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.
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- 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.”
Judges 6:33-40
Lexham English Bible
33 Then all the Midianites,[a] Amalekites,[b] and the people of the east gathered together and crossed the Jordan; and they camped in the valley of Jezreel. 34 So the Spirit of Yahweh took possession of[c] Gideon, and he blew on the trumpet, and the Abiezrites[d] were called to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they were also called to follow him; and he sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.
Gideon Tests Yahweh With the Fleece
36 Then Gideon said to God, “In order to see that you will deliver Israel by my hand, just as you have said, 37 I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and all of the ground is dry, I will know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, just as you have said.” 38 And it was so. He arose early the next day and squeezed the fleece, and he wrung out dew from the fleece, a full drinking bowl of water. 39 And Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn[e] against me; let me speak once more. Please let me test once more with the fleece; let the fleece be dry, and let there be dew on the ground.” 40 And God did so that night; only the fleece was dry, and dew was on all the ground.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 6:33 Hebrew “Midianite”
- Judges 6:33 Hebrew “Amalekite”
- Judges 6:34 Literally “clothed”
- Judges 6:34 Hebrew “Abiezerite”
- Judges 6:39 Literally “Do not let your nose become hot”
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