Gideon’s Signs (vv. 36-40)
Gideon has an empowering
encounter with the spirit of Yahweh when he is either clothed from the outside
like a cloak or resided within by the spirit when he is worn like an outer
garment. The spirit either comes upon Gideon or takes possession of him. The time
for Israel’s militia to assemble has arrived. Gideon’s own Abiezrite clan
respond to the call of his ram’s horn as does the militia from Asher, Zebulun
and Naphtali. However, even though he has an empowering clothing encounter with
Yahweh’s spirit and is followed by Israel’s militia under arms, Gideon still
wants further assurances. He asks for signs with a fleece, first wet then dry,
as sign-evidence that Yahweh will deliver Israel by his hand as Yahweh has
said. Demanding signs from Yahweh with a wool fleece, first one way then
another, may not be the language of one who is wearing or being worn by
Yahweh’s spirit; it is, however, the understandable request of one who is
cautious before engaging formidable oppressors.
In summary, Gideon is naturally
cool and cautious. He is careful and circumspect about the proposed conflict
with nomadic invaders whose numbers are insurmountable. He asks for
sign-evidence—first from Yahweh’s messenger, then from Yahweh—that he is not
called to participate in a fool’s errand. In the chapter that follows, the
reading demonstrates that Gideon’s repeated request for signs do not
necessarily reveal timidity and cowardice. They are his means of being
reassured—before engaging a formidable foe—that Yahweh will do what Yahweh has
promised. (Roger Ryan, Judges [Readings: A New Biblical Commentary; Sheffield:
Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2007], 50-51)
[on Gideon and the 300 in Judg 7:2-8]
Gideon has already received an
abundance of reassurances which add up to a substantial list of sign-evidence
that he is the one to deliver Israel. Yahweh promises Gideon that he will not
be alone, since Yahweh will be with him. He is assured that all the invaders
will be struck down. Gideon observes the ascent of fire from the Ophrah rock
and the withdrawal of Yahweh’s messenger. Moreover, he receives Yahweh’s
reassurance of peace; he is not to be afraid, he will not die. Gideon’s positive
response to what he observes and hears at Ophrah shows that he is impressed
when he builds an altar which he calls ‘Yahweh is peace’ and his reassurances
continue. Gideon is instructed by Yahweh in a dream to burn the Ophrah Baal
furniture and sacrifice his father’s bull. He receives support from his father
who does not join the townspeople in their outrage against his son.
Baal neither strives nor
contends. Gideon is clothed by Yahweh’s spirit. When he musters his own clan,
the tribes willingly follow. Yahweh obliges with the two fleece signs, first
wet, then dry. Gideon is followed to Harod by 32,000 Israelites mustered to
engage the nomadic invaders. After encountering Yahweh’s spirit, Gideon’s
repeated requests for signs do not necessarily reveal his fearfulness and
timidity or indicate cowardice but are his means of being reassured, before
engaging a formidable foe, that Yahweh will do what Yahweh has promised.
Israel’s next deliverer is almost ready. (Ibid., 52-53)
