And Joash said to all that stood against him, Will you plead for Baal? will you save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one has cast down his altar. Treasury of Scripture will ye plead. The words are very emphatic: 'Will ye plead in earnest for Baal? Will ye really save him? If he be God, let him contend for himself, seeing his altar is thrown down.' Exodus 23:2 You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shall you speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Numbers 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. let him be Deuteronomy 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God... Deuteronomy 17:2-7 If there be found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, man or woman... 1 Kings 18:40 And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them... if he be 1 Kings 18:27,29 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing... Psalm 115:4-7 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands... Isaiah 41:23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed... Isaiah 46:1,7 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols were on the beasts, and on the cattle: your carriages were heavy laden... Jeremiah 10:5,11 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them... 1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world...
Context Gideon Destroys Baal's Altar
24Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: to this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, Take your father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26And build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which you shall cut down. 27Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said to him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. 28And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered on the altar that was built. 29And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing. 30Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out your son, that he may die: because he has cast down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the grove that was by it. 31And Joash said to all that stood against him, Will you plead for Baal? will you save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one has cast down his altar. 32Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he has thrown down his altar. Parallel Verses American Standard Version
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? Or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered them: Are you the avengers of Baal, that you fight for him? he that is his adversary, let him die before to morrow light appear: if he be a god, let him revenge himself on him that hath cast down his altar.
Darby Bible Translation
But Jo'ash said to all who were arrayed against him, "Will you contend for Ba'al? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been pulled down."
King James Bible
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
Young's Literal Translation
And Joash saith to all who have stood against him, 'Ye, do ye plead for Baal? ye -- do ye save him? he who pleadeth for him is put to death during the morning; if he is a god he himself doth plead against him, because he hath broken down his altar.'
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