SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:31
Y Joás respondió a todos los que estaban junto a él: ¿Tomaréis vosotros el pleito por Baal? o ¿le salvaréis vosotros? Cualquiera que tomare el pleito por él, que muera mañana. Si es Dios, pleitee por sí mismo con el que derribó su altar.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 6:31
Verse 31. Will ye plead for Baal?] The words are very emphatic "Will ye plead in earnest wbyrt for Baal? Will ye w[ywt really save him? If he be God, µyhla Elohim, let him contend for himself, seeing his altar is thrown down." The paragogic letters in the words plead and save greatly increase the sense. Joash could not slay his son; but he was satisfied he had insulted Baal: if Baal were the true God, he would avenge his own injured honour. This was a sentiment among the heathens. Thus Tacitus, lib. i., c. 73, A.U.C. 768, mentioning the letter of Tiberius to the consuls in behalf of Cassius and Rubrius, two Roman knights, one of whom was accused of having sold a statue of Augustus in the auction of his gardens; and the other, of having sworn falsely by the name of Augustus, who had been deified by the senate; among other things makes him say: Non ideo decretum patri suo coelum, ut in perniciem civium is honour verteretur. Nec contra religiones fieri quod effigies ejus, utalia nu minum simulachra, venditionibus hortorum et domuum accedant. Jusjurandum perinde aestimandum quam si Jovem fefellisset: deorum injuriae diis curae-"That Divine honours were not decreed to his father (Augustus) to lay snares for the citizens; and if his statue, in common with the images of the gods in general, was put up to sale with the houses and gardens, it could not be considered an injury to religion. That any false oath must be considered as an attempt to deceive Jupiter himself; but the gods themselves must take cognizance of the injuries done unto them." Livy has a similar sentiment, Hist. lib. x., c. 6, where, speaking of some attempts made to increase the number of the augurs out of the commons, with which the senators were displeased, he says: Simulabant ad deos id magis, quam ad se pertinere; ipsos visuros, ne sacra sua polluantur. - "They pretended that these things belonged more to the gods than themselves; and that they would take care that their sacred rites were not polluted."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. And Joash said unto all that stood against him , etc.] Against his son; that were his accusers and adversaries, and required him to be given up to them, that they might put him to death: will ye plead for Baal ? what, Israelites, and plead for Baal! or what need is there for this, cannot he plead for himself? will ye save him ? what, take upon you to save your god! cannot he save himself? he ought to save both himself and you, if he is a god, and not you save him: he that will plead for him, let him be put to death, while it is yet morning ; immediately, before noon, for it was now morning when they came to him; this he said to terrify them, and to express the hatred he now had of idolatry, and the just sense of its being punishable with death by the law of God. This he may be supposed to say, to save his son from their present wrath and fury, hoping by that time to find out some ways and means for his safety: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar ; if he is a god, he knows who has done it, and is able to avenge himself on him, and put him to death himself that has done it, and therefore leave it with him to plead his own cause, and avenge his own injuries; this he said, deriding the deity; for though Joash had been a worshipper of Baal, yet he might be now convinced by his son of the sinfulness of it, and of the necessity of a reformation, in order to a deliverance from the Midianites, for which he had a commission, and had perhaps informed his father of it; or however he was not so attached to Baal, but that he preferred the life of his son to the worship of him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 25-32 - See the power of God's grace, that he could raise up a reformer; an the kindness of his grace, that he would raise up a deliverer, out of the family of a leader in idolatry. Gideon must not think it enough no to worship at that altar; he must throw it down, and offer sacrifice of another. It was needful he should make peace with God, before he mad war on Midian. Till sin be pardoned through the great Sacrifice, n good is to be expected. God, who has all hearts in his hands influenced Joash to appear for his son against the advocates for Baal though he had joined formerly in the worship of Baal. Let us do ou duty, and trust God with our safety. Here is a challenge to Baal, to d either good or evil; the result convinced his worshippers of their folly, in praying to one to help them that could not avenge himself.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 יואשׁ 3101 לכל 3605 אשׁר 834 עמדו 5975 עליו 5921 האתם 859 תריבון 7378 לבעל 1168 אם 518 אתם 859 תושׁיעון 3467 אותו 853 אשׁר 834 יריב 7378 לו יומת 4191 עד 5704 הבקר 1242 אם 518 אלהים 430 הוא 1931 ירב 7378 לו כי 3588 נתץ 5422 את 853 מזבחו׃ 4196
