Judges 6:20. Lay them upon this rock Undoubtedly it gave Gideon some surprise, to be commanded to dispose thus of the refreshments which he had so hospitably prepared; but as he had doubtless by this time conceived a high opinion of this unknown person, (though he had not discovered him to be an angel,) so he readily obeyed his command. read more
Judges 6:21-24. There rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh By which he showed himself not to be a man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance that he both could and would consume the Midianites. Alas, O Lord God I am an undone man: I must die, and that speedily; for that he feared, (Judges 6:23,) according to the common opinion in that case. The Lord said unto him Perhaps by an audible voice, for it... read more
Judges 6:25. The same night the Lord said unto him Most likely in a dream; Take the second bullock Houbigant and some others suspect that there is a deficiency in the text here, as nothing is said of the first bullock. Perhaps he was to offer both bullocks, one for himself, and the other for the sins of the people whom he was to deliver. For, till sin was pardoned through sacrifice offered for it, no good was to be expected. Dr. Dodd, however, conjectures that there is a false reading in... read more
Judges 6:26. Upon the top of this rock Hebrew, of this strong hold. For in that calamitous time the Israelites retreated to such rocks, and hid and fortified themselves in them. In the ordered place That is, in a plain and smooth part of the rock, where an altar may be conveniently built; and offer a burnt-sacrifice Gideon was no priest, nor was this the appointed place of sacrifice; but God can dispense with his own institutions, though we may not; and his call gave Gideon... read more
Click image for full-size versionClick image for full-size versionGod prepares Gideon (6:1-40)Israel’s return to sinful and idolatrous ways met its punishment in the raids of the Midianites. As usual the Amalekites were pleased to join in the attack. Year by year, for seven years, the invaders rode their army of camels from the deserts of Arabia, crossed the Jordan, and raided the fields and herds of the helpless Israelites. Their attacks reached as far north as Naphtali and as far west as... read more
God = Elohim. See note on Judges 6:12 , above. this = you. read more
rose up fire. This fire was the token of Jehovah's acceptance. See note on "respect", Genesis 4:4 . fire = the fire. read more
O Lord GOD = O Adonai Jehovah. App-4 , (2). for because = forasmuch as. read more
Jehovah-shalom. Jehovah [gives] peace. One of the Jehovah titles. See App-4 . read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:26
In the ordered place - See the margin. “Build an altar, etc., with the materials,” “the wood laid in order” (compare Genesis 22:9), that, namely, which he would find ready to hand in the altar of Baal which he was to throw down.The wood of the grove - “The (blocks of) wood of the idol,” i. e. the image of Astarte. The command from God Himself to build an altar, and sacrifice upon it, is analogous to Elijah’s sacrifice 1 Kings 18:0, and was doubtless caused by the extraordinary circumstance of... read more