שופטים, פרק ו׳, פסוק ל׳

Outraged by the destruction of their local idols, the townspeople seek immediate justice. They confront Joash with a firm demand to punish his son for tearing down the altar of Baal and cutting down the Asherah tree.

The crowd issues a direct order for the father to hand his son over into their custody [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their words carry a deadly promise. Rather than merely stating that the young man deserves to lose his life, the men of the city are making an active, explicit threat. They openly declare their intention to take matters into their own hands and execute him [מצודת דוד].