Gideon's father, Joash, who shared in the apostasy of his countrymen, had erected at Ophrah, where he dwelt, a large altar to Baal, at which the people of the town worshiped. Gideon was commanded to destroy this altar and to erect an altar to Jehovah over the rock on which the offering had been consumed, and there to present a sacrifice to the Lord. The offering of sacrifice to God had been committed to the priests, and had been restricted to the altar at Shiloh; but He who had established the ritual service, and to whom all its offerings pointed, had power to change its requirements. The deliverance of Israel was to be preceded by a solemn protest against the worship of Baal. Gideon must declare war upon idolatry before going out to battle with the enemies of his people.


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De første dommere

Gideons fader Joasj, som tog del i sine landsmænds frafald, havde bygget et stort alter til Baal i Ofra, hvor han boede. Her tilbad byens befolkning. Gideon fik befaling om at ødelægge dette alter og bygge et alter til Gud på den klippe, hvor offeret var blevet fortæret. Her skulle han bringe Herren et offer. Gud havde indsat præsterne til at ofre, og der måtte kun ofres på alteret i Silo; men han, der havde forordnet gudstjenesten og selv var midtpunkt for alle ofrene, havde også myndighed til at ændre forskrifterne. Før Israel blev befriet, skulle der protesteres kraftigt imod Baaldyrkelsen. Gideon skulle erklære afgudsdyrkelsen krig, før han drog ud for at kæmpe med folkets fjender.

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