And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
When the men of the city got up early in the morning, they saw that the altar of Baal had been torn down, the sacred pole beside it had been cut down, and the second bull had been sacrificed on the new altar that was built.
The townspeople discovered that someone had destroyed their pagan altar and worship site overnight and built a new altar to God instead.
📚 Historical Context
This happened after God called Gideon to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression. As Gideon's first act of obedience, God commanded him to destroy his father's altar to the Canaanite god Baal and the Asherah pole (sacred grove) beside it, then build a proper altar to the Lord. Gideon did this at night because he feared his family and the townspeople's reaction to destroying their pagan worship site.
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