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.