thing?” And when they searched about and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash did this thing.” 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has torn down the altar of Baal, and indeed, he has cut down the Asherah which was beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you save him? Whoever will contend for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar.” 32 Therefore on that day he named him (B)Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he had torn down his altar.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 6:25 Or even
  2. Judges 6:25 A wooden symbol of a female deity, also vv 26, 28, 30

25 And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father’s bullock, [a]even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is [b]by it; 26 and build an altar unto Jehovah thy God upon the top of this stronghold, [c]in the orderly manner, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was [d]by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was [e]by it. 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, [f]let him be put to death [g]whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar. 32 Therefore on that day he called him [h]Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 6:25 Or, and
  2. Judges 6:25 Or, upon
  3. Judges 6:26 Or, with that pertaining to it
  4. Judges 6:28 Or, upon
  5. Judges 6:30 Or, upon
  6. Judges 6:31 Or, shall be put to death: let be till morning; if etc.
  7. Judges 6:31 Or, before morning
  8. Judges 6:32 That is, Let Baal contend.