And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
That same night, the LORD said to him, 'Take your father's young bull—the second bull that is seven years old—and tear down the altar to Baal that your father has built, and cut down the wooden pole that stands beside it.'
God is commanding Gideon to destroy his own father's pagan worship site and use the sacrifice meant for false gods to worship the true God instead.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Israel's period of oppression by the Midianites, when many Israelites had turned to worshiping Canaanite gods like Baal for protection and prosperity. Gideon's father had built an altar to Baal and set up an Asherah pole (wooden grove), which were common pagan worship practices that God had forbidden.
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