Judges 6:25-40

25

On that veryH1931 nightH3915 the LORDH3068 saidH559 to Gideon, “TakeH3947 your father’sH1 young bullH6499H7794 and a secondH8145 bullH6499 sevenH7651 years oldH8141, tear downH2040 your father’sH1 altarH4196 to BaalH1168, and cut downH3772 the Asherah poleH842 beside itH5921. 26Then buildH1129 a properH4634 altarH4196 to the LORDH3068 your GodH430 onH5921 the topH7218 of thisH2088 strongholdH4581. And with the woodH6086 of the Asherah poleH842 you cut downH3772, takeH3947 the secondH8145 bullH6499 and offerH5927 it as a burnt offeringH5930.”

27So GideonH1439 tookH3947 tenH6235 of his servantsH582H5650 and didH6213 asH834 the LORDH3068H1961 had told himH1696H413. But becauseH834 he was too afraidH3372 of his father’sH1 householdH1004 andH853 the menH582 of the cityH5892, he didH6213 it by nightH3915 rather than in the daytimeH3119.

28When the menH582 of the cityH5892 got upH7925 in the morningH1242, there wasH2009 Baal’sH1168 altarH4196 torn downH5422, with the Asherah poleH842 cut downH3772 beside itH5921 and the secondH8145 bullH6499 offered upH5927 onH5921 the newly builtH1129 altarH4196. 29“WhoH4310 didH6213H1697 thisH2088?” they saidH559 toH413 oneH376 anotherH7453.

And after they had investigated thoroughlyH1875H1245, they were toldH559, “GideonH1439 sonH1121 of JoashH3101 didH6213H1697 itH2088.”

30Then the menH582 of the cityH5892 saidH559 toH413 JoashH3101, “Bring outH3318 your sonH1121. He must dieH4191, becauseH3588 he has torn downH5422 Baal’sH1168H3588 altarH4196 and cut downH3772 the Asherah poleH842 beside itH5921.”

31But JoashH3101 saidH559 to allH3605 whoH834 stoodH5975 against himH5921, “Are youH859 contendingH7378 for BaalH1168? Are youH859 trying to save himH3467? WhoeverH834 pleads his caseH7378 will be put to deathH4191 byH5704 morningH1242! IfH518 Baal is a godH430, let him contendH7378 for himself withH3588 the one who has torn downH5422 his altarH4196.”

32So on that dayH3117H1931 Gideon was calledH7121 JerubbaalH3378,1 that is to sayH559, “Let BaalH1168 contendH7378 with him,” becauseH3588 he had torn downH5422 Baal’s altarH4196.

33Then allH3605 the MidianitesH4080, AmalekitesH6002, and other peopleH1121 of the eastH6924 gatheredH622 togetherH3162, crossed overH5674 the Jordan, and campedH2583 in the ValleyH6010 of JezreelH3157.

34So the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 came uponH3847 GideonH1439, who blewH8628 the ram’s hornH7782 and ralliedH2199 the AbiezritesH44 behind himH310. 35Calling themH2199 to armsH310, Gideon sentH7971 messengersH4397 throughoutH3605 ManassehH4519, as well asH1571 AsherH836, ZebulunH2074, and NaphtaliH5321, so that they came upH5927 to meet himH7122.

36Then GideonH1439 saidH559 toH413 GodH430, “IfH518H3426 You are going to saveH3467 IsraelH3478 by my handH3027, asH834 You have saidH1696, 37then beholdH2009, IH595 will placeH3322 a fleeceH1492 of woolH6785 on the threshing floorH1637. IfH518 there isH1961 dewH2919 onlyH905H5921 onH5921 the fleeceH1492 and allH3605 the groundH776 is dryH2721, then I will knowH3045 thatH3588 You are going to saveH3467 IsraelH3478 by my handH3027, asH834 You have saidH1696.”

38And that is whatH3651 happenedH1961. When Gideon aroseH7925 the next morningH4283, he squeezedH2115 the fleeceH1492 and wrungH4680 outH4480 the dewH2919H1492—a bowlfulH4393H5602 of waterH4325.

39Then GideonH1439 saidH559 toH413 GodH430, “Do notH408 be angryH2734H639 with me; let me speakH1696 one more timeH389H6471. Please allow meH4994H7535 one moreH6471 testH5254 with the fleeceH1492. This timeH4994 let it beH1961 dryH2721H413H1492H905, and the groundH776 coveredH3605H5921 with dewH2919.”

40And thatH1931 nightH3915 GodH430 didH6213 soH3651. OnlyH905H5921 the fleeceH1492 wasH1961 dryH2721H413, and dewH2919 coveredH1961H3605 the groundH776.