Saturday, February 19, 2022

Roger Ryan on Gideon and the Fleece

  

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)