The previous verses spoke of an unknown prophet sent to Israel. We only find the prophet’s message described, but the effect and reaction of the people are not mentioned. Immediately following the account of this prophet, we find the introduction of Gideon.
Judges 6
11 And the messenger of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abi-Ezrite. And Gideon…
angel?
The Hebrew word malak is usually translated as “angel,” but literally means: messenger. This can be a heavenly or spiritual being (Gen. 22:11), but they are not always recognized as such (Gen. 19:1). Sometimes it simply means a messenger or envoy (Judg. 6:35; 7:24; 9:31). The same applies to the Greek word angelos. Compare Matthew 11:10 with Luke 2:9. We will see that this “angel of YAHWEH” is a representation of Christ.
The Oak
In the Bible, the oak represents God’s promises. We see that Abraham, after receiving God’s promises, settled near an oak tree or near the oak groves of Moreh or Mamre (Gen. 12:6; 13:18; 18:1). Jacob buried the foreign gods and ornaments of his house under an oak tree (Gen. 35:4), thus putting an end to idolatry. And Joshua made a covenant with the people and confirmed it by setting up a large stone under the oak tree (Josh. 24:25-26).
Oak and Oath
The Hebrew word for oak (elah) is closely related to the word for oath (alah). The oak tree represents the oath God swore to Abraham. That’s why the patriarchs settled near oak trees, buried their dead there, and why the oak played a role in other important occasions.
Acorn
The fruit of the oak, the acorn, is also significant. Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of God’s promise. During circumcision, the foreskin is removed, revealing the glans. The flesh is removed to reveal something new, an emblem of death and resurrection and of fertility (new life).
Later, David defeated the giant Goliath in the Valley of Oaks (1 Sam. 17:2,19). David is a type of the Son of David, who defeated the adversary (Hebrew: Satan). The oak and acorn represent resurrection life and victory over death.
Valley of Elah
Yet later, David and a group stayed in the cave of Adullam, in the same area where the Valley of Elah is located. This was after the victory, but before he sat on the throne as king. A beautiful image of our time, in which the Son of David has conquered death, but His Kingdom is not yet revealed. We are His body and belong to Him, misunderstood by the world, but with a perspective that reminds us daily of the great victory!