CHAPTER 7
. 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 (). 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 ().
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 ().
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.
. 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.
. 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 (), 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 ). 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.
CHAPTER 7
. 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 (). 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 ().
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 ().
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.
. 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.
. 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 (), 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 ). 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.