Judges 6:25-32

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²⁵ That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father and cut down the sacred pole^[a] that is beside it^{(A) 26} and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, in proper order;^[b] then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the sacred pole^[c] that you cut down.” ²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had told him, but because he was too afraid of his family and the townspeople to do it by day, he did it by night.

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

²⁸ When the townspeople rose early in the morning, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the sacred pole^[d] beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built.^{(B) 29} So they said to one another, “Who has done this?” After searching and inquiring, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” ³⁰ Then the townspeople said to Joash, “Bring out your son so that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Baal and cut down the sacred pole^[e] beside it.” ³¹ But Joash said to all who were arrayed against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been pulled down.” ³² Therefore on that day Gideon^[f] was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he pulled down his altar.^(C)