25 Now on the same night the Lord said to him, "Take your father's bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father , and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly manner , and take a second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down ." 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the city to do it by day , he did it by night . 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 . 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 ." 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash , "Bring out your son , that he may die , for he has torn down the altar of Baal , and indeed , he has cut down the Asherah which was beside it." 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal , or will you deliver him? Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning . If he is a god , let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar ." 32 Therefore on that day he named him Jerubbaal , that is to say , "Let Baal contend against him," because he had torn down his altar .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 6:25-32
Commentary on Judges 6:25-32
(Read Judges 6:25-32)
See the power of God's grace, that he could raise up a reformer; and the kindness of his grace, that he would raise up a deliverer, out of the family of a leader in idolatry. Gideon must not think it enough not to worship at that altar; he must throw it down, and offer sacrifice on another. It was needful he should make peace with God, before he made war on Midian. Till sin be pardoned through the great Sacrifice, no good is to be expected. God, who has all hearts in his hands, influenced Joash to appear for his son against the advocates for Baal, though he had joined formerly in the worship of Baal. Let us do our duty, and trust God with our safety. Here is a challenge to Baal, to do either good or evil; the result convinced his worshippers of their folly, in praying to one to help them that could not avenge himself.