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Judges 6:28

*“When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah which was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar which had been built”* (v.28). This startling discovery happens in the 12th century BC during Israel’s period of the judges, when Gideon, the son of Joash, obeys God’s command to destroy the pagan sanctuary. Baal was a chief Canaanite deity, and *Asherah* was a fertility goddess whose shrines or wooden devices stood beside Baal’s altars, representing the corrupt idol-worship that had infiltrated Israel citeturn0file2. Acting under divine direction, Gideon carried out this task “by night,” showing both his courage and his concern for the repercussions he might face from his own townsmen citeturn0file1.

*“When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was torn down...”* (v.28) underscores that Gideon’s bold deed was immediately noticed. The men of the city realized the altar they presumably revered was in ruins, while the nutritious symbol of Asherah was also dismantled, severing a central part of their idol-dependent worship. The second bull, meant for sacrifice to the true God, was offered on a newly built altar—signifying a decisive break from idolatry and a return to proper worship. Gideon’s revolutionary act would soon lead to widespread debate among his people, as they demanded to know who had carried out such a daring mission. Gideon’s father, Joash, intervened, protecting Gideon from execution, and challenged the townsmen to let Baal defend himself if he truly was a god (Judges 6:31).

*“When the men of the city arose early in the morning…”* (v.28) also highlights the transformation God orchestrated in Gideon, known elsewhere for initially being unsure of his calling citeturn0file1. His obedience in tearing down Baal’s altar showed that God can work through an unlikely hero to bring spiritual renewal. Though the ensuing anger of the townsmen might have endangered Gideon’s life, this act of faith became the first step in delivering Israel from further oppression, proving that courage and reliance on the Lord can shatter entrenched practices, even in a hostile environment.

Gideon boldly defies local idolatry by destroying Baal’s altar and the Asherah pole, signaling a shift toward renewed faith in God.

This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]

Other Relevant Commentaries:

  • Matthew 6:25-32 meaning. Jesus teaches His disciples to trust in God to meet their needs and not live their lives worrying.
  • Judges 1:16-21 meaning. The descendants of the Kenite join the tribe of Judah in their territory. Despite the Lord’s presence, Judah fails to drive out the inhabitants of the valley, beginning to show the start of their failures. Caleb is given Hebron and drives out the Anakim, but the tribe of Benjamin also fails in their war efforts.
  • Judges 1:22-26 meaning. The tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, with the Lord’s assistance, goes up against Bethel, previously known as Luz. They use a local man to find the city’s entrance, conquer Bethel, and spare the man’s family. The man then relocates to the land of the Hittites, where he builds a new city and names it Luz.

Judges 6:28