Judges 6:29

*“They said to one another, ‘Who did this thing?’ And when they searched about and inquired, they said, ‘Gideon the son of Joash did this thing.’* (Judges 6:29)

This verse describes the moment when the people of Israel discover that Gideon, son of Joash, was responsible for tearing down the altar of Baal and cutting down the Asherah beside it. At this point in Israel’s history, narrated in the book of Judges, the Israelites had once again drifted into sinful practices, such as idol worship, which led to oppression by foreign powers—in this case, the Midianites (Judges 6:1). Gideon’s seemingly small but bold act of destroying the pagan altar highlights the central tension throughout Judges: Israel’s constant wavering between following God and succumbing to the idolatrous influences of surrounding nations. This verse shows how Gideon’s family and community were shocked to discover that one of their own carried out this religiously subversive deed. Gideon’s stealth in doing this by night (Judges 6:27) underscores that he must have expected significant backlash given the entrenched worship of Baal.

It is significant that Gideon is identified with his father Joash, who belonged to the Abiezrite clan in the tribe of Manasseh. Historically, Gideon is believed to have been active sometime in the late 12th or early 11th century BC . He emerges as a judge, or a deliverer, raised up by God to rescue Israel from the Midianites. Joash’s location in Ophrah of the Abiezrites places it somewhere in the territory held by the tribe of Manasseh, west of the Jordan River (Judges 6:11). The revelation of Gideon’s identity in Judges 6:29 shifts the narrative: conflict inevitably arises from his choice to stand against the idol-worshiping culture around him.

Moreover, Gideon’s destruction of the idol is symbolic of rooting out false worship and returning Israel to faithful service to the LORD. The verse also implies the people needed to investigate who had committed this sacrilege against Baal, demonstrating how deeply entrenched idolatry was, that such an act of fidelity to God would seem outrageous to them (Exodus 20:3). Ultimately, Gideon’s faith foreshadows the greater spiritual principle: the need to tear down idols—both literal and figurative—in order to restore a relationship with God. This kind of obedience, although risky, often leads to the LORD’s deliverance, a theme reiterated throughout the book of Judges (Judges 2:16-18) and later connected in the New Testament to our calling to wholeheartedly worship God alone (Luke 4:8).

Gideon’s example of courage in confronting false religion serves as a challenge to modern believers to stand firm in faith, even when it runs counter to prevailing cultural norms. His drastic action to restore the people’s focus on the true God highlights a pattern repeated in Scripture: God frequently uses humble and unassuming people to accomplish His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27). Through Gideon, God would eventually deliver Israel from oppression, echoing how He consistently rises to defend His repentant people despite their recurring disloyalty.

This verse stands as a pivotal moment that transitions Gideon from obscure laborer threshing wheat in secret to a mighty man of valor (Judges 6:12). From this point forward, though fear remains a part of Gideon’s struggle, he moves in obedience to the one true God, ultimately dismantling idols and leading Israel to triumph over the Midianites (Judges 7:1-25).

Gideon’s bold action demonstrates God’s power at work in willing hearts.

Brief summary: Gideon, a humble Israelite from the Abiezrite clan, is revealed as the one who destroyed the pagan altar, foreshadowing his role in leading Israel back to God and defeating the Midianites.