שופטים, פרק ו׳, פסוק י״ט

Gideon rushes to prepare a meal for the mysterious guest waiting for him under the tree. His actions are driven by a strong sense of hospitality, yet they are also shaped by a deep uncertainty regarding the true identity of his visitor. Going into his house to ready the food, he prepares a young goat and an ephah of flour, a measure equivalent to three seahs [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון].

This flour is baked into unleavened bread. There are two ways to understand why the bread was unleavened. One approach suggests it was simply a matter of urgency; Gideon worked with such speed that the dough did not have time to rise [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective links the meal to the specific time of year, explaining that the event took place during the holiday of Passover, specifically on the day the Omer offering was brought [רש״י].

Once the food is ready, Gideon carefully divides it into different containers. He places the meat into a basket and pours the rich broth—the liquid infused with the flavor and essence of the cooked meat—into a copper cooking pot [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This specific method of preparation and presentation is highly intentional. Gideon is caught in a state of doubt, unsure if his guest is an ordinary man who should be served a standard meal, much like the hospitality Abraham famously showed his guests, or if the visitor is an angel of God to whom he should present a sacrificial offering. To resolve this, he prepares the food in a way that serves both purposes perfectly. The meal can be eaten normally or offered as a sacrifice, allowing Gideon to test the visitor and observe how he will react to the presentation [מלבי״ם].

Finally, Gideon brings the food outside and presents it to the visitor waiting under the tree [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This distinct way of serving the meal, keeping the liquid broth separate from the meat and bread, quietly sets the stage for the miracle that is about to unfold. Soon, the angel will command Gideon to pour the broth directly onto the rock, cooling and soaking the stone. When a divine fire subsequently bursts from the bare rock to consume the meat, the miracle will be significantly magnified by the wet conditions, echoing the famous moment when fire descended upon the water-drenched altar of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel [אברבנאל].