Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:31
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he [be] a god, let him plead for himself, because [one] hath cast down his altar.
31. Will ye plead for Baal? ] Cf. Job 13:8. The pron. is emphatic: ‘Will ye contend for Baal? will ye save him?’ The next sentence, ‘whoever takes up arms for the false god shall be put to death forthwith,’ interrupts the argument, and introduces an idea foreign to the context; the words appear to have been inserted to make it plain that Joash did think Baal to be no real divinity. ‘Will ye contend for Baal? will ye save him? If he is a god let him contend for himself!’ Moore appropriately quotes as an illustration the saying of Tiberius to the consuls, ‘Deorum injuriae diis curae,’ Tacitus, Annal. i. 73.
whilst it is yet morning ] i.e. ‘during the morning,’ cf. Jdg 3:26 ‘while they tarried,’ lit. ‘during their tarrying.’ But this use of the prep, is rare; lit. the words = until the morning, and this is best taken to mean by to-morrow morning, cf. Jdg 16:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
From the boldness of Joash in defending his son, it is likely that the majority of the Abi-ezrites sided with him against the men of the city, and already felt drawn toward Gideon as their national and religious leader Jdg 6:34. Joash appears as the chief magistrate of Ophrah.
Will ye plead …? will ye save? – The emphasis is upon ye, as much as to say, What business is it of yours?
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. Will ye plead for Baal?] The words are very emphatic “Will ye plead in earnest for Baal? Will ye really save him? If he be God, Elohim, let him contend for himself, seeing his altar is thrown down.” The paragogic letters in the words plead and save greatly increase the sense. Joash could not slay his son; but he was satisfied he had insulted Baal: if Baal were the true God, he would avenge his own injured honour. This was a sentiment among the heathens. Thus Tacitus, lib. i., c. 73, A.U.C. 768, mentioning the letter of Tiberius to the consuls in behalf of Cassius and Rubrius, two Roman knights, one of whom was accused of having sold a statue of Augustus in the auction of his gardens; and the other, of having sworn falsely by the name of Augustus, who had been deified by the senate; among other things makes him say: Non ideo decretum patri suo coelum, ut in perniciem civium is honor verteretur. Nec contra religiones fieri quod effigies ejus, utalia nu minum simulachra, venditionibus hortorum et domuum accedant. Jusjurandum perinde aestimandum quam si Jovem fefellisset: deorum injuriae diis curae – “That Divine honours were not decreed to his father (Augustus) to lay snares for the citizens; and if his statue, in common with the images of the gods in general, was put up to sale with the houses and gardens, it could not be considered an injury to religion. That any false oath must be considered as an attempt to deceive Jupiter himself; but the gods themselves must take cognizance of the injuries done unto them.” Livy has a similar sentiment, Hist. lib. x., c. 6, where, speaking of some attempts made to increase the number of the augurs out of the commons, with which the senators were displeased, he says: Simulabant ad deos id magis, quam ad se pertinere; ipsos visuros, ne sacra sua polluantur. – “They pretended that these things belonged more to the gods than themselves; and that they would take care that their sacred rites were not polluted.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Will ye plead for Baal? Why are you so zealous in pleading for that Baal, for the worship whereof you suffer such grievous calamities at this day, and from whom you have no help? It is plain that Joash had been a worshipper of Baal; either therefore he was now convinced by Gideons information and action, or he makes use of this pretence to preserve his son, being indeed indifferent in matters of religion; and therefore as he did worship Baal to comply with his neighbours, so now he deserts him to rescue his son.
He that will plead for him, let him be put to death; he that shall further plead for such a god as this, deserves to die for his folly and impiety. It is not probable that this was all that he said for his sons defence; or that he would neglect to mention the call his son had from God to it, the apparition of an angel, the promise of deliverance; but it is usual in Scripture to give only some short hints of those things which were more largely discoursed.
Whilst it is yet morning, i.e. instantly, without delay; for it was now morning time, as appears from Jdg 6:28, &c.
Let him plead for himself, as the God of Israel hath often done when any indignity or injury hath been done to him. But Baal hath now showed that he is neither able to help you nor himself, and therefore is not worthy to be served any longer. This courageous and resolute answer was necessary to stop the torrent of the peoples fury; and it was drawn from him, partly by the sense of his sons extreme danger, and partly by the confidence he had that God would plead his sons cause, and use him for the rescue of his people.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Joash said unto all that stood against him,…. Against his son; that were his accusers and adversaries, and required him to be given up to them, that they might put him to death:
will ye plead for Baal? what, Israelites, and plead for Baal! or what need is there for this, cannot he plead for himself?
will ye save him? what, take upon you to save your god! cannot he save himself? he ought to save both himself and you, if he is a god, and not you save him:
he that will plead for him, let him be put to death, while it is yet morning; immediately, before noon, for it was now morning when they came to him; this he said to terrify them, and to express the hatred he now had of idolatry, and the just sense of its being punishable with death by the law of God. This he may be supposed to say, to save his son from their present wrath and fury, hoping by that time to find out some ways and means for his safety:
if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar; if he is a god, he knows who has done it, and is able to avenge himself on him, and put him to death himself that has done it, and therefore leave it with him to plead his own cause, and avenge his own injuries; this he said, deriding the deity; for though Joash had been a worshipper of Baal, yet he might be now convinced by his son of the sinfulness of it, and of the necessity of a reformation, in order to a deliverance from the Midianites, for which he had a commission, and had perhaps informed his father of it; or however he was not so attached to Baal, but that he preferred the life of his son to the worship of him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) Unto all that stood against him.The meaning of these words is very uncertain. They may mean, to all that stood around.
Will ye plead for Baal?The pronoun ye is very emphatic, being twice expressed in the Hebrew.
He that will plead for him, let him be put to death.These words of Joash were extraordinarily bold and cunning. Possibly the brave act of his son may have roused his conscience, and Gideon may have told him that he had acted under Divine guidance. But he saves his sons life, not by excusing his act, but by feigning such a zeal for Baal as to denounce it as a blasphemous impiety to suppose that Baal will not avenge his own insultan impiety so monstrous, that the man who was guilty of it should be at once put to death. Thus he made Baal-worship a plea for not avenging the insult offered to Baal. He was well aware that if he thus gained time, the fact that Baal did not interfere to protect himself from such fearful outrage would weigh powerfully with all his worshippers. Among idolaters the sight of an act of open contempt for their idol often shakes their superstitious reverence. Aristophanes, Persius, and Lucan sneer at the inability of Jupiter to defend his own temple, golden locks, and golden beard. When Olaf had the huge image of Odin destroyed, and when the high priest Coifi at Saxmundham, clad in armour and mounted on horseback (two things which were forbidden to a priest), rode up to the Saxon idols and hurled them down, the people, seeing that no thunder followed, but that all went on as well as usual, were quite ready to embrace Christianity.
Whilst it is yet morning.The Hebrew is ad habbker (until morning); LXX., hes pri, which may mean, before to-morrows sun has dawned. (Antequan lux crastina veniat, Vulg.; as also the Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee.) It is a much more likely rendering than that of the E.V., for it implies, Let us wait till to-morrow, to see whether Baal will avenge himself. Joash knew that in popular outbreaks procrastination means security.
If he be a god.Compare the language of Elijah to the Baal and Asherah priests (1Ki. 18:21; 1Ki. 18:27).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. Joash said The father stands up bravely for his son. The son’s bold act seems to have inspired Joash with a kindred zeal, and, possibly, Gideon may have informed his father of his interview with the angel.
Whilst it is yet morning Literally, until the morning. But , until, here has the force of while, during, as in Jdg 3:26; and so the English version gives the true sense. Keil makes until the morning an independent clause, referring to the morning of the following day, and exclaims: “Let us wait until to-morrow, and give Baal time to avenge the insult which he has received!” But this thought is not conveyed by the words of the text.
If he be a god, let him plead for himself Wise and all-sufficient argument. A poor god that, which in a case like this was unable to defend himself.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Joash said to all that stood against him, “Will you plead for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will plead for him, let him be put to death, while it is yet morning. If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because one has broken down his altar.” ’
Joash replied cleverly and revealed all his experience as a leader of men. He did not argue the point. He charged them with similar sacrilege to that with which they were charging his son.
“Will you plead for Baal? Or will you save him?” Did they really think that Baal needed them to save him, needed them to put forth his pleas? Was that all they thought of Baal? He pointed out that they were accusing Baal of not being able to look after his own affairs. And that that was sacrilege on their part and deserved the immediate death penalty. They were sentenced from their own lips. It brought them up sharp, which in their state of frenzy was what was necessary.
Then he suggested that the truly religious attitude was to leave it to Baal to exact his own revenge. If he was a god he would do so. He would be able to make his own pleas, whether to Joash or other gods and goddesses. And if he did not, then they could come to their own conclusions.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 6:31. Joash said unto all that stood against him That is, against his son. There is something rational and noble in this apology which Joash makes; and it seems very likely, that the reason which he here uses had influenced his own mind; for it appears from Jdg 6:31 that he was an idolater, till convinced by this indignity which his son offered to Baal, that the latter was a wretched idol unable to help himself. Joash, in his indignation, observes, that so far from putting Gideon to death for dishonouring Baal, the man who should be so absurd as to plead for him, ought immediately himself to be put to death; since it was evident that he could be no god, by his not avenging his own cause. While it is yet morning, Houbigant renders, whoever shall defend his cause till the morning, let him die; which order the Syriac and Arabic follow.
REFLECTIONS.To proceed in our review of this beautiful history.Before God will advance Gideon as judge in Israel, he will put his piety as well as his courage to the test. Therefore,
1. The same night after he had appeared to him at the wine-press, he speaks to him in a vision on his bed, and commands him to overthrow the altar of Baal, which his father had erected, and at which the men of the city paid their devotions; to cut down the grove around it, or perhaps the image upon it; then build an altar on the rock where the Lord had caused the fire to break forth, and offer there his father’s young bullock, designed for Baal, the second in the stall; or, and the second, another of seven years old, the two best of the herd; and this with the wood of the grove, or image, which he had cut down. Note; (1.) God often chooses unlikely instruments, as now in raising up an eminent reformer out of a house devoted to idolatry. (2.) When the blood of atonement is shed, there are comfortable hopes that the sin will be pardoned, and the affliction will end. (3.) Christ is both our rock and altar; those will be acceptable sacrifices which are offered through him. (4.) It is a wise improvement of the unrighteous mammon, when, like these monuments of idolatry, we can make it subservient to the work and service of God.
2. Gideon no sooner hears than he obeys. The same hour, probably, he arose; and, as the night best favoured his designs, and prevented interruption, before the morning, by the help of his faithful servants, whom he summoned to attend him, Baal’s altar was laid in the dust, and God’s new raised altar smoking with the grateful sacrifice. Note; (1.) In an idolatrous house, some are often found who bow not the knee to Baal, but, though in secret, cleave unto the Lord their God. (2.) He feared not his father’s nor the people’s displeasure: where the fear of God is, it swallows up every other concern. (3.) When we are called to God’s work, it becomes us to make haste, and delay not. What thou doest, do quickly.
3. The morning soon disclosed the scene. The men of Baal, hasting to their devotions, are surprised to find their grove and altar ruined. Gideon soon bears the suspicion, from his known disaffection to their God: enraged even to madness, nothing will satisfy them but his blood. To this end, they call on Joash, his father, to deliver him into their hands. Note; (1.) They who will be zealous for God against men’s sins, must still put their life in their hands. (2.) How early was Baal’s altar visited? Shall not their false worship rise up in judgment against those who neither early nor late bow their knees before the true God?
4. Joash boldly refuses to comply with so cruel and unreasonable a request: Whether out of natural affection for his son, or, more probably, convinced of the evil of the abominable idolatry in which he had lived. He, therefore, justly rebukes them for pleading for Baal, in opposition to the Divine command; and, instead of giving up his son, justly threatens (for which he might plead the express law of God,) the person who should dare speak a word for this idol with instant death. He also contemptuously challenges Baal, if he were a god, to plead for himself; in order to convince the people, from Baal’s impotence, of their folly as well as sin in trusting in him. Note; (1.) If we have been zealous in a bad cause, we should with greater zeal seek to amend what we have done amiss, by our open appearance for the truth. (2.) Nothing must prevail on us to give up the innocent, whoever combine to destroy them. (3.) Though it may be highly dangerous to reprove a wicked people, we must do our duty, and trust God with the event.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Whether from fatherly affection, or from an higher principle of grace in the heart, this conduct of Joash sprung, I do not determine. But no doubt, the Lord overruled his mind in favor of his son.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 6:31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he [be] a god, let him plead for himself, because [one] hath cast down his altar.
Ver. 31. And Joash said unto all that stood against him. ] Which were the many headed multitude, that untamed beast. But Joash, by a sudden change of his heart, for he was till now an idolater, and on the defence of his son, bravely withstandeth them, and putteth Baal to plead for himself, which he was ill enough able to do. And by this one seasonable speech, though he were but a single man, he hindered the mischievous multitude from murdering Gideon, who soon after delivered them out of the hand of the Midianites. So Nicodemus, by a word spoken in time, dissolved the council that was gathered together against Christ. Joh 7:50-53 It is good to appear for God, though there be few or none to second us: who knows what may be the success?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Will ye plead: The words are very emphatic: “Will ye plead in earnest (tereevoon) for Baal? Will ye really save (tosheeoon) him? If he be God – Elohim,let him contend for himself, seeing his altar is thrown down.” Exo 23:2, Num 14:6, Eph 5:11
let him be: Deu 13:5-18, Deu 17:2-7, 1Ki 18:40
if he be: 1Ki 18:27, 1Ki 18:29, Psa 115:4-7, Isa 41:23, Isa 46:1, Isa 46:7, Jer 10:5, Jer 10:11, 1Co 8:4
Reciprocal: Gen 31:30 – my gods Jdg 18:17 – the graven
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 6:31. Joash said, Will ye plead for Baal? Why are you so zealous in pleading for that Baal for whose worship you suffer such grievous calamities at this day? It is plain that Joash had been a worshipper of Baal, having gone with the stream, as we find the altar of Baal on his estate; but probably he was now convinced of his sin and folly by Gideon, being made acquainted with the appearance of the angel to him, and of the divine commission which he had received. Hence he resolutely declares himself on the side of the God of Israel, and when the people demanded that his son should be put to death for casting down the altar of Baal, he boldly demands, according to the law of Moses, that whatever man should plead for Baal should be put to death, idolatry being a capital offence. While it is yet morning That is, immediately; for it was in the morning, as we learn from Jdg 6:28, that this tumult was made. If he be a god, let him plead for himself As the God of Israel hath often done when any indignity or injury hath been done him. But Baal hath now showed, that he is neither able to help you nor himself; and therefore is not worthy to be served any longer. This resolute answer was necessary to stop the torrent of the peoples fury; and it was drawn from him by the sense of his sons extreme danger, and by the confidence he had that God would plead his sons cause, and use him for the rescue of his people. It is probable that, by what Joash now said, the eyes of the people were opened, to see how impotent the god was whom they had worshipped; as, by comparing it with what they had heard the God of Israel had frequently done in vindication of his honour, they might well conclude how inferior he was to Jehovah, the one living and true God, or rather, in the language of Scripture, that he was nothing, a mere nonentity.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
6:31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? {n} he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he [be] a god, let him plead for himself, because [one] hath cast down his altar.
(n) Thus we ought to justify those who are zealous of God’s cause, though all the multitude are against us.