Judges 6:25

25. The same night The same night on which he had seen the manifestation of the Lord. It was probably evening, perhaps after sunset, that Gideon threshed his wheat. For the darkness, no less than the seclusion of the winepress, (Judges 6:11,) would help to hide him from the Midianites. The interview with the Angel, and the building of the Jehovah-shalom altar, occupied the first part of the night; but after that miraculous scene it was not proper that Baal’s altar should see the rising of another sun. And, further, he feared to do it by day. Judges 6:27. All Gideon’s triumphs were partly owing to rapid and sudden onsets.

The Lord said That is, the same covenant Angel who had manifested himself to Gideon that night. He doubtless gave this commandment to overthrow the altar of Baal before he left him under the oak.

Even the second bullock Second in age among the bullocks that belonged to Joash. Gideon’s father had, probably, lost most of his cattle by the Midianite conquerors, (compare Judges 6:4,) so that it was easy to designate what he had left by giving to each particular epithets. The Hebrew indicates two bullocks. Literally, the ox-bullock, which belongs to thy father, and the second bullock. But as no mention is afterward made of the ox-bullock, many expositors understand that only one bullock is intended, and the second bullock is only an explanatory clause, as the English version makes it by translating ו , even. This explanation seems best to suit the context; though it is possible that two bullocks were offered, and that only the one seven years old receives particular notice.

Of seven years old Its age covered exactly the period of Midianite oppression, (Judges 6:1,) and it would seem that for this reason its age is designated. The fact was a noticeable one.

The grove that is by it Rather, the Asherah that is upon it; that is, the pillar or wooden statue of Asherah, the female divinity of the Canaanites, as Baal was the male divinity. See notes on Judges 2:13; Judges 3:7. This verse shows how sadly the family of Joash had fallen into idolatry, and yet his family was only one of many in Israel similarly fallen.