Shofetim 6:36

36 And Gid’on said unto HaElohim, If Thou wilt save Yisroel by my yad, as Thou hast said,

Shofetim 6:36 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 6:36

And Gideon said unto God
Not to a prophet of God who was there, of whom he asked the following signs to be done, as Ben Gersom, but to God in prayer, as Abarbinel:

if thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said;
not that he doubted of it, but was willing to have a confirmation of his faith; and perhaps his view was more for the encouragement of those that were with him than himself, that he desired the following signs; and though he had had one before, that was to show that he was truly an angel that spoke to him, and not to ascertain the salvation that should be wrought by him; though that might be concluded from his being an angel that spoke to him, and assured him of it.

Shofetim 6:36 In-Context

34 But the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem came upon Gid’on; he blew a shofar; and Aviezer was summoned to follow after him.

35 And he sent malachim throughout all Menasheh; who also was gathered after him; and he sent malachim unto Asher, and unto Zevulun, and unto Naphtali; and they went up to meet them.

36 And Gid’on said unto HaElohim, If Thou wilt save Yisroel by my yad, as Thou hast said,

37 Hinei, I will put a fleece of wool in the goren (threshing floor); and if the tal (dew) be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all ha’aretz, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Yisroel by my yad, as Thou hast said.

38 And it was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and squeezed the fleece together, and wrung the tal out of the fleece, a bowl full of mayim.