_GIDEON, BY THE COMMAND OF GOD, SELECTS A SMALL NUMBER OUT OF HIS ARMY TO GO AGAINST THE MIDIANITES; WHO ARE PUT TO FLIGHT, AND DESTROY EACH OTHER. THEIR TWO PRINCES, OREB AND ZEEB, ARE TAKEN AND SLAIN._ _Before Christ 1267._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE—WITH THEE ARE TOO MANY FOR ME— It is equal to Omnipotence to save by many or few; but, designing in this case to make it alike conspicuous to the Israelites and the neighbouring nations, that the victory was wholly owing to his interposition, God was pleased to order it in such a manner,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN GIDEON WAS COME, BEHOLD, &C.— However extraordinary this dream, and the interpretation of it, may appear; we must remember, that it was immediately inspired by God himself, to encourage Gideon, who was sent to the Midianitish host by the Lord, on purpose to hear it; and, in this view, we ca... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SWORD OF THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON— Though the word _sword_ is not in the Hebrew in this place, yet, as it is read in the 20th verse, our translators have very properly added it. It is evident, says Houbigant, that in these words Gideon alludes to the interpretation of the dream given in the 14th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY STOOD EVERY MAN IN HIS PLACE ROUND ABOUT THE CAMP— Not one of the three hundred men stirred a foot from his place, but stood still without striking a blow, as if they had been only torch-bearers to give light to the army to see their way to the camp, and to do execution. The work was the Lord's... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIDEON SENT MESSENGERS THROUGHOUT ALL MOUNT EPHRAIM— He was desirous, as Bishop Patrick observes, that others should have some share with him in finishing this work, though he alone, with some few, began it, and was exposed to all the danger. "Would to God," says Peter Martyr on this occasion, ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TOOK TWO PRINCES OF THE MIDIANITES— Two of their princes or generals, for the Hebrew word may signify either. Oreb, in the Hebrew, signifies _a crow,_ and Zeeb, a wolf. It was anciently the custom for great men to take the names of their families from the animal world. So we find the _Gracchi,... [ Continue Reading ]