Judges 6:21-24

6:21 The Lord’s messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. 1  Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord’s messenger then disappeared. 2 

6:22 When Gideon realized 3  that it was the Lord’s messenger, he 4  said, “Oh no! 5  Master, Lord! 6  I have seen the Lord’s messenger face to face!” 6:23 The Lord said to him, “You are safe! 7  Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!” 6:24 Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.” 8  To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

1 tn Heb “extended the tip of the staff which was in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread.”

2 tn Heb “went from his eyes.”

3 tn Heb “saw.”

4 tn Heb “Gideon.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

5 tn Or “Ah!”

6 tn The Hebrew text reads אֲדֹנַי יְהוִה (’adonay yÿhvih, “Lord [the same title used in v. 15], Lord”).

7 tn Heb “Peace to you.” For a similar use of this idiom to introduce a reassuring word, see Gen 43:23.

8 tn Heb “The Lord is peace.” Gideon’s name for the altar plays on the Lord’s reassuring words to him, “Peace to you.”