Joash said unto all that stood against him— That is, against his son. There is something rational and noble in this apology which Joash makes; and it seems very likely, that the reason which he here uses had influenced his own mind; for it appears from Joshua 6:31 that he was an idolater, till convinced by this indignity which his son offered to Baal, that the latter was a wretched idol unable to help himself. Joash, in his indignation, observes, that so far from putting Gideon to death for dishonouring Baal, the man who should be so absurd as to plead for him, ought immediately himself to be put to death; since it was evident that he could be no god, by his not avenging his own cause. While it is yet morning, Houbigant renders, whoever shall defend his cause till the morning, let him die; which order the Syriac and Arabic follow.
REFLECTIONS.—To proceed in our review of this beautiful history.—Before God will advance Gideon as judge in Israel, he will put his piety as well as his courage to the test. Therefore,
1. The same night after he had appeared to him at the wine-press, he speaks to him in a vision on his bed, and commands him to overthrow the altar of Baal, which his father had erected, and at which the men of the city paid their devotions; to cut down the grove around it, or perhaps the image upon it; then build an altar on the rock where the Lord had caused the fire to break forth, and offer there his father's young bullock, designed for Baal, the second in the stall; or, and the second, another of seven years old, the two best of the herd; and this with the wood of the grove, or image, which he had cut down. Note; (1.) God often chooses unlikely instruments, as now in raising up an eminent reformer out of a house devoted to idolatry. (2.) When the blood of atonement is shed, there are comfortable hopes that the sin will be pardoned, and the affliction will end. (3.) Christ is both our rock and altar; those will be acceptable sacrifices which are offered through him. (4.) It is a wise improvement of the unrighteous mammon, when, like these monuments of idolatry, we can make it subservient to the work and service of God.
2. Gideon no sooner hears than he obeys. The same hour, probably, he arose; and, as the night best favoured his designs, and prevented interruption, before the morning, by the help of his faithful servants, whom he summoned to attend him, Baal's altar was laid in the dust, and God's new raised altar smoking with the grateful sacrifice. Note; (1.) In an idolatrous house, some are often found who bow not the knee to Baal, but, though in secret, cleave unto the Lord their God. (2.) He feared not his father's nor the people's displeasure: where the fear of God is, it swallows up every other concern. (3.) When we are called to God's work, it becomes us to make haste, and delay not. What thou doest, do quickly.
3. The morning soon disclosed the scene. The men of Baal, hasting to their devotions, are surprised to find their grove and altar ruined. Gideon soon bears the suspicion, from his known disaffection to their God: enraged even to madness, nothing will satisfy them but his blood. To this end, they call on Joash, his father, to deliver him into their hands. Note; (1.) They who will be zealous for God against men's sins, must still put their life in their hands. (2.) How early was Baal's altar visited? Shall not their false worship rise up in judgment against those who neither early nor late bow their knees before the true God?
4. Joash boldly refuses to comply with so cruel and unreasonable a request: Whether out of natural affection for his son, or, more probably, convinced of the evil of the abominable idolatry in which he had lived. He, therefore, justly rebukes them for pleading for Baal, in opposition to the Divine command; and, instead of giving up his son, justly threatens (for which he might plead the express law of God,) the person who should dare speak a word for this idol with instant death. He also contemptuously challenges Baal, if he were a god, to plead for himself; in order to convince the people, from Baal's impotence, of their folly as well as sin in trusting in him. Note; (1.) If we have been zealous in a bad cause, we should with greater zeal seek to amend what we have done amiss, by our open appearance for the truth. (2.) Nothing must prevail on us to give up the innocent, whoever combine to destroy them. (3.) Though it may be highly dangerous to reprove a wicked people, we must do our duty, and trust God with the event.