Judges 6:12-17

12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

Judges 6:12-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 6

In this chapter we have an account of the distressed condition Israel was in through the Midianites, Jud 6:1-6, of a prophet being sent unto them to reprieve them for their sins, Jud 6:7-10 of an angel appearing to Gideon, with an order to him to go and save Israel out of the hands of the Midianites, Jud 6:11-16 and of a sign given him by the angel, whereby he knew this order was of God, Jud 6:17-24, and of the reformation from idolatry in his father's family he made upon this, throwing down the altar of Baal, and building one for the Lord, Jud 6:25-32, and of the preparation he made to fight the Midianites and others, Jud 6:33-35, but first desired a sign of the Lord, that Israel would be saved by his hand, which was granted and repeated, Jud 6:36-40.

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 1:5; Ruth 2:4; 1 Samuel 10:7; Psalms 129:8; Judges 13:3; Luke 1:11,28
• 2. Judges 11:1
• 3. S Joshua 3:5
• 4. 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalms 44:1; Psalms 78:3
• 5. S Deuteronomy 31:17; 2 Chronicles 15:2
• 6. Hebrews 11:34
• 7. ver 36; Judges 10:1; 2 Kings 14:27
• 8. Isaiah 60:22
• 9. Exodus 3:11; 1 Samuel 9:21
• 10. Exodus 3:12; S Numbers 14:43; Joshua 1:5
• 11. ver 36-37; S Genesis 24:14; S Exodus 3:12; S Exodus 4:8; Isaiah 38:7-8