Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:21
Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
21. fire and consumed ] The food intended for a meal is converted into a sacrifice, and supernatural fire betokens the divine acceptance; cf. Jdg 13:20, 1Ki 18:38, 2Ch 7:1, Lev 9:24, 2Ma 2:10.
and the angel of the Lord departed ] But in Jdg 6:23 Jehovah is still present and speaks to Gideon. Perhaps some distinction was felt at this point between Jehovah and the Angel of Jehovah; the partial manifestation was withdrawn, Jehovah Himself remained. Moore’s suggestion that these words were inserted on the analogy of Jdg 13:20 seems hardly necessary.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 21. The angel – put forth the end of the staff] He appeared like a traveller with a staff in his hand; this he put forth, and having touched the flesh, fire rose out of the rock and consumed it. Here was the most evident proof of supernatural agency.
Then the angel – departed out of his sight.] Though the angel vanished out of his sight, yet God continued to converse with him either by secret inspiration in his own heart, or by an audible voice.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By these things he showed himself to be no man that needed such provisions, but a true angel of God, or the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave the assurance that he both could and would consume the Midianites.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand,…. With which he walked, appearing as a traveller, and which was one reason of Gideon’s providing for his refreshment, before he proceeded on in his journey:
and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; did not strike the rock with it, as Moses did with his rod, to fetch out water for the Israelites, but touched the provisions brought him; not using it instead of a knife to separate any part of them, but for the working of a miracle, as follows:
and there rose up fire out of the rock; had he struck the rock with his staff, the miracle would not have appeared so great, because it might be thought there was an iron ferrule at the end of it, which striking on a flinty rock might cause fire; but it was the flesh and cakes only that were touched, and these also as having broth poured on them, and the rock likewise:
and consumed the flesh, and the unleavened cakes; though they had the broth poured on them, and were sodden with it; so that the miracle was similar to that wrought by Elijah on Mount Carmel, 1Ki 18:33, and those who think that this angel was the man, the prophet before mentioned, and he Phinehas, and Phinehas Elijah, are confirmed in their opinion by this likeness; though there is no sufficient ground for it:
then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight: not went on his journey, as he might seem, but vanished immediately; which circumstance plainly showed, and fully convinced Gideon, that he was not a man, but an angelic spirit, as well as the miracle wrought proved him to be more than a man; and so Gideon had what he desired, a sign that he might know who talked with him, and that what he talked of would certainly come to pass.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(21) The staff that was in his hand.The ordinary accompaniment of an Eastern traveller (Gen. 32:10; Mat. 10:10).
There rose up fire.The common sign of Gods presence and of His acceptance of an offering. (See Lev. 9:24; 1Ki. 18:24; 1Ch. 21:26; 2Ch. 7:1.) Water is brought out of the rock for the blessing of man, and fire to show the presence of God.
Departed.It is not said, as in Jdg. 13:20, that he ascended in the flame.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. The staff that was in his hand Hitherto the Angel had appeared like a wayfaring man.
Fire out of the rock Most startling and impressive miracle, showing beyond all possibility of doubt that this was indeed Jehovah’s Angel.
Departed out of his sight Vanished. “The expression does not warrant the assumption that time Angel ascended to heaven in this instance, as in Jdg 13:20, in time flame of the sacrifice.” Keil.
‘ Then the Angel of Yahweh put out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh, and the unleavened cakes. And the Angel of Yahweh departed out of his sight.’
Yahweh gave Gideon the sign he had asked for. Note that He touched with His staff not the rock, but the sacrificial elements, the flesh and unleavened cakes, covered with the soup, a sign of His acceptance. And fire then arose and consumed them. Yahweh revealed Himself in fire and wholly accepted the offering. It was very similar to the burning bush except that there nothing was consumed.
We should note here that Gideon was not consciously acting as a priest. The angel of Yahweh was the priest accepting and offering up the offering. And although offerings under ‘green trees’ were forbidden in Deu 12:2, that was in the case of sacred trees where altars had been built under them. There is no indication that this was a sacred tree.
“And the Angel of Yahweh departed out of his sight.” The sudden remarkable disappearance was final confirmation that he had been dealing with Yahweh Himself.
Jdg 6:21. Then the angelput forth the end of the staff, &c. This divine person, appearing, most probably, in the form of a traveller, with a staff in his hand, just touched the cakes and the flesh, &c. with that staff, when immediately fire arose up out of the rock and consumed them: a miracle, no doubt, as great as if fire had come down from heaven, as on the sacrifices which Moses, Elijah, and others offered. Thus the faith of Gideon was confirmed; he had no doubt of the Divinity of the person who appeared, and he placed an absolute reliance on his promises. It is said at the close of this verse, that the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight; but it is evident from the subsequent verses, that Gideon still stood before, and conversed with him. We must therefore suppose, that, though no longer visible, the Lord made Gideon know that he was still present with him, by speaking in an audible voice. With respect to the next verse, see Gen 16:13.
Jdg 6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
Ver. 21. And there rose up fire out of the rock. ] Here was a sign that the Midianites should be destroyed without man’s labour. Christ, as he is Piorum rupes, a rock of refuge to the godly, so he is Reorum scopulus, a rock of revenge to dash the impenitent to pieces, as Valerius Maximus saith of the tribunal of L. Cassius, a rock sending out fire, as here. a
a As once water came out of a rock. Exo 17:6
rose up fire. This fire was the token of Jehovah’s acceptance. See note on “respect”, Gen 4:4.
fire = the fire.
angel
(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”).
rose up: Jdg 13:20, Lev 9:24, 1Ki 18:38, 1Ch 21:26, 2Ch 7:1
Reciprocal: Gen 4:4 – had Gen 15:17 – smoking Gen 16:10 – the angel Gen 17:22 – General Gen 35:13 – General Gen 48:16 – Angel Exo 3:12 – token Jdg 13:19 – did wonderously 1Sa 10:9 – and all those signs 1Ki 18:24 – answereth by fire
Jdg 6:21-24. There rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh By which he showed himself not to be a man that needed such provisions, but the Son of God; and by this instance of his omnipotency, gave him assurance that he both could and would consume the Midianites. Alas, O Lord God I am an undone man: I must die, and that speedily; for that he feared, (Jdg 6:23,) according to the common opinion in that case. The Lord said unto him Perhaps by an audible voice, for it does not seem as if the angel spoke these words; Peace be to thee Thou shalt receive no hurt by this vision, but only peace; that is, all the blessings needful for thy own happiness, and for the present work. Gideon built an altar there On the top of the rock, as is evident from Jdg 6:26, where that which is here expressed only in general, is more particularly described. Jehovah-shalom That is, the Lords peace; the sign or witness of Gods speaking peace to me, and to his people: or the place where he spake peace to me, when I expected nothing but destruction.
6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire {i} out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
(i) By the power of God only, as in the sacrifice of Elijah, 1Ki 18:38.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes