Judges 6:25-26 NIV

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 6:25

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:25

Take thy father ' s young bullock , even the second bullock - There is some difficulty in this verse, for, according to the Hebrew text, two bullocks are mentioned here; but there is only one mentioned in Judges 6:26 , Judges 6:28 . But what was this second bullock? Some think that it was a bullock that was fattened in order to be offered in sacrifice to Baal. This is very probable, as the second bullock is so particularly distinguished from another which belonged to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 6:26

With the wood of the grove - It is probable that אשרה Asherah here signifies Astarte; and that there was a wooden image of this goddess on the altar of Baal. Baal-peor was the same as Priapus, Astarte as Venus; these two impure idols were proper enough for the same altar. In early times, and among rude people, the images of the gods were made of wood. This is the case still with the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, with the Indians of America, and with the inhabitants of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 6:25

Even - Rather, as in the margin, and. Two bullocks are spoken of. The labor of both would be required for pulling down and removing the altar of Baal, and for bringing the materials for building the altar of Yahweh.The grove by it - Rather, “the idol upon it,” the Asherah, the wooden image of Astarte Judges 3:7. read more

Albert Barnes

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 6:25

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 6:26

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 6:1-40

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