God issues a dramatic and dangerous command to Gideon, forcing a direct confrontation with the deep-rooted idolatry within his own family and community. This mission requires Gideon to risk his life to sanctify God's name, an act meant to purify him spiritually and prepare him to lead the war against Midian [אלשיך, חומת אנך]. The revelation comes as a true prophecy during a nighttime dream, where Gideon hears the divine voice without seeing any physical form [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. This contrasts with the perspective that the message is delivered through another prophet [רלב״ג].
The instructions involve taking two specific animals. The first is a large, choice bull [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or perhaps a young, select one [רש״י]. By emphasizing the animal's physical nature, God highlights that it is merely a regular beast, effectively stripping away any divine status the idolaters attribute to it [אלשיך]. The second animal is another bull [ביאור שטיינזלץ], which some identify as the second offspring of his father's large ox [רלב״ג, רד״ק]. It is described as being seven years old, indicating it is fully grown [ביאור שטיינזלץ] and that its age does not disqualify it from being an offering [חומת אנך]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that this bull was specially fattened and reserved as an idolatrous sacrifice for seven consecutive years. This duration perfectly mirrors the seven years the Israelites suffered under Midianite oppression [רלב״ג, אברבנאל]. In fact, the townspeople have vowed to sacrifice this very bull to the local idol, Baal, the moment they are saved from Midian's control [מלבי״ם].
An obvious question arises as to why God tells Gideon to take two bulls when only one is ultimately sacrificed. One view suggests that God is responding to Gideon's uncertainty about which animal to use. God first tells him to take his father's bull, but then issues a new, primary instruction to sacrifice the second bull belonging to the townspeople [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective explains that taking both animals is a calculated tactic to protect Gideon. The first bull belongs to his father, while the second is the public animal dedicated to Baal. By taking both, Gideon creates a cover story. When the townspeople discover their sacred bull is missing, Gideon's father can claim his own private bull was also stolen. The community will then blame an outside thief, shielding Gideon from suspicion [אברבנאל].
After securing the bulls, Gideon is ordered to destroy the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah, a sacred tree planted nearby that the idolaters forbid anyone to harm [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This mission involves a highly unusual spiritual and legal exception. To strengthen Gideon's faith and publicly sanctify His name, God temporarily permits him to violate eight severe religious prohibitions in a single night. For this specific event, Gideon is allowed to offer a sacrifice at night, act as a priest though he is not one, build a private altar, use an animal that was worshiped and dedicated to an idol, and fuel the fire with wood from the forbidden Asherah tree [רש״י, רד״ק, אלשיך, אברבנאל].