Judges Chapter 6 — The Call of Gideon
Israel suffers under Midianite oppression until God calls Gideon, a humble man, to destroy the altar of Baal and lead a revolution against their enemies.
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Notable Verses
Judges 6:12
“The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!””
This verse marks the surprising divine commissioning of Gideon while he was hiding from his enemies in fear.
Judges 6:24
“Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.””
Gideon recognizes God's character as 'Shalom' after his life-changing encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
Judges 6:37
“behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
This initiates the famous 'fleece' test used by Gideon to confirm God's promise of victory.
Chapter Summary
Judges 6 begins with Israel under severe oppression by the Midianites, who destroy their crops and livestock, forcing the Israelites into mountain caves. After Israel cries out for help, the Lord sends a prophet to remind them of their past deliverance from Egypt and their subsequent disobedience. The Angel of the Lord then appears to Gideon while he is secretly threshing wheat in a winepress. Despite Gideon's doubts and his family's low social status, the Lord commissions him as a 'mighty man of valor.' Gideon requests a sign, and the Angel consumes his offering of meat and bread with fire. Following God's command, Gideon destroys his father's altar to Baal and an Asherah pole under the cover of night. As the Midianite army gathers for battle, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Gideon. To confirm his calling, Gideon tests God twice with a wool fleece—once requesting it be wet while the ground is dry, and then dry while the ground is wet—and God grants both signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites, who frequently raided Israel's crops and livestock, leaving the people with no sustenance.
The name means 'Let Baal contend.' Gideon's father, Joash, gave him this name after Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal, arguing that if Baal were truly a god, he should be able to defend himself.
First, Gideon asked that a wool fleece be wet with dew while the surrounding ground remained dry. Second, he asked that the fleece be dry while the ground was covered in dew. God granted both requests to encourage Gideon's faith.
The Midianites were a nomadic people who, along with the Amalekites, oppressed Israel for seven years. They are described as being as numerous as locusts, destroying the land as far as Gaza.
Study Note
The use of a winepress for threshing wheat was an unusual and inefficient practice, illustrating the extreme level of fear and desperation Israel felt under Midianite rule.
Related Chapters
Exodus 3
Both Gideon and Moses received their divine commissions while questioning their own adequacy and the presence of God.
Judges 7
The narrative continues in the next chapter as Gideon prepares his small army to face the Midianite host.
1 Samuel 12
The prophet Samuel later recounts God's deliverance through Gideon as a historical reminder of God's faithfulness to Israel.
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