Following a wondrous and miraculous revelation, a physical memorial is established to convey a profound message about the nature of God and His active presence in the world. Gideon builds an altar in the exact location where he witnessed the divine miracle [מלבי״ם].
The primary approach among commentators is that Gideon himself names the altar to reflect his experience. He gives it a name meaning "God is Peace" to declare that God is the ultimate source of peace [רש״י] and to serve as a lasting reminder that God spoke comforting words of peace to him precisely in that spot [מצודת דוד]. On a deeper, philosophical level, this name reflects Gideon's realization that God is the peace of all worlds—the unifying thread that connects and sustains every part of reality [מלבי״ם].
However, another perspective suggests that it is actually God who names the altar "Peace." At the time, the people of Gideon's city were deeply entrenched in idol worship, leading Gideon to fear that they would tear down his new monument. By naming it "Peace," God issues a divine promise that the altar will remain completely safe and protected from the destructive hands of the townspeople [מלבי״ם].
The association of God with peace carries significant practical and spiritual weight. The Sages learn from this event that "Peace" is not merely a common greeting, but one of the actual, holy names of God. Because of this sacred status, Jewish law forbids greeting a friend with the word "Peace" in unclean locations, such as a bathhouse. Furthermore, this deep reverence forms the basis for legal discussions regarding the strict prohibition against erasing the word "Peace" once it is written down [מנחת שי, מלבי״ם].
The physical survival of the altar serves as a lasting testament to these events. It remains standing in the city of Ophrah, the ancestral land of Gideon's family [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Its continued existence over time stands as a living witness to the initial miracle. Ultimately, its survival proves that the divine blessing of peace truly rested upon the altar, successfully shielding it from the hostile crowds [מלבי״ם].