Judges 7:1

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 night, that

he may be encouraged on hearing what they say, 9-12.

He obeys, and hears a Midianite tell a remarkable dream unto his

fellow, which predicted the success of his attack, 13-15.

He takes encouragement, divides his men into three companies,

and gives each a trumpet with a lighted lamp concealed in a

pitcher, with directions how to use them, 16-18.

They come to the Midianitish camp at night, when all suddenly

blowing their trumpets and exposing their lamps, the

Midianites are thrown into confusion, fly, and are stopped by

the Ephraimites at the passage of Jordan, and slain, 19-24.

Oreb and Zeeb, two Midianitish princes, are slain, 25.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII

Verse Judges 7:1. Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon] It appears that Jerubbaal was now a surname of Gideon, from the circumstance mentioned Judges 6:32. See Judges 8:35.

The well of Harod] If this was a town or village, it is nowhere else mentioned. Probably, as חרד charad signifies to shake or tremble through fear, the fountain in question may have had its name from the terror and panic with which the Midianitish host was seized at this place.