Teks -- Judges 6:25 (NET)

Gideon Destroys the Altar

6:25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take the bull from your father’s herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Jdg 6:25 - The second bullock

He was to offer one for himself, the other for the sins of the people, whom he was to deliver. 'Till sin be pardoned thro' the great sacrifice, no good is to be expected.

Wesley: Jdg 6:25 - Thy father hath

Which thy father built in his own ground, tho' for the common use of the city.

Wesley: Jdg 6:25 - The grove

Planted by the altar for idolatrous uses, as the manner of idolaters was. This action might seem injurious to his father's authority; but God's command was a sufficient warrant, and Gideon was now called to be the supreme magistrate, whereby he was made his father's superior, and was authorized to root out all idolatry, and the instruments thereof.

JFB: Jdg 6:24-32 - it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him

The transaction in which Gideon is here described as engaged was not entered on till the night after the vision.

JFB: Jdg 6:25 - Take thy father's . . . second bullock

The Midianites had probably reduced the family herd; or, as Gideon's father was addicted to idolatry, the best may have been fattened for the service of Baal; so that the second was the only remaining one fit for sacrifice to God.

JFB: Jdg 6:25 - throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath

Standing upon his ground, though kept for the common use of the townsmen.

JFB: Jdg 6:25 - cut down the grove that is by it

Dedicated to Ashtaroth. With the aid of ten confidential servants he demolished the one altar and raised on the appointed spot the altar of the Lord; but, for fear of opposition, the work had to be done under cover of night. A violent commotion was excited next day, and vengeance vowed against Gideon as the perpetrator. "Joash, his father, quieted the mob in a manner similar to that of the town clerk of Ephesus. It was not for them to take the matter into their own hands. The one, however, made an appeal to the magistrate; the other to the idolatrous god himself" [CHALMERS].

Clarke: Jdg 6:25 - Take thy father’ s young bullock, even the second bullock

Take thy father’ s young bullock, even the second bullock - There is some difficulty in this verse, for, according to the Hebrew text, two bullocks are mentioned here; but there is only one mentioned in Jdg 6:26, Jdg 6:28. But what was this second bullock? Some think that it was a bullock that was fattened in order to be offered in sacrifice to Baal. This is very probable, as the second bullock is so particularly distinguished from another which belonged to Gideon’ s father. As the altar was built upon the ground of Joash, yet appears to have been public property, (see Jdg 6:29, Jdg 6:30), so this second ox was probably reared and fattened at the expense of the men of that village, else why should they so particularly resent its being offered to Jehovah?

TSK: Jdg 6:25 - Take thy father’ s // even // thy father // cut down

Take thy father’ s : Gen 35:2; Job 22:23; Psa 101:2

even : or, and, throw, 1Ki 18:21; Mat 6:24; 2Co 6:15-17

thy father : Mat 10:37; Act 4:19, Act 5:29

cut down : Jdg 3:7; Exo 34:13; Deu 7:5

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jdg 6:25 - Even the second bullock // thy father’ s young bullock, and the second bullock // That thy father hath // The grove that is by it

Even the second bullock: thus there was but one bullock, which was young, to wit, comparatively, but not simply, for it was seven years old; and of such this Hebrew word is used, Job 21:10 ; for these creatures are fruitful above seven years. Or thus,

thy father’ s young bullock, and the second bullock : so there were two bullocks. But because there is but one of them mentioned both in the next verse, and in the execution of this command, Jud 6:28 , it is probable it was but one; and the Hebrew particle vau , and, is put exegetically for even, or, to wit, as is very usual. And this he calls his father’ s young bullock , both because his father was the owner of it, and because his father kept and fed it for a sacrifice to Baal. But because it is likely his father kept divers of these cattle of differing ages and statures for that use, either at his own or at the people’ s charge, therefore he adds, by way of limitation, that he should not take the eldest and the greatest, but the second, to wit, in age, or stature, or goodliness, or in the order of sacrifice, that which was to have been sacrificed to Baal in the second place. And this he singled out because of its age; for being

seven years old it began with the Midianitish calamity, and being now to be sacrificed, did fitly signify, that the period of that misery was now come.

That thy father hath which thy father built in his own ground, though for the common use of the whole city, Jud 6:28-30 .

The grove that is by it planted by the altar for idolatrous or impure uses, as the manner of idolaters was. See Jud 3:7 . This action might seem injurious to his father’ s rights and authority; but God’ s command was sufficient warrant, and Gideon was now called to be the supreme magistrate, whereby he was made his father’ s superior, and was empowered, and authorized, and enjoined to root out all idolatry and superstition, and the instruments thereof.

Haydock: Jdg 6:25 - And another // Seven years // Altar

And another, or "the second." Only one seems to have been sacrificed; (ver. 28.; Cajetan) though others think that the second bullock was designed for a peace-offering. (Bonfrere) Some infer that it had been fattened for Baal. Septuagint observe, that the first bullock or "calf was fattened:" but it does not appear for what purpose. (Calmet) ---

Seven years, in memory of the duration of the slavery. (Menochius) ---

Before that age, bulls were not deemed so fit for yoking. Hesiod would have them to be nine years old. ---

Altar. We may render the Hebrew, "Cut down the idol which is upon the altar; or, Break in pieces the ashera, " &c. This is the title of the idol of the grove, Astare or Asteroth. (Syriac and Arabic) The Septuagint is favourable to this explanation. (Calmet) ---

But the groves themselves were to be cut down, where an altar of God was to be erected. It seems this altar and the grove belonged to Joas, who is hence supposed to have joined in the worship of Baal. If he did formerly, his eyes were now opened, and he boldly approved of the conduct of his son, (ver. 31.; Haydock) who had probably never been infected. (Menochius)

Gill: Jdg 6:25 - And it came to pass the same night // that the Lord said unto him // even the second bullock of seven years old // and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath // and cut down the grove that is by it

And it came to pass the same night,.... The night which followed the day in which the angel appeared to Gideon as he was threshing:

that the Lord said unto him; perhaps in a dream, since it was in the night: take thy father's young bullock: or "the bullock, the ox" ^p; a bullock which was a large grown ox, and was not only his father's property, but what his father designed and set apart for the service of Baal; and though it was his father's, yet having a divine warrant for it, it was sufficient for him to take it without his leave, and especially as it was designed for such an ill use:

even the second bullock of seven years old; which, according to Hesiod ^q is in its prime and full strength at nine years old, and lives much longer. In Homer ^r, one of five years old is said to be sacrificed: this further describes what he was to take, the second that stood in the stall of the bullocks, or that drew in the second row at plough, or the second in age and value, or the second that was set apart for the service of Baal; though the words may be rendered, "and the second bullock" ^s; besides that of his father's, he was to take another, which perhaps belonged to the people, and was the second in birth or age with respect to the former, being seven years old; or, as the Targum is, that had been fatted seven years, and had been so long preparing for the sacrifice of Baal; which was as long as the tyranny of the Midianites over them, and was occasioned by the idolatry of the people of Israel; and such a bullock was ordered to be taken with respect to that, and to show that it would end with the sacrifice of this creature:

and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath; upon his ground, in some part of his possessions, and perhaps built at his own expense, though for public use:

and cut down the grove that is by it; or "about it", as the Vulgate Latin version; it being usual with the Heathens to plant groves near or around their altars and temples where religious worship was performed; partly to make them more pleasant and venerable, and partly for the commission of deeds which would not bear the light; or "over it", for they were commonly tall trees which grew over the altar they erected. Some render it, "upon it" ^t, and understand by it an idol placed on it: so the Arabic version is,"cut down the female idol Asira (perhaps the same with Astarte), which is upon the same altar;''and so the Syriac version to the same purpose, which calls it the idol Estere, set upon the altar.