1Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is by God's direction reduced to three hundred. 9He is sent into the enemy's camp by night, where he is encouraged by hearing a dream told with its interpretation. 16He divideth his army into three companies, giving to each man a trumpet, and a lamp in a pitcher. 19On his approach the Midianites are thrown into confusion and put to flight. 24The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb, and put them to death.
1THEN Jerubbaal, 1who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well 2of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of 3Moreh, in the 4valley.
1 See Judges 6:32.
2 Hebr. Charod, situated on the borders of Manasseh, on this side of the mountain, behind which the Midianites were camped on the other side. See Judges 6 on verse 33. This name the fountain might have obtained from the fear and trembling of the 22,000 Israelites, verse 3. There was another fountain by Jezreel, at the end of this mountain westward. See 1 Sam. 29:1.
3 This seems to have been one of the mountains of Gilboa: so called from the timely or seasonable rain, which fell in great abundance upon the fields that lay on the top of it; as some do gather, by comparing with 2 Sam. 1:21. Upon this mountain Gilboa Saul was also slain by the Philistines, 1 Sam. 31:1.
4 Namely, Jezreel, as Judges 6:33.
2And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunta themselves against me, saying, Mine own 5hand hath saved me.
a boast
5 Or, my hand (that is, power) hath brought me salvation, or deliverance, procured the victory. See the like phrase, Exod. 8:19.
3Now therefore gob to, 6proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 7Whosoevercis fearful and 8afraid, let him return and 9depart early 10from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
b come now!
6 That is, cause to be proclaimed and published.
7 Compare Deut. 20 on verse 8.
c Deut. 20:8.
8 Or, quaking, trembling, afraid.
9 Or, fly away, carry himself away this morning or early. The Hebrew word seems to look at the swift flight of birds, and so consequently to signify to go on speedily, quickly, hastily, etc.
10 Hebr. from or towards the mountain of Gilead; that is, along the way that goes toward and from that mountain; being the same mountain that was situated right over against Gideon’s army, beyond the Jordan, from where those of the half tribe of Manasseh were come to him. See Judges 6 on verse 35.
4And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will 11try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
11 Hebr. properly, separate, purify, as a goldsmith purifies the silver, separating the good metal from the dross.
5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth 12of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
12 Which he, in a standing posture shall have taken up with his hand, as is declared in verse 6. This was a sign of courage and liveliness: as the bending on the knee was a sign of slowness and laziness.
6And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
7And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let 13all the other people go every man unto his place.
13 Understand the rest of the people.
814So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and 15he sent 16all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was 17beneath him in the valley.
14 Other, Then they took the victual of the people in their hand, as also their trumpets, namely, those three hundred men took of the people victual for themselves, so much as was needful, as also trumpets, to wit, three hundred, (verse 16), holding in their march, as they went, yet twenty more, according to the account of some; for Gideon’s army was at first 32,000 strong, as appears verse 3; each thousand having ten trumpets, or each hundred one.
15 Gideon.
16 Namely, all the rest, as in the previous verse.
17 On the other side of the mountain, so that he had it before him, in the valley of Jezreel, when he stood upon the mount, where the army of Gideon may also have been located, as may be gathered from the following verse.
9¶And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the 18host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
18 Of the Midianites.
10But if thou fear 19to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
19 Namely, alone.
11And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine 20hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the 21armed men that were in the host.
20 That is, thou shalt become courageous and ready, prepared to fall upon their army.
21 The Hebrew word properly signifies: fived, that by fives, or five in a rank, or five abreast, are wont to march, as Exod. 13:18. From this proceeds the signification of armed men, as the military orders, and especially the ranks and files commonly ought to be.
12Andd the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east 22lay along in the valley like 23grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were 24without number, as the sand by the 25sea side for multitude.
d Judges 6:3, 5, 33.
22 Hebr. fell or were fallen in the valley, that is, they lay spread abroad in the valley.
23 See Judges 6 on verse 5.
24 As Judges 6:5.
25 Hebr. on the lip of the sea.
13And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a 26cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and 27overturned it, that the tent lay along.
26 Or, a pancake of barley bread, otherwise, a noise of barley bread. This implies the smallness and contemptibleness of the means, whereby God would smite the Midianites, and deliver His people.
27 Hebr. overturned it upward.
14And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
15¶And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the 28interpretation thereof, that he 29worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
28 Hebr. breaking, that is, dismembering, expounding, unloosening. It seems that the phrase is borrowed from fruits that have had shells, which must be broken before a man can eat the kernel.
29 Hebr. he bowed himself; honoring and praising God for His wonderful government, and this comfort. See Gen. 22 on verse 5.
16And he divided the three hundred men into three 30companies, and he put a trumpet in 31every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
30 Hebr. heads; also verse 20 and Judges 9:34.
31 Hebr. he gave trumpets into all their hand.
17And he said unto them, Look 32on me, and do 33likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
32 Hebr. look, or thou shalt look, or, from or out of me, that is, according to the nature of the Hebrew tongue, sometimes as much as, towards or on me, right opposite against me. Compare on verse 3. Else it may be thus translated: from or of me shalt thou look and do so; that is, thou shalt learn and observe of me, or, from me, what thou shalt do.
33 As ye see me do.
18When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, 34The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
34 Understand hereby: is this battle fought. So is the Hebrew letter lamed used in matters of battle, Exod. 14:14, 25. Or thus, Unto the LORD and Gideon, namely, be the victory. Or, Of the LORD and of Gideon, namely, the sword, from verse 20.
19¶So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the 35middle watch;e36and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and 37brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
35 That is, about midnight, when the watches were wont to be changed.
e middle – 10:00PM to 2:00AM
36 Hebr. setting they had set. Other, but they had awakened already the watchmen; or, they awakened only the watchmen.
37 Or, they beat them one against another, so that the pieces were scattered here and there. Compare Psalm 2:9; Jer. 13:14; 48:12.
20And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
21And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
22And the three hundred blew the trumpets, andf the LORD 38set 39every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to 40Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the 41border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.
f Psalm 83:9.
38 That is, ordered.
39 Hebr. of the man against his neighbor or fellow companion; that is, the Lord ordered it so, that through amazedness and astonishment they fell one upon another, and slew one another as enemies.
40 Out of the valley where they were camped, along the mountain towards Jordan, and again along Jordan inward toward the land, where were situated in Manasseh, Abel-mehola and Tabbath. Of Abel-mehola see 1 Kings 4:12; 19:16.
41 Hebr. lip.
23And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
24¶And Gideon sent messengers throughout all 42mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto 43Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah 44and Jordan.
42 Situated on the other side of Manasseh southward, in order that the Midianites, being enclosed on both sides and being stopped at their passage over the Jordan, might in no way escape. But between these were Zebah and Zalmunna with about 15,000 men gotten over the Jordan, whom Gideon with his three hundred men pursued, and slew. See Judges 8:10, 12.
43 Situated near by Jordan. Some take this for Bethabara, John 1:28.
44 That is here, according to the opinion of many, as much as namely.
25Andg they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock 45Oreb, and Zeeb they slew 46at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon 47on the other side Jordan.
g Psalm 83:11; Isa. 10:26.
45 Located at the east-end of the mountain of Ephraim, not far from the Jordan. This place was afterward so called, because of this history, as also the other place Zeeb.
46 Other, by or at.
47 Or, on this side of Jordan; for the Hebrew word, according to the occasion of the thing, signifies both. In the following chapter is mentioned, that Gideon with his 300 men passed over the Jordan to pursue after the Midianites and the rest of the people of the east. See there verse 4. The opinion of most interpreters is, that this and that which follows in the first three verses of the eighth chapter of Judges, is here in the first place related, to give a full and perfect account of what was bravely and gallantly acted by the men of Ephraim on this side Jordan, but that it was then only first offered, when Gideon returned from pursuing the Midianites beyond Jordan, and had gotten the full victory over them. But the attentive reader will be able to judge aright by comparing this verse with the third verse of the next chapter. See the annotation there.