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25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Ba′al which your father has, and cut down the Ashe′rah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Ashe′rah which you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Ba′al was broken down, and the Ashe′rah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered upon the altar which had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had made search and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Jo′ash has done this thing.” 30 Then the men of the town said to Jo′ash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Ba′al and cut down the Ashe′rah beside it.” 31 But Jo′ash said to all who were arrayed against him, “Will you contend for Ba′al? Or will you defend his cause? 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 pulled down.” 32 Therefore on that day he was called Jerubba′al, that is to say, “Let Ba′al contend against him,” because he pulled down his altar.

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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.