Judges 6:21-32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 6:11-24

It is not said what effect the prophet's sermon had upon the people, but we may hope it had a good effect, and that some of them at least repented and reformed upon it; for here, immediately after, we have the dawning of the day of their deliverance, by the effectual calling of Gideon to take upon him the command of their forces against the Midianites. I. The person to be commissioned for this service was Gideon, the son of Joash, Jdg. 5:14. The father was now living, but he was passed by, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 6:25-32

Here, I. Orders are given to Gideon to begin his government with the reformation of his father's house, Jdg. 5:25, 26. A correspondence being settled between God and Gideon, by the appearance of the angel to him, it was kept up in another way; the same night after he had seen God, when he was full of thoughts concerning what had passed, which probably he had not yet communicated to any, The Lord said unto him in a dream, Do so and so. Note, God's visits, if gratefully received, shall be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:21

Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand ,.... With which he walked, appearing as a traveller, and which was one reason of Gideon's providing for his refreshment, before he proceeded on in his journey: and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes ; did not strike the rock with it, as Moses did with his rod, to fetch out water for the Israelites, but touched the provisions brought him; not using it instead of a knife to separate any part of them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:22

And when Gideon perceived he was an angel of the Lord ,.... By the miracle wrought, and the manner of his departure: Gideon said, alas! O Lord God ; woe to me, what will become of me, or befall me, I shall surely die: for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face ; and whom he had reason to believe was the Lord himself, a divine Person, by the miracle wrought; and it was a commonly received notion even among good men, in those times, that the Lord was not to be seen by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:23

And the Lord said unto him ,.... Either by a secret impulse upon his spirit, or by a voice from heaven; and even, as Kimchi observes, the angel, after he ascended, might cause this voice to be heard, seeing him in great fear, because he knew he was an angel; and which is another proof of this angel being Jehovah himself, the eternal Word: peace be unto thee, fear not, thou shall not die ; let not thy mind be ruffled and disturbed, but serene and calm; fear not that any evil shall befall... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:24

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord ,.... On the top of the rock where he had laid his provisions, and which had been consumed by fire issuing out of it, as a token of divine acceptance, and as an assurance of his destroying the Midianites as easily and quickly as the fire had consumed them, and therefore had great encouragement to erect an altar here for God: and called it Jehovahshalom ; the Lord is peace, the author and giver of peace, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:25

And it came to pass the same night ,.... The night which followed the day in which the angel appeared to Gideon as he was threshing: that the Lord said unto him ; perhaps in a dream, since it was in the night: take thy father's young bullock: or "the bullock, the ox" F16 פר חשור "juvencum bovem", Drusius; "juvencum adultiorem", Junius & Tremellius. ; a bullock which was a large grown ox, and was not only his father's property, but what his father designed and set apart for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:26

And build an altar to the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock ,.... Where the provisions were laid, and out of which came forth fire that consumed them; and where the altar, called by the name of Jehovahshalom, had been built by him, near it very probably; and there might be room enough for both upon the top of the rock; for this seems to be a distinct altar from that that was erected as a monumental altar, in memory of the miracle there wrought, and in gratitude by Gideon for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:27

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants ,.... Not only whom he could command, but could confide in, and whom he knew would cheerfully engage in this work, being like himself, who had not bowed the knee to Baal; and as there was much work to do, and it required dispatch, such a number was necessary; since he had not only the altar of Baal to throw down, and his grove or idol to cut down, but an altar to build, and a sacrifice to be taken and offered: and did as the Lord had said unto him ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 6:28

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning ,.... And came to the place where the altar of Baal, his grove and image, were, to pay their morning devotions to him: behold: the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built ; upon the new altar that Gideon built, and which very probably was burning when they came: and it is very likely that the place, where the altar of Baal had stood, was... read more

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