Shofetim 6:30

30 Then the men of the Ir said unto Yoash, Bring out thy ben, that he may die; because he hath cast down the mizbe’ach of Ba’al, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was beside it.

Shofetim 6:30 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 6:30

Then the men of the city said unto Joash
The principal inhabitants of the place met together, and in a body went to Joash their chief magistrate, to have justice done in this case:

bring out thy son, that he may die;
they do not ask to have the cause tried by him, to hear what proof they had of the fact, or what Gideon had to say in his own defence; nor do they wait for the sentence of Joash, but determine it themselves, and require the delinquent to be given up to them, that they might put him to death; a strange request of Israelites, whose law judged no man before it heard him; and besides, according to that, the worshippers of Baal, and not the destroyers of him, and his altars, were to be put to death, which shows how strangely mad and infatuated these people were:

because he hath cut down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut
down the grove that was by it;
they take no notice of the bullock which he had taken and offered, it being his father's property; and which seems to confirm the sense of our version, that there was but one, ( Judges 6:25 ) for had the second been a different one, and the people's property, they would have accused him of theft as well as sacrilege respecting that.

Shofetim 6:30 In-Context

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.

30 Then the men of the Ir said unto Yoash, Bring out thy ben, that he may die; because he hath cast down the mizbe’ach of Ba’al, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was beside it.

31 And Yoash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Ba’al? Will ye save him? He that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet boker; if he be Elohim, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his mizbe’ach.

32 Therefore on that day he called him Yerubaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath torn down his mizbe’ach.