Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 6:27
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: 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.
27. ten men of his servants ] Clearly Gideon and his family held a position of consequence in the village.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The mention of the men of the city by the side of Gideons fathers household suggests the probability of their being a remnant of the Canaanite population, and the special patrons of Baal-worship.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. He feared his father’s household] So it appears that his father was an idolater: but as Gideon had ten men of his own servants whom he could trust in this matter, it is probable that he had preserved the true faith, and had not bowed his knee to the image of Baal.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Doubtless he had acquainted the ten men with his design, and the assurance of success in it, whereby they were easily induced to assist him, if not sincerely, yet for the expectation of advantage to themselves by it.
Because he feared; not so much lest he should suffer for it, for he knew very well the doing it by night with so many hands could not hinder the discovery, and consequently the punishment of it; but lest he should be prevented from doing it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) Ten men of his servants.This shows Gideons independent position, and also that he had tried to keep his own household free from the guilt of idolatry amid the all but universal defection.
His fathers household.The Abi-ezrites.
The men of the city.Of whom many may have been of Canaanite race.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. He feared his father’s household He knew their devotion to the Baal worship, and that they would regard the overthrow of Baal’s altar as most impious sacrilege.
He could not do it by day He had reason to expect that he would be hindered from doing it if he attempted it by daylight. The angel did not command him to do it that same night; but, for the reason here given, he himself decided to set about it at once.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had said to him, and so it was that, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, so he did it by night.’
This may mean ‘a number of his servants’. Ten is frequently used to mean ‘a number of’ (e.g. Gen 31:41). The fact that they clearly had many servants, and what follows in Jdg 6:31, demonstrates the importance of Gideon’s father in the town. He was a man of position and authority. Gideon no doubt chose the servants because he knew of their allegiance to Yahweh.
He ‘did as Yahweh had said to him — by night.’ His obedience was more important than the sacrifice, although both were crucial. The fact that he did it by night was not because of cowardice, but because he simply would not have been allowed to do it by day. The whole household of his father would have risen against him in fury (which demonstrates that the house of Joash, with the consent of Joash, had also strayed into Baalism), as would the townsfolk. They would immediately have put an end by force to what he was trying to do. Whereas doing it by night it could be accomplished, and the coming morning would reveal to all what had happened. Baal had been dethroned.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 6:27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: 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.
Ver. 27. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants. ] Who were religious as himself in those corrupt times, and yielded to run the same hazard with him. So that devout centurion had a “devout soldier waiting upon him.” Act 10:7 He “feared God with all his house.” Act 10:2
That he did it by night.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and did: Deu 4:1, Mat 16:24, Joh 2:5, Joh 15:14, Gal 1:16, 1Th 2:4
he did it: Psa 112:5, Joh 3:2
Reciprocal: Gen 31:27 – Wherefore 1Sa 14:1 – he told not Neh 2:12 – I arose
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 6:27. Then Gideon took ten men Whom doubtless he had acquainted with his design, and the assurance of success in it, whereby they were easily induced to assist him. He feared Not so much lest he should suffer for it, as lest he should be prevented from doing it.