Judges 6:11

Under an oak. Literally, “under the terebinth.” The Hebrew word used here designates the terebinth, or turpentine tree, which resembles the oak when leafless, except that it grows singly and not in clusters. This terebinth was the property, we are told, of Gideon’s father.

Ophrah. Although the exact site of this city is unknown, it seems, from the narrative of ch. 9, that it must have been in the vicinity of Shechem. It belonged to the clan of Abiezerites (ch. 6:24), who were of the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:2).

By the winepress. The usual location of threshing floors was in the open fields. But such locations were too vulnerable to attack (1 Sam. 23:1). To avoid detection, Gideon resorted to a wine press, a vat dug out of the ground, hoping that the wandering groups of Midianites would not search in such an unlikely place. Working thus in the wine press, he would be able to thresh only a little at a time.

Mighty man of valour. These words may suggest that Gideon had already distinguished himself by bravery in war. In the statement of ch. 8:18 there is a hint of some earlier clash with the Midianites on Mt. Tabor. Gideon, at this time, was probably nearing middle age, inasmuch as he had a son in his teens (ch. 8:20). He may also have been a man of means as indicated by the fact that he had many servants and even a personal attendant, or armor-bearer (ch. 7:10). But the fact that he may have been a person of means and reputation did not make him feel that the performance of the menial tasks of a farmer was beneath him. It is worthy of note that when God appears to men to call them to a task, or to give them a message from heaven, He generally calls on those who are busy, perhaps with their common everyday tasks, such as the apostles at fishing, or the shepherds keeping their flocks. A person employed in honest business is more likely to receive heavenly visitors than one who spends his time in idleness, for God cannot use lazy men in His cause.