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Journey Through the Bible

Judges 6 Deborah and Barak

1 Gideon
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.

4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

7 When the Israelites cried to the Lord because of Midian,

8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.

10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15 “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”

19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

26 Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.”

27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

28 In the morning when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!

29 They asked each other, “Who did this?”
When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30 The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.”

32 So that day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal,” saying, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—

37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know 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. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”

40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Analysis of Judges Chapter 6

The Book of Judges recounts the time when Israel was ruled by judges before they demanded a king. Chapter 6 provides an in-depth look into the story of Gideon, one of Israel’s most unconventional heroes. Gideon’s story exemplifies themes of divine calling, human frailty, obedience, and faith. This analysis will explore these themes, offering a detailed examination of the events and character developments within Judges Chapter 6.

Context and Overview

The chapter opens with Israel in yet another cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The Israelites have turned away from God, and as a result, they suffer under the tyranny of the Midianites. The introduction sets the stage for Gideon’s reluctant rise to leadership, guided and empowered by God.

Verses 1-10: The Oppression and God’s Rebuke

Verses 1-2: “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.”

The chapter begins by highlighting Israel’s disobedience and the consequent divine punishment. The Israelites’ behavior results in God allowing the Midianites to oppress them. This oppression is severe, forcing the Israelites to find refuge in caves and strongholds. The imagery of Israel hiding in caves represents their desperate situation and the extent of Midianite control.

Verses 3-6: “Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.”

The Midianites, along with allied tribes, repeatedly invade and devastate Israel’s agricultural resources, driving the Israelites into poverty. This economic despair leads the Israelites to cry out to God for deliverance. This cycle of sin and repentance is a recurring theme in Judges, emphasizing the necessity of reliance on God.

Verses 7-10: “When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

God responds to Israel’s cry by sending a prophet to remind them of their history and covenant responsibilities. This prophetic message serves as a rebuke, emphasizing that their suffering is a consequence of disobedience, particularly in worshiping other gods. It reassures Israel of God’s past faithfulness while highlighting their unfaithfulness.

Verses 11-18: The Call of Gideon

Verses 11-12: “The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'”

Gideon is introduced in a state of fear, threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. This unconventional location underscores his fear and the extremity of the Midianite oppression. The angel’s greeting, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior,” is significant as it speaks to Gideon’s potential rather than his present state.

Verses 13-15: “Pardon me, my lord, Gideon replied, but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’ The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'”

Gideon’s response reveals his skepticism and confusion. He questions God’s presence and recalls past deliverances, expressing doubt in God’s current involvement. This interaction indicates two things: Gideon’s deep-seated fear and his lack of self-worth. God’s reassurance, “Go in the strength you have,” teaches that divine missions are accomplished through God’s power despite human weakness.

Verses 16-18: “The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’ Gideon replied, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will wait until you return.’

God reassures Gideon of divine presence, promising victory over the Midianites. Despite this assurance, Gideon seeks a sign, reflecting his human need for tangible proof of divine interaction. His request for a sign and God’s patient response highlights the compassionate, accommodating nature of God towards those with weak faith.

Verses 19-24: The Sign of the Offering

Verses 19-21: “Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. The angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.’ And Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

The preparation and offering of the meal demonstrate Gideon’s reverence and desire for confirmation. The angel’s instructions for the offering’s presentation and its miraculous consumption validate Gideon’s encounter with the divine, solidifying his calling.

Verses 22-24: “When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.’

Upon realizing the divine nature of his visitor, Gideon’s fear intensifies, expecting death for having seen the Lord. However, God offers peace and reassurance, prompting Gideon to build an altar named “The Lord Is Peace.” This act signifies Gideon’s acknowledgment of God’s presence and the peace accorded to him despite his fears.

Verses 25-32: Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

Verses 25-27: “That same night the Lord said to him, ‘Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.’ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.”

Gideon’s first task as a divinely appointed judge is to confront idolatry in his own home. The act of destroying his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole symbolizes the necessary purification before deliverance. Gideon performs the task at night due to fear, showcasing his human apprehension even while obeying divine commands.

Verses 28-32: “In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! They asked each other, ‘Who did this?’ When they carefully investigated, they were told, ‘Gideon son of Joash did it.’ The people of the town demanded of Joash, ‘Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.’ But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, ‘Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.’ So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, ‘Let Baal contend with him.’

The townspeople’s reaction highlights the entrenched nature of idolatry. Joash, Gideon’s father, cleverly defends his son, questioning Baal’s power to defend his own altar. Joash’s response subtly challenges the legitimacy of Baal, inferring that a true god would not need human defense. Gideon receives the name Jerub-Baal, meaning “Let Baal contend,” marking him as one who defies the false god’s authority.

Verses 33-40: Preparing for Battle and Seeking Confirmation

Verses 33-35: “Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.”

The chapter moves towards the impending conflict. The Midianite coalition camps in the Valley of Jezreel, setting the stage for confrontation. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, Gideon blows a trumpet to rally his tribe and sends messengers to adjacent tribes, demonstrating his growing leadership and initiation into his divinely appointed role.

Verses 36-40: “Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.’ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.”

Despite God’s assurances, Gideon seeks further confirmation through the fleece tests. His requests for signs indicate a blend of faith and lingering doubt. God accommodates Gideon’s requests, providing the requested signs and reiterating divine patience and understanding of human frailty. The fleece tests symbolize Gideon’s need for certainty as he steps into a challenging role and emphasizes God’s willingness to provide reassurance to those He calls.

Concluding Thoughts

Judges Chapter 6 offers a robust narrative on divine calling and human response. Gideon’s initial state of fear and uncertainty juxtaposed with God’s patient guidance underscores that divine selection is based on God’s criteria, not human qualifications. The chapter illustrates a transformation journey—from fear to faith, from doubt to decisive action.

The systematic breakdown of idolatry and subsequent rallying of tribes emphasize the importance of spiritual purification and collective action in achieving deliverance. Gideon’s story, marked by divine patience and empowerment, serves as a testament to God’s sovereignty and the necessity of faith and obedience, even when fraught with personal doubts and societal challenges.

Ultimately, Judges Chapter 6 encapsulates the themes of divine intervention, covenantal faithfulness, and the dynamics of human-divine interaction. It invites readers to reflect on their own faith journeys, encouraging trust in God’s plans, and responsiveness to His call, irrespective of personal limitations.

Understanding the Key Messages in Judges 6: Insights and Explanation

Chapter 6 of Judges tells the story of Deborah and Barak, who lead the Israelites to victory over their oppressors, the Canaanites. After years of suffering, the Israelites cry out to God for help, and He raises up Deborah as a prophetess and leader. Deborah summons Barak to gather an army and face the Canaanite commander Sisera. Barak hesitates, so Deborah tells him that the honor of victory will go to a woman. Barak agrees, and they go to battle. With God's help, they defeat Sisera and his army, and he is killed by Jael, a woman from the Kenite tribe. As a result, the Israelites experience peace for forty years.