Judges 6:28 - When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.

Generated Verse: Judges 6:28

What does "Judges 6:28" mean?


This verse describes the immediate aftermath of Gideon's act of defiance against the local pagan worship. Let's break it down:

"When the men of the city arose early in the morning...": This sets the scene. The following events are discovered the morning after they happened.

"...behold, the altar of Baal was broken down...": Baal was a prominent Canaanite god. His altar, a place of worship and sacrifice, has been destroyed, likely in a dramatic fashion.

"...and the Asherah was cut down that was by it...": An Asherah pole or image was a wooden object representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often placed near Baal's altar. It has been chopped down, further desecrating the pagan shrine.

"...and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.": This is the most significant part. Gideon (as later revealed) has not only destroyed the pagan idols but has used their altar, which he rebuilt with the stone from the destroyed Baal altar. He then sacrificed a bull to Yahweh (God of Israel), showing that the only God to be worshipped is Yahweh. The "second bull" is likely a reference to a prized or special bull, suitable for sacrifice to God.

In summary:

The verse depicts the townsfolk's shock and horror at discovering the destruction of their pagan worship center. The actions were a deliberate act of rebellion against Baal worship and a bold declaration of allegiance to Yahweh. The sacrifice of the bull on the reconstructed altar is particularly significant. It is not just the destruction of the old ways but the establishing of Yahweh worship in its place.