1 Then Jerubbaal, H3378 who is Gideon, H1439 and all the people H5971 that were with him, rose up early, H7925 and pitched H2583 beside the well of Harod: H5878 so that the host H4264 of the Midianites H4080 were on the north side H6828 of them, by the hill H1389 of Moreh, H4176 in the valley. H6010
2 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 The people H5971 that are with thee are too many H7227 for me to give H5414 the Midianites H4080 into their hands, H3027 lest Israel H3478 vaunt H6286 themselves against me, saying, H559 Mine own hand H3027 hath saved H3467 me.
3 Now therefore go to, H4994 proclaim H7121 in the ears H241 of the people, H5971 saying, H559 Whosoever is fearful H3373 and afraid, H2730 let him return H7725 and depart early H6852 from mount H2022 Gilead. H1568 And there returned H7725 of the people H5971 twenty H6242 and two H8147 thousand; H505 and there remained H7604 ten H6235 thousand. H505
4 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 The people H5971 are yet too many; H7227 bring them down H3381 unto the water, H4325 and I will try H6884 them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say H559 unto thee, This shall go H3212 with thee, the same shall go H3212 with thee; and of whomsoever I say H559 unto thee, This shall not go H3212 with thee, the same shall not go. H3212
5 So he brought down H3381 the people H5971 unto the water: H4325 and the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 Every one that lappeth H3952 of the water H4325 with his tongue, H3956 as a dog H3611 lappeth, H3952 him shalt thou set H3322 by himself; likewise every one that boweth down H3766 upon his knees H1290 to drink. H8354
6 And the number H4557 of them that lapped, H3952 putting their hand H3027 to their mouth, H6310 were three H7969 hundred H3967 men: H376 but all the rest H3499 of the people H5971 bowed down H3766 upon their knees H1290 to drink H8354 water. H4325
7 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 By the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 that lapped H3952 will I save H3467 you, and deliver H5414 the Midianites H4080 into thine hand: H3027 and let all the other people H5971 go H3212 every man H376 unto his place. H4725
8 So the people H5971 took H3947 victuals H6720 in their hand, H3027 and their trumpets: H7782 and he sent H7971 all H376 the rest of Israel H3478 every man H376 unto his tent, H168 and retained H2388 those three H7969 hundred H3967 men: H376 and the host H4264 of Midian H4080 was beneath him in the valley. H6010
9 And it came to pass the same night, H3915 that the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Arise, H6965 get thee down H3381 unto the host; H4264 for I have delivered H5414 it into thine hand. H3027
10 But if thou fear H3373 to go down, H3381 go H3381 thou with Phurah H6513 thy servant H5288 down H3381 to the host: H4264
11 And thou shalt hear H8085 what they say; H1696 and afterward H310 shall thine hands H3027 be strengthened H2388 to go down H3381 unto the host. H4264 Then went he down H3381 with Phurah H6513 his servant H5288 unto the outside H7097 of the armed men H2571 that were in the host. H4264
12 And the Midianites H4080 and the Amalekites H6002 and all the children H1121 of the east H6924 lay H5307 along in the valley H6010 like grasshoppers H697 for multitude; H7230 and their camels H1581 were without number, H4557 as the sand H2344 by the sea H3220 side H8193 for multitude. H7230
13 And when Gideon H1439 was come, H935 behold, there was a man H376 that told H5608 a dream H2472 unto his fellow, H7453 and said, H559 Behold, I dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and, lo, a cake H6742 H6742 of barley H8184 bread H3899 tumbled H2015 into the host H4264 of Midian, H4080 and came H935 unto a tent, H168 and smote H5221 it that it fell, H5307 and overturned H2015 H4605 it, that the tent H168 lay along. H5307
14 And his fellow H7453 answered H6030 and said, H559 This is nothing else save the sword H2719 of Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 a man H376 of Israel: H3478 for into his hand H3027 hath God H430 delivered H5414 Midian, H4080 and all the host. H4264
15 And it was so, when Gideon H1439 heard H8085 the telling H4557 of the dream, H2472 and the interpretation H7667 thereof, that he worshipped, H7812 and returned H7725 into the host H4264 of Israel, H3478 and said, H559 Arise; H6965 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 into your hand H3027 the host H4264 of Midian. H4080
16 And he divided H2673 the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 into three H7969 companies, H7218 and he put H5414 a trumpet H7782 in every man's hand, H3027 with empty H7386 pitchers, H3537 and lamps H3940 within H8432 the pitchers. H3537
17 And he said H559 unto them, Look H7200 on me, and do H6213 likewise: and, behold, when I come H935 to the outside H7097 of the camp, H4264 it shall be that, as I do, H6213 so shall ye do. H6213
18 When I blow H8628 with a trumpet, H7782 I and all that are with me, then blow H8628 ye the trumpets H7782 also on every side H5439 of all the camp, H4264 and say, H559 The sword of the LORD, H3068 and of Gideon. H1439
19 So Gideon, H1439 and the hundred H3967 men H376 that were with him, came H935 unto the outside H7097 of the camp H4264 in the beginning H7218 of the middle H8484 watch; H821 and they had but H389 newly H6965 set H6965 the watch: H8104 and they blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and brake H5310 the pitchers H3537 that were in their hands. H3027
20 And the three H7969 companies H7218 blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and brake H7665 the pitchers, H3537 and held H2388 the lamps H3940 in their left H8040 hands, H3027 and the trumpets H7782 in their right H3225 hands H3027 to blow H8628 withal: and they cried, H7121 The sword H2719 of the LORD, H3068 and of Gideon. H1439
21 And they stood H5975 every man H376 in his place round about H5439 the camp: H4264 and all the host H4264 ran, H7323 and cried, H7321 and fled. H5127 H5127
22 And the three H7969 hundred H3967 blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and the LORD H3068 set H7760 every man's H376 sword H2719 against his fellow, H7453 even throughout all the host: H4264 and the host H4264 fled H5127 to Bethshittah H1029 in Zererath, H6888 and to the border H8193 of Abelmeholah, H65 unto Tabbath. H2888
23 And the men H376 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together H6817 out of Naphtali, H5321 and out of Asher, H836 and out of all Manasseh, H4519 and pursued H7291 after H310 the Midianites. H4080
24 And Gideon H1439 sent H7971 messengers H4397 throughout all mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 saying, H559 Come down H3381 against H7125 the Midianites, H4080 and take H3920 before them the waters H4325 unto Bethbarah H1012 and Jordan. H3383 Then all the men H376 of Ephraim H669 gathered themselves together, H6817 and took H3920 the waters H4325 unto Bethbarah H1012 and Jordan. H3383
25 And they took H3920 two H8147 princes H8269 of the Midianites, H4080 Oreb H6159 and Zeeb; H2062 and they slew H2026 Oreb H6159 upon the rock H6697 Oreb, H6159 and Zeeb H2062 they slew H2026 at the winepress H3342 of Zeeb, H2062 and pursued H7291 Midian, H4080 and brought H935 the heads H7218 of Oreb H6159 and Zeeb H2062 to Gideon H1439 on the other side H5676 Jordan. H3383
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Judges 7
Commentary on Judges 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
Jud 7:1-8. Gideon's Army.
1. Jerubbaal—This had now become Gideon's honorable surname, "the enemy of Baal."
well—rather "spring of Harod," that is, "fear, trembling"; probably the same as the fountain in Jezreel (1Sa 29:1). It was situated not far from Gilboa, on the confines of Manasseh, and the name "Harod" was bestowed on it with evident reference to the panic which seized the majority of Gideon's troops. The host of the Midianites were on the northern side of the valley, seemingly deeper down in the descent towards the Jordan, near a little eminence.
2. the Lord said unto Gideon, The people … are too many—Although the Israelitish army mustered only thirty-two thousand (or one-sixth of the Midianitish host), the number was too great, for it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.
3. Now therefore …, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful … let him return—This proclamation was in terms of an established law (De 20:8).
4. too many—Two reductions were ordered, the last by the application of a test which was made known to Gideon alone.
5. bring them down unto the water—When the wandering people in Asia, on a journey or in haste, come to water, they do not stoop down with deliberation on their knees, but only bend forward as much as is necessary to bring their hand in contact with the stream, and throw it up with rapidity, and at the same time such address, that they do not drop a particle. The Israelites, it seems, were acquainted with the practice; and those who adopted it on this occasion were selected as fit for a work that required expedition. The rest were dismissed according to the divine direction.
7. the Lord said, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you—It is scarcely possible to conceive a more severe trial than the command to attack the overwhelming forces of the enemy with such a handful of followers. But Gideon's faith in the divine assurance of victory was steadfast, and it is for this he is so highly commended (Heb 11:32).
8. the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley—Attention to the relative position of the parties is of the greatest importance to an understanding of what follows.
Jud 7:9-15. He Is Encouraged by the Dream and the Interpretation of the Barley Cake.
9, 10. Arise, get thee down unto the host … But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant—In ancient times it was reckoned no degradation for persons of the highest rank and character to act as spies on an enemy's camp; and so Gideon did on this occasion. But the secret errand was directed by God, who intended that he should hear something which might animate his own valor and that of his troops.
11. the outside of the armed men that were in the host—"Armed," means embodied under the five officers established by the ordinary laws and usages of encampments. The camp seems to have been unprotected by any rampart, since Gideon had no difficulty in reaching and overhearing a conversation, so important to him.
12. the Midianites and the Amalekites … lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number—a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.
13. I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian—This was a characteristic and very expressive dream for an Arab in the circumstances. The rolling down the hill, striking against the tents, and overturning them, naturally enough connected it in his mind with the position and meditated attack of the Israelitish leader. The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitudes must have been reduced to poor and scanty fare.
15. when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation … he worshipped—The incident originated in the secret overruling providence of God, and Gideon, from his expression of pious gratitude, regarded it as such. On his mind, as well as that of his followers, it produced the intended effect—that of imparting new animation and impulse to their patriotism.
Jud 7:16-24. His Stratagem against Midian.
16-22. he divided the three hundred men into three companies—The object of dividing his forces was, that they might seem to be surrounding the enemy. The pitchers were empty to conceal the torches, and made of earthenware, so as to be easily broken; and the sudden blaze of the held-up lights—the loud echo of the trumpets, and the shouts of Israel, always terrifying (Nu 23:21), and now more terrible than ever by the use of such striking words, broke through the stillness of the midnight air. The sleepers started from their rest; not a blow was dealt by the Israelites; but the enemy ran tumultuously, uttering the wild, discordant cries peculiar to the Arab race. They fought indiscriminately, not knowing friend from foe. The panic being universal, they soon precipitately fled, directing their flight down to the Jordan, by the foot of the mountains of Ephraim, to places known as the "house of the acacia" [Beth-shittah], and "the meadow of the dance" [Abel-meholah].
23. the men of Israel gathered themselves together—These were evidently the parties dismissed, who having lingered at a little distance from the scene of contest, now eagerly joined in the pursuit southwestward through the valley.
24, 25. Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim—The Ephraimites lay on the south and could render seasonable aid.
Come … take before them the waters unto Beth-barah—(See on Jud 3:28). These were the northern fords of the Jordan, to the east-northeast of wady Maleh.
the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together … unto Beth-barah—A new conflict ensued, in which two secondary chiefs were seized and slain on the spots where they were respectively taken. The spots were named after these chiefs, Oreb, "the Raven," and Zeeb, "the Wolf"—appropriate designations of Arab leaders.