Judges - Chapter 7

Judges 7.1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. Judges 7.2 And 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 vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Judges 7.3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. Judges 7.4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try 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. Judges 7.5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of 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. Judges 7.6 And 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. Judges 7.7 And 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 all the other people go every man unto his place. Judges 7.8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. Judges 7.9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. Judges 7.10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: Judges 7.11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. Judges 7.12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. Judges 7.13 And 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 cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. Judges 7.14 And 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. Judges 7.15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. Judges 7.16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. Judges 7.17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. Judges 7.18 When 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, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. Judges 7.19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. Judges 7.20 And 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. Judges 7.21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. Judges 7.22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. Judges 7.23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. Judges 7.24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Judges 7.25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Judges : Chapter 7

Gideon's Victory: An Example of Faith and Divine Strength

Chapter 7 of Judges recounts Gideon's unlikely victory, a momentous event that illustrates how God uses the weak to accomplish great things. This strategic narrative uncovers the reduction of Gideon's army and his surprising victory over the Midianites, highlighting key themes such as divine strength in human weakness, the importance of faith, and the often unusual methods by which God works.

A Spiritual Preparation

Before the battle, Gideon receives an encouraging vision in the form of a dream about a loaf of barley bread, a symbol of God's provision that strengthens him. This moment of revelation underscores the importance of preparing oneself spiritually before facing life's challenges.

Analysis of Five Bible Passages

We invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that shed light on the principles of spiritual warfare present in this inspiring chapter.

Hebrews 11:32

"And what else should I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets." This verse mentions Gideon as an example of faith, highlighting his fundamental role in salvation history.

1 Samuel 14:6

"Jonathan said to his young armorbearer, 'Let us go to the uncircumcised detachment. Perhaps the Lord will work on our behalf, for nothing can prevent the Lord from saving, whether with many or with few.'" This passage echoes the lesson of Judges 7, where God reduces Gideon's army to demonstrate that victory comes from Him.

2 Corinthians 4:7

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this surpassing power is from God and not from us." The apostle Paul uses a metaphor which recalls the broken jars of Judges 7, illustrating how God chooses human weakness to reveal His power.

Isaiah 9:4

"For as in the day of the slaughter of Midian, you have broken the yoke that oppressed them, the yoke that was on their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor." The prophet Isaiah refers to Gideon's victory over Midian as an example of God's liberating power.

Psalms 83:9

"Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin by the River Kishon." This psalm recalls the defeat of Midian and underlines God's faithfulness to his people in their struggles.

In conclusion, the story of Gideon teaches us that even in our moments of weakness, God can accomplish great things. Let us draw from these biblical stories the strength of our faith and the certainty that victory belongs to the Lord.