By giving this name, Joash was certainly not denying Baal’s existence. Rather, it serves as a challenge: who is the true God, Baal or Yahweh? The name reflects the Baalists’ hope that Gideon will lose his war against the Midianites as revenge for his attack on the Baal.
1 For now, Gideon’s continued existence was living proof of Baal’s inability to defend his own honor.
2
32 Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.