Judges 6

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,

2 and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,

4 encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys.

5 For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.

6 Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.

7 Now when the Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian,

8 He sent them a prophet, who told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

9 I delivered you out of the hands of Egypt and all your oppressors. I drove them out before you and gave you their land.

10 And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you did not obey Me.”

11 Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

13 “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”

14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”

15 “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

16 “Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”

17 Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me.

18 Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.” And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.”

19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

21 Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.

22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”

23 But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

26 Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.”

27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.

28 When the men of the city got up in the morning, there was Baal’s altar torn down, with the Asherah pole cut down beside it and the second bull offered up on the newly built altar.

29 “Who did this?” they said to one another. And after they had investigated thoroughly, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Are you contending for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself with the one who has torn down his altar.”

32 So on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he had torn down Baal’s altar.

33 Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

35 Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said,

37 then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”

38 And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.”

40 And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.

1 ¶ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: [and] because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which [are] in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; [for] both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

7 ¶ And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I [am] the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11 ¶ And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide [it] from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD [is] with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where [be] all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family [is] poor in Manasseh, and I [am] the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set [it] before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought [it] out unto him under the oak, and presented [it].

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay [them] upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

22 And when Gideon perceived that he [was] an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace [be] unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it [is] yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25 ¶ And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that [is] by it:

26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and [so] it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do [it] by day, that he did [it] by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that [was] by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar [that was] built.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that [was] by it.

31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he [be] a god, let him plead for himself, because [one] hath cast down his altar.

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

33 ¶ Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.

34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; [and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

1 And when the children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the LORD, the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Midianites seven years.

2 And it came to pass, when the hand of Midian was strong upon Israel, that the children of Israel made for themselves clefts in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And it came to pass, when Israel sowed any seed, that the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east came up against them;

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the land, even unto Gaza: and they left no remnant of food in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, as a great multitude of locusts, that neither they nor their camels could be numbered: and they fell into the land, and destroyed it.

6 So Israel was very small before the Midianites. Then cried the children of Israel unto the LORD.

7 And they cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

8 And the LORD sent unto them a prophet, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage;

9 And I have delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of all the hand that oppressed you, and have thrust them out from before you, and have given you their land.

10 And said unto you: I am the LORD your God; not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. And ye have not hearkened unto my voice:

11 And an angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak tree in Ophrah, which was Joash the father of the Ezrites: and Gideon his son threshed wheat at the winepress, that it might flee before the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD be with thee, thou valiant man.

13 And Gideon said unto him, My lord, is the LORD with us? why then have all these things befallen us? And where are all his wonders, which our fathers told us, saying: The LORD brought us up out of Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.

14 And the LORD turned unto him, and said, Go in this thy strength, and deliver Israel out of the hand of the Midianites. Behold, I have sent thee.

15 And he said unto him, My lord, wherewith shall I redeem Israel? Behold, my friendship is the least in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If I have found grace in thy sight, make me a sign that thou art he which speaketh unto me.

18 Depart not, till I come unto thee, and bring my meat offering, which I leave before thee. And he said: I will tarry until thou come again;

19 And Gideon came and slew a kid of the goats, and took an ephah of unleavened flour, and put the flesh in a basket, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and stood by.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh, and the unleavened meat, and leave it upon the rock that is here, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 And the angel of the LORD put forth the rod that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened flour with the point thereof. And the fire came out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened flour. And the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

22 And when Gideon saw that it was an angel of the LORD, he said, O LORD, LORD, have I thus seen an angel of the LORD face to face?

23 But the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee. Fear not; thou shalt not die.

24 And Gideon built there an altar unto the LORD, and called it, The LORD of peace. And it standeth unto this day in Ophrah, the father of the Ezrites.

25 And the same night the LORD said unto him, Take the bullock of thy father's oxen, and another bullock of seven years old, and break down the altar of Baal which is thy father's, and cut down the grove that is by it;

26 And thou shalt build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, and prepare it: and take the other bullock, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the grove which thou hast hewn down.

27 And Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him. But he was afraid to do it by day in the presence of his father's house, and of the men of the city; and he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the grove thereof cut down; and the other bullock, a burnt offering upon the altar that was built.

29 And one said unto another: Who hath done this thing? And when they sought and enquired, it was said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 And the men of the city said unto Joash, Deliver up thy son. He must die, because he has broken the altar of Baal and cut down the grove.

31 And Joash said unto all them that sat with him: Will ye contend for Baal? Will ye help him? He that wroth for him shall die this morning. If he be God, he shall be justified in himself, and his altar shall be broken.

32 And from that day they called his name Jerubbaal, saying, Baal reproacheth himself, that his altar is broken down.

33 And when all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, they passed through, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel,

34 And the Spirit of the LORD drew Gideon, and he blew with the trumpets, and called Abieser to follow him.

35 And he sent tidings throughout all Manasseh, and called him, that they also should follow him. And he sent word also unto Asher, and Zebulun, and Naphtali; which came up to meet him.

36 And Gideon said unto GOD, Wilt thou deliver Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken?

37 And I will put a fleece of wool upon the threshingfloor. And the dew shall be upon the fleece alone, and shall drop upon all the earth; and I will know that thou wilt redeem Israel by mine hand, as thou hast spoken.

38 And it came to pass thus. And when he arose early on the morrow, he pressed the dew out of the skin, and filled a vial full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, that I may speak again. I will only try again with the skin. Let it alone be dry upon the skin, and dew upon all the earth.

40 And God did so that night, that there was dryness upon the skin only, and dew upon all the earth.