But Joash said to all who were arrayed against him: But renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction, since it has a contrastive function here. All who were arrayed against him (literally “all who stood against/on him”) describes the townspeople. Many versions take this expression literally. For example, New Jerusalem Bible has “the people all crowding round him.” Others express it more figuratively. For example, Good News Translation says “all those who confronted him,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “all who had risen against him.” Contemporary English Version reorders this whole clause, saying “The crowd pushed closer and closer, but Joash replied.” Translators can imagine the scene and describe it in an effective way.
Will you contend for Baal?: As Baal’s priest, Joash seems surprised and indignant at the crowd’s animosity. Through this rhetorical question, Joash asks the people whether they will take his place as priest and speak on behalf of the god Baal. The Hebrew verb rendered contend (riv) is part of judicial language, often used in court cases or lawsuits. It appears three times in this verse and is clearly in focus. It can mean “take sides,” “make a case,” or “defend.” Good News Translation renders this question as “Are you arguing for Baal?” while Revised English Bible says “Are you pleading Baal’s cause then?” Contemporary English Version has “Are you trying to take revenge for Baal?” which may be saying slightly more than the text. The rhetorical question will be effective in most languages, but in some, an exclamation may be better, such as “You dare to take Baal’s side!” In Hebrew there is an independent pronoun for you in this question and the next one, so these accusations spotlight the townspeople. To express this emphasis, we might say “Are you the ones who will defend Baal?” or “So you’re the ones who will defend Baal?”
Or will you defend his cause? is literally “or will you save him?” This rhetorical question does not use the judicial word defend, but rather the key Hebrew verb (yashaʿ) of this book meaning “deliver,” “save,” or “rescue” (see comments on verse 2.16). This term is often used to describe the mission of the judges in Israel, so this question is filled with bitter irony. New International Version says “Are you trying to save him?” Translators might express some of the irony with “Are you the ones coming to his rescue?” If rhetorical questions are not effective in this context, strong statements can be used, for example, “Surely you wouldn’t dare to defend Baal! Surely you would not try to save him!” At first glance these two questions might be interpreted as asking the people to defend Baal. But clearly, given the following lines, the questions are accusatory, underlining the Israelites’ idolatry and their unfaithfulness to the LORD. However, Joash’s abrupt change in attitude may be an attempt to save himself or his son from the crowd. In Old Testament times the audience usually was familiar with the various developments in the story and its outcome. These questions in the mouth of Gideon’s father take on even more irony considering that at the end of this long episode, Gideon will follow in his father’s footsteps by building an unholy altar in his own courtyard.
Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning: Joash makes a direct threat against those opposing Gideon, and the act he carried out. Thus it is clear he has begun to “change sides,” defending his son’s act. Though he does not say who will carry out the sentence, Joash threatens with death anyone who tries to defend or vindicate Baal. Whoever means “anyone who” or “the person who.” Contends is the same verb used above. The pronoun him refers to the god Baal. Shall be put to death renders a causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “die” (see verse 6.30). It is not clear if Joash is thinking that he or others will execute the offender or whether perhaps God himself will punish the person. Because of this uncertain meaning, translators should try to be as general as possible, retaining an expression like shall be put to death. For example, Good News Translation says “will be killed.” By morning is literally “until the morning.” It means “before/by the time the sun comes up,” which may be a more emphatic way to express the idea. Contemporary English Version says “before another day dawns.” Morning repeats the word from verse 6.28, thus forming an inclusio around this passage. In some languages this sentence can be recast as a condition-consequence by saying “If anyone tries to take Baal’s side, before morning, that person will die.”
For the first half of this verse we suggest:
• But Joash said to all those who opposed him, “Would you dare to defend Baal? Can you save him? If anyone of you tries to defend Baal, that person will be dead before morning!
• But Joash said to those who stood against him, “You cannot defend Baal! You cannot save him! If any of you try, you will die before the sun comes up!
If he is a god, let him contend for himself: Joash says with some irony that Baal can look after his own interests. In some languages the conditional particle If may be better rendered “Since.” If here introduces what is known as an “unreal condition,” asserting the opposite: Baal is not a god. Translators should try to express this idea in their rendering of this statement. Joash is trying to reason with the people. Here again there is another indication that Joash has either had a change of heart or is simply trying to save his and his son’s lives. The pronoun he refers to Baal, and may need to be specified to avoid confusion (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew word for god is ʾelohim, the same one that can be used for the true God or other deities. Almost all versions take this reference to ʾelohim to be god, with a lowercase “g.” It is not a reference to the LORD God. We might say “If Baal has divine power…” or “If Baal is really someone to be worshiped….”
Let him contend for himself renders another subjunctive expression in Hebrew, so it is a challenge to Baal to act. Joash’s message is that it is Baal himself, and not the townspeople, who should fight his cause. The verb contend occurs for the third time in this verse. This clause may be rendered “he should fight for himself” or “he can fight for himself.”
Because his altar has been pulled down: Because renders the Hebrew conjunction ki, which can introduce a reason, some kind of background information, or an emphatic statement. Its interpretation will depend on how the next words are understood and translated. The text seems to literally say “because he has pulled down his altar.” The problem here is it is unclear who Joash is claiming pulled down the altar. Is it Baal, Gideon, or a neutral “someone”? Revised Standard Version opts for the last interpretation and uses an agentless passive construction: his altar has been pulled down. Similar renderings are “It is his altar that was torn down” (Good News Translation), “it is his altar that has been torn down” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “someone has torn down his altar” (Revised English Bible). If the text is taken literally, it could imply that Baal himself tore down his own altar. It is possible that Joash is lying or trying to trick the people, in order to save his son’s life, but no version seems to favor this interpretation. On the other hand, New Jerusalem Bible thinks Joash is referring to Gideon, and this is made explicit in that translation. Indeed, in the following verse (verse 6.32) the exact same clause occurs, and there it unambiguously has this meaning. For the Hebrew verb rendered pulled down, see verse 6.28, where it is translated “broken down.”
Translation models for the last half of this verse are:
• If Baal really is a god, then let him defend himself. After all, it is his altar that was pulled down.”
• If Baal has divine power, let him fight for himself against the person who tore his altar down!”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .