²⁸ When the men of the city were up early in the morning: Behold the altar of Baal was broken, and the grove that stood about it cut down. And the second ox offered upon the altar that was made. ²⁹ And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And they enquired and asked. And it was told them that Gideon the son of Joash had done it.

³⁰ Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it."

³¹ And Joash said unto all that stood by him, "Will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders? He that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a god, let him strive with him that cast down his altar!" ³² And he called Gideon "Jerubbaal" the same time, saying "Let Baal strive with him because he hath broken down his altar."

³³ When all the Midianites, the Amalekites and they of the east were gathered together and had gone and pitched in the valley of Jezreel,

³⁴ the spirit of the LORD entered into Gideon. And he blew a trumpet, and called Abiezer to follow him; ³⁵ and sent messengers throughout all Manasseh and called them up to follow him also. And he sent messengers unto Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, which came also to meet him.