Though the worship of Baal became widespread in Israel again and again, Yahweh was never completely forgotten. As they suffered from the Midianites, they cried out for help to Yahweh. And Gideon knew him; he knew the stories about the great things Yahweh had done in Israel’s past (Judges 6:13). People must have turned, as is the general human weakness, to the god whom they felt would be of most use to them. Both religions were probably not considered mutually exclusive; an inconspicuous altar of Yahweh might have been condoned (Judges 6:24), yet the worship of Baal was official, his altar revered, and its destruction and replacement evoked outrage.
30 Alors les gens de la ville dirent à Joas: Fais sortir ton fils, et qu'il meure, car il a renversé l'autel de Baal et abattu le pieu sacré qui était dessus.