Judges 6:14

6:14 Then the Lord himself¹ turned to him and said, “You have the strength.² Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites!³ Have I not sent you?”

Judges 6:17-20

6:17 Gideon⁴ said to him, “If you really are pleased with me,⁵ then give me⁶ a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. 6:18 Do not leave this place until I come back⁷ with a gift⁸ and present it to you.” The Lord said, “I will stay here until you come back.”

6:19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat,⁹ along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food¹⁰ to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. 6:20 God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock,¹¹ and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed.¹²

¹sn Some interpreters equate the Lord and the messenger in this story, but they are more likely distinct. In vv. 22-23 the Lord and Gideon continue to carry on a conversation after the messenger has vanished (v. 21).

²tn Heb “Go in this strength of yours.”

³tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”

⁴tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.”

⁶tn Heb “perform for me.”

⁷tn The Hebrew text adds “to you,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁸tn Heb “and I will bring out my gift.” The precise nuance of the Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minkhah, “gift”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a gift offered as a sign of goodwill or submission. In some cases it is used of a gift offered to appease someone whom the offerer has offended. The word can also carry a sacrificial connotation.

⁹tn Heb “a kid from among the goats.”

¹⁰tn The words “the food” are not in the Hebrew text (an implied direct object). They are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

¹¹tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.”

¹²tn Heb “and he did so.”