Judges 6:1-40

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:27

(27) Ten men of his servants.—This shows Gideon’s independent position, and also that he had tried to keep his own household free from the guilt of idolatry amid the all but universal defection.His father’s household.—The Abi-ezrites.The men of the city.—Of whom many may have been of Canaanite race. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:28

(28) Arose early in the morning.—The habits of Orientals are early, and Baal-worship may well have involved some adoration of the rising sun.Cast down.—They observed three things: viz., the demolished altar of Baal; the stump of the destroyed Asherah; and a new altar, with the remains of a burnt offering smoking upon it.The second bullock.—It has been supposed that Gideon offered both bullocks, the first as a burnt offering for his family, and the second for the nation. Nothing, however, is... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:29

(29) They said.—We are not told that Gideon’s servants betrayed his secret, but suspicion would naturally fall on so brave and prominent a worshipper of Jehovah as Gideon was; and it is rarely that actions which require so much effort and so many coadjutors can be kept secret. Gideon had proved himself to be what his name signifies—“a hewer.” A man so brave and so patriotic must have stood almost alone among a cringing and apostate people. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:30

(30) The men of the city said unto Joash.—It is difficult to conceive that these could have been Israelites (see on Judges 6:27).Bring out thy son, that he may die.—For the phrase, see Genesis 38:24; 1 Kings 21:10; Luke 19:27. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:31

(31) Unto all that stood against him.—The meaning of these words is very uncertain. They may mean, “to all that stood around.”Will ye plead for Baal?—The pronoun ye is very emphatic, being twice expressed in the Hebrew.He that will plead for him, let him be put to death.—These words of Joash were extraordinarily bold and cunning. Possibly the brave act of his son may have roused his conscience, and Gideon may have told him that he had acted under Divine guidance. But he saves his son’s life,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:32

(32) He called him.—Rather, people called him, he got the name of. The phrase is impersonal. (Vocatus est, Vulg.; hiess man ihn, Luther.)Jerubbaal.—The name meant, “Let Baal strive;” but might also mean, “let it be striven with Baal,” or “Baal’s antagonist,” and this gave the name a more ready currency. It is possible that the name may have been yet more allusive, since from the Palmyrene inscriptions it appears that there was a deity named Jaribolos (Mover’s Phönizier, 1:434). If in 2 Samuel... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:33

(33) Then all the Midianites.—See Judges 6:3. They came down for their usual annual raid to get the wheat which, doubtless, thousands besides Gideon had been gathering in and threshing in secret places as soon as it was barely ripe.In the valley of Jezreel.—As the Philistines did afterwards (1 Samuel 29:1; 1 Samuel 29:11). Crossing the fords near Bethshean, they were probably encamped, not in the broad part of the plain of Jezreel, but in the valley between Gilboa and Little Hermon. The word... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:34

(34) Came upon Gideon.—Literally, clothed Gideon. See Judges 3:10 (Othniel); Judges 11:29 (Jephthah); Judges 13:25 (Samson). This forcible figure is found also in 1 Chronicles 12:18 ( Amasai); 2 Chronicles 24:20 (Zechariah); Psalms 59:17; and in the New Testament, Luke 24:49 (endusçsthe); Galatians 3:27 (enedusasthe Christon); 1 Peter 5:5 (enkombôsasthe).Blew a trumpet.—See Judges 3:27. The trumpet is shophar, or ram’s horn (LXX., keratine). Gideon’s call was two-fold: the first he had already... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:35

(35) Throughout all Manasseh.—The loyalty with which his own clan, the Abi-ezrites, rallied round him gave him a right to claim still wider support.Asher.—This tribe, by faithfulness on this occasion, partly redeemed its honour from the tarnish attached of its former defection. This time Asher did not linger on the sands of Accho or the rocks of the Tyrian Ladder. Issachar, however, as before, “bowed his shoulder to the yoke.” Perhaps the fact that the Plain of Jezreel, the battle-field of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 6:36

(36) If thou wilt save Israel.—This diffidence and hesitation show the seriousness of the crisis. Gideon saw that by human strength alone he would be utterly helpless to repel the countless hosts of the marauders. He had already shown his faith, but now he needed fresh encouragement in his dangerous task. read more

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