Shofetim 6:27

27 Then Gid’on took ten men from his avadim, and did just as Hashem had said unto him; and so it was, because he feared his Bais Avi, and the men of the Ir, that he could not do it yomam (by day), that he did it by lailah.

Shofetim 6:27 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 6:27

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants
Not only whom he could command, but could confide in, and whom he knew would cheerfully engage in this work, being like himself, who had not bowed the knee to Baal; and as there was much work to do, and it required dispatch, such a number was necessary; since he had not only the altar of Baal to throw down, and his grove or idol to cut down, but an altar to build, and a sacrifice to be taken and offered:

and did as the Lord had said unto him;
all the above things, he set about them at once, and dispatched them all in one night; so ready and cheerful was he in obedience to the divine command:

and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of
the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night;
for both his father's family, and the inhabitants of the city of Ophrah, were all idolaters, worshippers of Baal; and this fear of them was not a fear of being reproached or punished for what he did, or of any harm coming to him for the fact, which as he might expect would be known, so the risk was the same, be it done when it would; but it was a fear of being restrained and hindered from doing it, and therefore in point of prudence, and consulting the honour of God and religion, and not his own safety, he took the time of the night to do it in.

Shofetim 6:27 In-Context

25 And it came to pass the same night, that Hashem said unto him, Take thy father’s young bull, even the second bull of sheva shanim, and tear down the mizbe’ach of Ba’al that thy av hath, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it;

26 And build a Mizbe’ach unto Hashem Eloheicha upon the top of this rock, in the proper arrangement; take the second bull, offer an olah with the wood of the Asherah pole which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gid’on took ten men from his avadim, and did just as Hashem had said unto him; and so it was, because he feared his Bais Avi, and the men of the Ir, that he could not do it yomam (by day), that he did it by lailah.

28 And when the men of the Ir arose early in the boker, hinei, the mizbe’ach of Baal was cast down, and the Asherah was cut down that was beside it, and the second bull was offered upon the Mizbe’ach that was built.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gid’on ben Yoash hath done this thing.