Judges 6:32
Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a profound shift: Gideon’s father, Joash, who previously had an altar to Baal, now names his son "Jerubbaal," meaning "Let Baal contend." This isn't just a name change; it’s Joash's own dramatic, public renunciation of Baal, acknowledging its powerlessness by daring the idol to defend itself against his son.
Gideon has just been called by God to deliver Israel, and his first act of obedience is to tear down his father's altar to Baal. This bold move provokes the townspeople, but surprisingly, Gideon's own father, Joash, defends him, challenging Baal to fight for himself if he's truly a god. In response to Gideon's defiance, the people begin calling him "Jerubbaal," a name that means "Let Baal contend against him," highlighting the risky nature of his actions and the gods he dared to challenge.
Gideon's bold act of destroying the altar of Baal earned him a new name. But who gave it, and what did it really mean?
On that day, Gideon was given the name Jerubbaal. The text tells us this means 'Let Baal contend against him.'
Who Gave the Name?
There's a slight debate: did Gideon's father, Joash, give him this name, or was it a name given by the townspeople? The Hebrew can be read impersonally, suggesting it was a name the community started calling him.
The Challenge to Baal
Regardless of who first spoke it, the name is a direct challenge. It's as if they're saying, 'If Baal is truly a god, let him defend himself and get revenge on Gideon for destroying his altar!' It's a name born from an act of incredible bravery and a public declaration against idolatry.
The name Jerubbaal is more than just a label; it's a theological statement about the true power of God versus the impotence of idols.
The people's challenge, embedded in the name Jerubbaal ('Let Baal contend'), was a direct test of Baal's divine power. They wanted to see if this idol could fight back against Gideon for desecrating his worship.
The Idol's Silence
When Baal didn't contend, didn't strike Gideon down, it exposed the stark reality: Baal was no god at all. He was powerless, unable to defend himself or his worshippers.
God's Vindication
Gideon's act, and the subsequent victory over the Midianites, wasn't just a military triumph. It was a demonstration of the LORD's supreme authority. The 'contention' that did happen was God working through Gideon to deliver His people, proving His might far surpassed any idol.
The name 'Jerubbaal' was not just a nickname but a profound theological statement and a public challenge, marking Gideon as a man chosen by God to confront the idolatrous practices of his time.
c. 1100 BC
Israelite settlement and integration
Following their conquest, the Israelites settled in Canaan, gradually integrating into the existing culture. This period saw a recurring struggle between maintaining their unique covenant with Yahweh and succumbing to the pervasive Canaanite idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Rise of Baal worship
Baal, the Canaanite god of storm and fertility, became widely worshipped. His altars were erected, groves dedicated to him, and his worship was deeply intertwined with the agricultural cycle and social structures, often leading to religious syncretism among the Israelites.
c. 1090 BC
Gideon's call and divine commission
The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon, a man from a family involved in idolatry, commissioning him to deliver Israel from the Midianite oppression and to confront the idolatry within his own community.
The night of Gideon's call— this verse
Gideon destroys the altar of Baal
This passage shows a similar direct confrontation with Baal worship, where Elijah challenges the Israelites on whether they will follow the Lord or Baal, highlighting the pervasive struggle Gideon was facing.
Exodus 23:13This verse instructs Israel to not even mention the names of other gods, which directly relates to Gideon's act of destroying Baal's altar and the subsequent naming of Jerubbaal as a defiant acknowledgment of Baal's perceived power.
2 Samuel 11:21This verse shows how the name 'Baal' was later replaced with 'Bosheth' (shame) in names like Jerubbesheth, revealing a historical pattern of the Israelites either scornfully renaming idols or avoiding their names altogether due to their idolatrous associations.
Jeremiah 11:13Here, Jeremiah equates the number of altars to the number of towns in Judah, emphasizing the widespread nature of Baal worship that Gideon was courageously rebelling against.
bensonJudges 6:32: "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar."
Jdg 6:32 . He called his name Jerubbaal — That is, Let Baal plead. The meaning is, either that Joash called Gideon so, Jdg 8:1 , in remembrance of this noble exploit, and to put a brand on Baal; or that his countrymen gave him this name. For, as Houbigant observes, the Hebrew may be rendered, On that day they gave him the name of Jerubbaal. It is a probable co…
gillJudges 6:32: "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar."
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal,.... That is, Joash called his son Gideon by that name; who, some think, is the same with Jerombalus, the priest of the god Jevo, or Jehovah; from whom Sanchoniatho, an ancient Phoenician writer, as Philo Byblius says (w), received the principal things in his history respecting the Jews: saying, let Baal plead agai…
This verse highlights a profound shift: Gideon’s father, Joash, who previously had an altar to Baal, now names his son "Jerubbaal," meaning "Let Baal contend." This isn't just a name change; it’s Joash's own dramatic, public renunciation of Baal, acknowledging its powerlessness by daring the idol to defend itself against his son.
Gideon has just been called by God to deliver Israel, and his first act of obedience is to tear down his father's altar to Baal. This bold move provokes the townspeople, but surprisingly, Gideon's own father, Joash, defends him, challenging Baal to fight for himself if he's truly a god. In response to Gideon's defiance, the people begin calling him "Jerubbaal," a name that means "Let Baal contend against him," highlighting the risky nature of his actions and the gods he dared to challenge.
Gideon has just been called by God to deliver Israel, and his first act of obedience is to tear down his father's altar to Baal. This bold move provokes the townspeople, but surprisingly, Gideon's own father, Joash, defends him, challenging Baal to fight for himself if he's truly a god. In response to Gideon's defiance, the people begin calling him "Jerubbaal," a name that means "Let Baal contend against him," highlighting the risky nature of his actions and the gods he dared to challenge.
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Why does the Bible sometimes refer to Gideon by a different name later on? It reveals a deep-seated struggle with idolatry.
Later in Scripture, particularly in accounts like 2 Samuel 11:21, the name Jerubbaal is altered to Jerubbesheth. The change is significant.
'Baal' vs. 'Bosheth'
'Baal' means 'lord' or 'master,' a title of honor for the pagan deity. 'Bosheth', however, means 'shame' or 'shameful thing.'
A Deliberate Reinterpretation
This alteration wasn't accidental. It reflects the Israelites' desire to distance themselves from pagan worship and to brand the idol as nothing more than a source of shame. It shows a conscious effort to strip the idol of its perceived power and dignity, recognizing its true nature. This shows how deeply the struggle against idolatry ran, even influencing how names were remembered and spoken.
Obeying God's command, Gideon, with ten servants, secretly tears down the altar of Baal belonging to his father and cuts down the Asherah pole. He then builds a new altar to Yahweh and sacrifices a bull, symbolically dedicating himself to God's service.
The day after the destruction
Gideon is named Jerubbaal
When the townspeople discover the destruction, they demand Gideon's death. His father, Joash, defends him by stating that if Baal is truly a god, he can defend himself, bestowing upon Gideon the name Jerubbaal, meaning 'Let Baal contend against him.'
c. 1080 BC
Gideon leads Israel to victory
After a miraculous sign from God, Gideon leads a vastly outnumbered Israelite army to a decisive victory over the Midianites, initiating a period of peace for Israel.
"Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar." — This verse highlights a profound shift: Gideon’s father, Joash, who previously had an altar to Baal, now names his son "Jerubbaal," meaning "Let Baal contend." This isn't just a name change; it’s Joa…
