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
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 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 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
And let it come to pass, that the damsel H5291 to whom I shall say, H559 Let down H5186 thy pitcher, H3537 I pray thee, that I may drink; H8354 and she shall say, H559 Drink, H8354 and I will give H8248 thy camels H1581 drink H8248 also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed H3198 for thy servant H5650 Isaac; H3327 and thereby shall I know H3045 that thou hast shewed H6213 kindness H2617 unto my master. H113
Then said H559 Jonathan, H3083 Behold, we will pass over H5674 unto these men, H582 and we will discover H1540 ourselves unto them. If they say H559 thus unto us, Tarry H1826 until we come H5060 to you; then we will stand still H5975 in our place, and will not go up H5927 unto them. But if they say H559 thus, Come up H5927 unto us; then we will go up: H5927 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into our hand: H3027 and this shall be a sign H226 unto us.
And the men H582 of the garrison H4675 answered H6030 Jonathan H3129 and his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 and said, H559 Come up H5927 to us, and we will shew H3045 you a thing. H1697 And Jonathan H3129 said H559 unto his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 Come up H5927 after H310 me: for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel. H3478
And kept H6213 the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 seven H7651 days H3117 with joy: H8057 for the LORD H3068 had made them joyful, H8055 and turned H5437 the heart H3820 of the king H4428 of Assyria H804 unto them, to strengthen H2388 their hands H3027 in the work H4399 of the house H1004 of God, H430 the God H430 of Israel. H3478
For they all made us afraid, H3372 saying, H559 Their hands H3027 shall be weakened H7503 from the work, H4399 that it be not done. H6213 Now therefore, O God, strengthen H2388 my hands. H3027
Strengthen H2388 ye the weak H7504 hands, H3027 and confirm H553 the feeble H3782 knees. H1290 Say H559 to them that are of a fearful H4116 heart, H3820 Be strong, H2388 fear H3372 not: behold, your God H430 will come H935 with vengeance, H5359 even God H430 with a recompence; H1576 he will come H935 and save H3467 you.
And G2532 he said G2046 unto me, G3427 My G3450 grace G5485 is sufficient G714 for thee: G4671 for G1063 my G3450 strength G1411 is made perfect G5048 in G1722 weakness. G769 Most gladly G2236 therefore G3767 will I G2744 rather G3123 glory G2744 in G1722 my G3450 infirmities, G769 that G2443 the power G1411 of Christ G5547 may rest G1981 upon G1909 me. G1691 Therefore G1352 I take pleasure G2106 in G1722 infirmities, G769 in G1722 reproaches, G5196 in G1722 necessities, G318 in G1722 persecutions, G1375 in G1722 distresses G4730 for G5228 Christ's G5547 sake: G5228 for G1063 when G3752 I am weak, G770 then G5119 am G1510 I strong. G1415
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.