The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 11. Angel; Michael. Menochius.—Some think it was the prophet who had addressed the people, or Phinees, according to the Rabbins. See Saint Augustine q. 31. Others believe it was the Son of God, who takes the name of Jehovah. Broughton and other Protest.—But the most natural opinion is, that a real angel was sent, in the name of God, like that which appeared to Moses, and assumed the incommunicable name, as the ambassador of God. Gedeon took him for a man, and presented him a noble feast, without designing to offer sacrifice to him. Maimonides and Grotius seem to suppose that all this passed in a dream; but the sequal refutes this opinion.—Ephra, a city of the half tribe of Manasses, on the west side of the Jordan, of which Joas was the richest citizen. He was of the family of Ezri, and a descendant of Abiezer. 1 Chronicles 8:18. Hebrew might be rendered, “Joas, the Abiezerite.” Calmet. 8:32 and 13:2.—Madian. Not having the convenience of cleansing the wheat in the open field, Gedeon was doing it privately, with a design to carry it off, at the approach of the enemy, and to support himself and family in some cavern. Hebrew takes no notice of cleaning: “Gedeon threshed wheat, by the wine press, to hide it, or to flee,” and so forth He probably used a flail, or some smaller sticks, such as were employed to beat out olives. Isaiah 28:27. Ruth 2:17. Calmet.—The wheat harvest was about Pentecost, that of barley was at Easter. It seems the Madianites had been later than usual this year, in making their incursions, verse 33. Bible.