Judges Chapter 6 · Verse 26

Authorized King James Version

Study PDF

And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

Original Language Analysis

וּבָנִ֨יתָ And build H1129
וּבָנִ֨יתָ And build
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 1 of 19
to build (literally and figuratively)
מִזְבֵּ֜חַ an altar H4196
מִזְבֵּ֜חַ an altar
Strong's: H4196
Word #: 2 of 19
an altar
לַֽיהוָ֣ה unto the LORD H3068
לַֽיהוָ֣ה unto the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 4 of 19
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
עַ֣ל H5921
עַ֣ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 5 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹ֧אשׁ upon the top H7218
רֹ֧אשׁ upon the top
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 6 of 19
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הַמָּע֛וֹז of this rock H4581
הַמָּע֛וֹז of this rock
Strong's: H4581
Word #: 7 of 19
a fortified place; figuratively, a defense
הַזֶּ֖ה H2088
הַזֶּ֖ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 8 of 19
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
בַּמַּֽעֲרָכָ֑ה in the ordered place H4634
בַּמַּֽעֲרָכָ֑ה in the ordered place
Strong's: H4634
Word #: 9 of 19
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ and take H3947
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ and take
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 10 of 19
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 11 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַפָּ֣ר bullock H6499
הַפָּ֣ר bullock
Strong's: H6499
Word #: 12 of 19
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
הַשֵּׁנִ֔י the second H8145
הַשֵּׁנִ֔י the second
Strong's: H8145
Word #: 13 of 19
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
וְהַֽעֲלִ֣יתָ and offer H5927
וְהַֽעֲלִ֣יתָ and offer
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 14 of 19
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
עוֹלָ֔ה a burnt sacrifice H5930
עוֹלָ֔ה a burnt sacrifice
Strong's: H5930
Word #: 15 of 19
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
בַּֽעֲצֵ֥י with the wood H6086
בַּֽעֲצֵ֥י with the wood
Strong's: H6086
Word #: 16 of 19
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה of the grove H842
הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה of the grove
Strong's: H842
Word #: 17 of 19
asherah (or astarte) a phoenician goddess; also an image of the same
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 18 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תִּכְרֹֽת׃ which thou shalt cut down H3772
תִּכְרֹֽת׃ which thou shalt cut down
Strong's: H3772
Word #: 19 of 19
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

Analysis & Commentary

God commands Gideon to take his father's bull ('thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old') and destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, then build a proper altar to Yahweh on the stronghold's top and offer the bull as burnt offering using wood from the cut-down Asherah. This complex instruction addresses multiple issues:

  1. reforming family/clan worship
  2. removing idolatry at its source
  3. establishing proper Yahweh worship
  4. demonstrating covenant faithfulness publicly.

The 'second bullock of seven years old' likely refers to a specific bull or may indicate a seven-year-old bull suitable for sacrifice.

Historical Context

Baal worship had infiltrated even Gideon's family—his father Joash maintained a Baal altar and Asherah pole. Baal, the Canaanite storm/fertility god, and Asherah, the mother goddess represented by wooden poles or living trees, dominated Canaanite religion. That Gideon's family participated in this syncretism shows the depth of Israel's apostasy during the judges period. The command to use Asherah wood for the burnt offering symbolizes the complete destruction of idolatry and its appropriation for true worship.

Questions for Reflection