Judges 6

Israel Oppressed by Midian

1Then the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 1didH6213 whatH7451 wasH7451 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LordH3068; and the LordH3068 handedH5414H3027 them overH5414 to 2MidianH4080 for sevenH7651 yearsH8141. 2The 3powerH3027 of MidianH4080 prevailedH5810 againstH5921 IsraelH3478. BecauseH4480H6440 of MidianH4080 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 madeH6213 for themselves 4the densH4492 whichH834 were in the mountainsH2022 and the cavesH4631 and the strongholdsH4679. 3For wheneverH1961H518 IsraelH3478 had sownH2232, the MidianitesH4080 would comeH5927 upH5927 with the AmalekitesH6002 and the 5peopleH1121 of the eastH6924 and 6marchH5927 againstH5921 them. 4So they would campH2583 againstH5921 them and 7destroyH7843 the produceH2981 of the earthH776 8as farH5704H935 as GazaH5804, and 9leaveH7604 noH3808 sustenanceH4241 in IsraelH3478, nor a sheepH7716, oxH7794, or donkeyH2543. 5For they would comeH5927 upH5927 with their livestockH4735 and their tentsH168, they would comeH935 inH935 10like locustsH697 in numberH7230, and both they and their camelsH1581 were innumerableH369H4557; and they cameH935 into the landH776 to ruinH7843 it. 6So IsraelH3478 was broughtH1809 11veryH3966 lowH1809 becauseH4480H6440 of MidianH4080, and the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 criedH2199 outH2199 to the LordH3068.

7Now it cameH1961 aboutH1961, whenH3588 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 criedH2199 outH2199 to the LordH3068 on accountH182 of MidianH4080, 8that the LordH3068 sentH7971 a prophetH5030 to the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, and 12he saidH559 to them, “ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 saysH559: ‘It was I who broughtH5927 you upH5927 from EgyptH4714, and broughtH3318 you outH3318 of the houseH1004 of 13slaveryH5650. 9And I rescuedH5337 you from the handsH3027 of the EgyptiansH4714, and from the handsH3027 of allH3605 your oppressorsH3905, and I droveH1644 them outH1644 from you and gaveH5414 you their landH776, 10and I saidH559 to you, “I am the LordH3068 your GodH430; you 14shall not fearH3372 the godsH430 of the AmoritesH567 in whoseH834 landH776 you liveH3427.” But you have not 15obeyedH8085H6963 Me.’”

Gideon Is Visited

11Then 16the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 cameH935 and satH3427 underH8478 the 17oakH424 that was in OphrahH6084, whichH834 belonged to JoashH3060 the 18AbiezriteH33, as his sonH1121 19GideonH1439 was beatingH2251 outH2251 wheatH2406 in the wineH1660 pressH1660 in order to saveH5127 it from the MidianitesH4080. 12And the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 appearedH7200 to him and saidH559 to him, “The LordH3068 is with you, valiantH2428 warriorH1368.” 13Then GideonH1439 saidH559 to him, “OH994 my lordH113, if the LordH3068 is with us, whyH4100 then has allH3605 thisH2088 happenedH4672 toH4672 us? And whereH346 are allH3605 His miraclesH6381 whichH834 our fathersH1 toldH5608 us about, sayingH559, ‘Did the LordH3068 not bringH5927 us upH5927 from EgyptH4714?’ But 20nowH6258 the LordH3068 has abandonedH5203 us and handedH5414H3709 us overH5414 to MidianH4080.” 14And the LordH3068 21lookedH6437 at him and saidH559, “22GoH1980 in thisH2088 strengthH3581 of yours and saveH3467 IsraelH3478 from the handH3709 of MidianH4080. Have I not sentH7971 you?” 1523But he saidH559 to Him, “OH994 LordH136, 24howH4100 am I to saveH3467 IsraelH3478? BeholdH2009, my familyH505 is the leastH1800 in 25ManassehH4519, and I am the youngestH6810 in my father’sH1 houseH1004.” 1626Yet the LordH3068 saidH559 to him, “I will certainlyH3588 be with you, and you will 27defeatH5221 MidianH4080 as oneH259 manH376.” 17So 28Gideon saidH559 to Him, “IfH518 nowH4994 I have foundH4672 favorH2580 in Your sightH5869, then performH6213 for me 29a signH226 that it is You speakingH1696 with me. 18PleaseH4994 do not departH4185 from hereH2088 untilH5704 I comeH935 back to You, and bringH3318 outH3318 my offeringH4503 and layH5117 it beforeH6440 You.” And He saidH559, “I will remainH3427 untilH5704 you returnH7725.”

19Then GideonH1439 wentH935 inH935 and 30preparedH6213 a youngH1423H5795 goatH1423H5795 and unleavenedH4682 breadH4682 from an 31ephahH374 of flourH7058; he putH7760 the meatH1320 in a basketH5536 32and the brothH4839 in a potH6517, and broughtH3318 them outH3318 to him underH8478 the 33oakH424 and presentedH5066 them. 20And the angelH4397 of GodH430 saidH559 to him, “TakeH3947 the meatH1320 and the unleavenedH4682 breadH4682 and layH5117 them on thisH1975 rockH5553, and pourH8210 outH8210 the brothH4839.” And he didH6213 soH3651. 21Then the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 putH7971 outH7971 the endH7097 of the staffH4938 that was in his handH3027 and touchedH5060 the meatH1320 and the unleavenedH4682 breadH4682; and 34fireH784 cameH5927 upH5927 from the rockH6697 and consumedH398 the meatH1320 and the unleavenedH4682 breadH4682. Then the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 35vanishedH1980 from his sightH5869. 2236When GideonH1439 perceivedH7200 that he was the angelH4397 of the LordH3068, 37he saidH559, “OhH162, LordH136 38GodH3068! For I have seenH7200 the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 faceH6440 to faceH6440!” 23But the LordH3068 saidH559 to him, “PeaceH7965 to you, do not beH3372 afraidH3372; you shall not dieH4191.” 24Then GideonH1439 builtH1129 an altarH4196 thereH8033 to the LordH3068 and namedH7121 it 39The LordH3068 is PeaceH7965. To thisH2088 dayH3117 it is stillH5750 40in OphrahH6084 of the AbiezritesH33.

25Now on the sameH1931 nightH3915 the LordH3068 saidH559 to him, “TakeH3947 your father’sH1 bullH6499H7794 41and a secondH8145 bullH6499 sevenH7651 yearsH8141 old, and tearH2040 downH2040 the altarH4196 of BaalH1168 whichH834 belongs to your fatherH1, and cutH3772 downH3772 the 4243AsherahH842 that is besideH5921 it; 26and buildH1129 an altarH4196 to the LordH3068 your GodH430 on the topH7218 of thisH2088 strongholdH4581 in an orderlyH4634 wayH4634, and takeH3947 a secondH8145 bullH6499 and offerH5927 a burntH5930 offeringH5930 with the woodH6086 of the AsherahH842 whichH834 you shall cutH3772 downH3772.” 27Then GideonH1439 tookH3947 tenH6235 menH376 from his servantsH5650 and didH6213 as the LordH3068 had spokenH1696 to him; and becauseH834 he wasH3372 tooH4480 afraidH3372 of his father’sH1 householdH1004 and the menH376 of the cityH5892 to doH6213 it by dayH3119, he didH6213 it by nightH3915.

The Altar of Baal Destroyed

28When the peopleH376 of the cityH5892 gotH7925 upH7925 earlyH7925 in the morningH1242, beholdH2009, the altarH4196 of BaalH1168 had been tornH5422 downH5422, and the AsherahH842 whichH834 had been besideH5921 it had been cutH3772 downH3772, and the secondH8145 bullH6499 had been offeredH5927 on the altarH4196 which had been builtH1129. 29So they saidH559 to oneH376 anotherH7453, “WhoH4310 didH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697?” And when they searchedH1875 and inquiredH1245, they saidH559, “GideonH1439 the sonH1121 of JoashH3060 didH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697.” 30Then the menH376 of the cityH5892 saidH559 to JoashH3060, “BringH3318 outH3318 your sonH1121, that he may dieH4191, for he has tornH5422 downH5422 the altarH4196 of BaalH1168, and indeedH3588, he has cutH3772 downH3772 the AsherahH842 whichH834 was besideH5921 it.” 31But JoashH3060 saidH559 to allH3605 whoH834 stoodH5975 againstH5921 him, “Will you contendH7378 for BaalH1168, orH518 will you saveH3467 him? WhoeverH834 will contendH7378 for him shall be putH4191 toH4191 deathH4191 by morningH1242. IfH518 he is a godH430, let him contendH7378 for himself, sinceH3588 someone has tornH5422 downH5422 his altarH4196!” 32Therefore on that dayH3117 he namedH7121 44Gideon 45JerubbaalH3378, that is to sayH559, “Let BaalH1168 contendH7378 against him,” becauseH3588 he had tornH5422 downH5422 his altarH4196.

33Then allH3605 the MidianitesH4080, the AmalekitesH6002, and the 46peopleH1121 of the eastH6924 assembledH622 togetherH3162; and they crossedH5674 overH5674 and campedH2583 in 47the ValleyH6010 of JezreelH3157. 34So 48the SpiritH7307 of the LordH3068 49coveredH3847 GideonH1439 likeH3847 clothingH3847; and he 50blewH8628 a trumpetH7782, and the AbiezritesH44 were calledH2199 togetherH2199 to followH310 him. 35And he sentH7971 messengersH4397 throughoutH3605 ManassehH4519, and they alsoH1571 were calledH2199 togetherH2199 to followH310 him; and he sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AsherH836, 51ZebulunH2074, and NaphtaliH5321, and 52they cameH5927 upH5927 to meetH7122 them.

Sign of the Fleece

36Then GideonH1439 saidH559 to GodH430, “53IfH518 You are going to saveH3467 IsraelH3478 54throughH3027 me, as You have spokenH1696, 37beholdH2009, I am puttingH3322 a fleeceH1492 of woolH6785 on the threshingH1637 floorH1637. IfH518 there is dewH2919 on the fleeceH1492 onlyH905, and it is dryH2721 on allH3605 the groundH776, then I will knowH3045 that You will saveH3467 IsraelH3478 55throughH3027 me, as You have spokenH1696.” 38And it was soH3651. When he gotH7925 upH7925 earlyH7925 the nextH4283 morningH4283 and wrungH2115 outH2115 the fleeceH1492, he wrungH4680 the dewH2919 from the fleeceH1492, a bowlH5602 fullH4393 of waterH4325. 39Then GideonH1439 saidH559 to GodH430, “56Do not let Your angerH639 burnH2734 against me, so that I may speakH1696 onlyH389 one more timeH6471; pleaseH4994 let me putH5254 You toH5254 theH5254 testH5254 onlyH7534 one more timeH6471 with the fleeceH1492: let it nowH4994 be dryH2721 onlyH905 on the fleeceH1492, and let there be dewH2919 on allH3605 the groundH776.” 40And GodH430 didH6213 soH3651 that nightH3915; for it was dryH2721 onlyH905 on the fleeceH1492, and dewH2919 was on allH3605 the groundH776.