CHAPTER VII _The Lord commands Gideon to make a selection of a small number_ _of his men to go against the Midianites. Three hundred only_ _are selected; and into the hands of these God promises to_ _deliver the whole Midianitish host_, 1-8. _Gideon is directed to go down unto the host in the n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:2. _THE PEOPLE THAT_ ARE _WITH THEE_ ARE _TOO MANY_] Had he led up a numerous host against his enemies, the excellence of the power by which they were discomfited might have appeared to be of man and not of God. By the manner in which this whole transaction was conducted, both the Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:3. _WHOSOEVER_ IS _FEARFUL AND AFRAID, LET HAM RETURN - FROM_ _MOUNT GILEAD_] Gideon was certainly not at Mount _Gilead_ at this time, but rather near Mount _Gilboa_. Gilead was on the other side of Jordan. Calmet thinks there must either have been two Gileads, which does not from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:5. _EVERY ONE THAT LAPPETH OF THE WATER - AS A DOG_] The original word ילק _yalok_ is precisely the sound which a dog makes when he is drinking.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:6. _THE NUMBER OF THEM THAT LAPPED_] From this account it appears that some of the people went down on their knees, and putting their mouths to the water, sucked up what they needed; the others stooped down, and taking up water in the hollow of their hands, applied it to their mouth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:8. _SO THE PEOPLE TOOK VICTUALS_] The three hundred men that he reserved took the victuals necessary for the day's expenditure, while the others were dismissed to their tents and their houses as they thought proper.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:9. _I HAVE DELIVERED IT INTO THINE HAND._] I have determined to do it, and it is as sure as if it were done.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:11. _UNTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ARMED MEN_] No doubt the vast multitudes of Midianites, c., which came merely for plunder, were wholly unarmed but they had a guard of armed men, as all the caravans have, and those guards were on the outside of the multitudes; it was to these that Gideon... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:13. _TOLD A DREAM_] Both the dream and the interpretation were inspired by God for the purpose of increasing the confidence of Gideon, and appalling his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:14. _INTO HIS HAND HATH GOD DELIVERED MIDIAN_] This is a full proof that God had inspired both the dream and its interpretation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:16. _HE DIVIDED THE THREE HUNDRED MEN_] Though the victory was to be from the Lord, yet he knew that he ought to use prudential means; and those which he employed on this occasion were the best calculated to answer the end. If he had not used these means, it is not likely that God wou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:18. THE SWORD _OF THE LORD, AND OF GIDEON._] The word חרב _chereb_, "sword," is not found in this verse, though it is necessarily implied, and is found in Judges 7:20. But it is found in this place in the _Chaldee, Syriac_, and _Arabic_, and in eight of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:20. _BLEW THE TRUMPETS, AND BRAKE THE PITCHERS_] How astonishing must the effect be, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of three hundred torches, darting their splendour, in the same instant, on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites, accompanied with the clangour of thr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:21. _THEY STOOD EVERY MAN IN HIS PLACE_] Each of the three companies kept its station, and continued to sound their trumpets. The Midianites seeing this, and believing that they were the trumpets of a numerous army which had then penetrated their camp, were thrown instantly into confu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:22. _FLED TO BETH-SHITTAH_] This is no where else mentioned in Scripture. _ZERERATH_] This and _Tabbath_ are nowhere else to be found. _ABEL-MEHOLAH_] This was the birth-place of the prophet Elisha, 1 Kings 19:16. It was beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Manasseh, 1 Kings 4:12. The _Za... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:23. _THE MEN OF ISRAEL GATHERED_] It is very likely that these were some persons whom Gideon had sent home the day before, who now hearing that the Midianites were routed, went immediately in pursuit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:24. _TAKE BEFORE THEM THE WATERS UNTO BETH-BARAH_] This is probably the same place as that mentioned John 1:28, where the Hebrews forded Jordan under the direction of Joshua. To this place the Midianites directed their flight that they might escape into their own country; and here, be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 7:25. _THEY SLEW OREB UPON THE ROCK OREB_] These two generals had taken shelter, one in the cavern of the rock, the other in the vat of a winepress; both of which places were from this circumstance, afterwards called by their names. _BROUGHT THE HEADS OF OREB AND ZEEB TO GIDEON_] OREB... [ Continue Reading ]