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Judges 7:2-8 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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

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.