Judges 7:10

_BUT IF THOU FEAR TO GO DOWN, GO THOU WITH PHURAH THY SERVANT DOWN TO THE HOST:_ 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 and the valour of his troops....

9-15 The dream seemed to have little meaning in it; but the interpretation evidently proved the whole to be from the Lord, and discovered that the name of Gideon had filled the Midianites with terror. Gideon took this as a sure pledge of success; without delay he worshipped and praised God, and returned with confidence to his three hundred men. Wherever we are, we may speak to God, and worship him. God must have the praise of that which encourages our faith. And his providence must be acknowledged in events, though small and seemingly accidental....

EXPOSITION JUDGES 7:9 GET THEE DOWN, etc; _i.e_. attack the camp at once with thy 300 men. But if thou art afraid to do so, go down first alone with Phurah thy servant, and hear what they are saying in the camp. JUDGES 7:11 THE ARMED MEN. The exact meaning of the word here rendered _armed men _(_chamushim_),_ _and which occurs Exodus 13:18; Joshua 1:14; Joshua 4:12, is a little uncertain, but it is generally thought to be synonymous with another

BUT IF THOU FEAR TO GO DOWN,.... With his little army, to attack a numerous host in the night, then he is directed to take this step first: GO THOU WITH PHURAH THY SERVANT DOWN TO THE HOST; in a private manner; perhaps this man was his aid-de-camp, or however a trusty servant in whom he could confide, as well as valiant: more it was not proper to take in such a secret expedition, and the fewer the better to trust, and less liable to the observation of the enemy; and yet it was proper to have one with him, being company and animating, and who would be a witness with him of what should be heard; in like manner, and for like reasons, as Diomedes and Ulysses went into the Trojan army y. y Homer. Iliad. 10. ver. 222, c....

CHAPTER 7 THE VICTORY OF GIDEON _ 1. The sifting of Gideon's army (Judges 7:1)_ 2. The dream of the Midianite (Judges 7:9) 3. Victory through weakness (Judges 7:16) Gideon “the cutter down,” now also called Jerubbaal “the contender with Baal,” after his faith had been strengthened, pitched his camp at the well of Harod (trembling). The Lord did not need the large army he had gathered, lest Israel would say: “Mine own hand hath saved me.” First 22,000 were let go. They were afraid. What an evidence of the sad conditions among the people. Jehovah had commanded through Moses this test. “And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint he

GIDEON'S VISIT TO THE MIDFANITE CAMP. The heroic leader was next encouraged, not by a dream of his own, but by one which he heard told at night in the camp of the enemy. The significant features of the dream are the tent, the symbol of the Midianite nomads, and the cake of barley bread, the symbol of the Israelite peasants. As the little barley cake overturns the huge tent, so Israel is to defeat the host of Midian. Judges 7:14. Read This is nothing but the men of Israel, the words Gideon the son of Joash being probably a later insertion. It is not Gideon, but Gideon's little band of gallant yeomen (Judges 7:15_ b_), that corresponds to the dreamer's cake....

_Gideon visits the Midianite camp_ 9 _.the same night_ Probably the night of the day which began in Judges 7:1. _get thee down_ Here and in Judges 7:11 a AGAINST _the camp_, to attack it; in Judges 7:10 _unto the camp_, to visit it....

_Gideon's Men Reduced to Three Hundred Judges 7:1-14_ 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. 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. 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. 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

THE ROUT OF MIDIAN 1-7. Gideon's choice of his Followers....

LIFE WITHOUT LAW JUDGES _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 7 V1 Early in the morning, Jerubbaal (Gideon) and his men camped at the *spring called Harod. The army from Midian had their camp north from them. It was in the valley near the hill called Moreh. V2 The *Lord spoke to Gideon. ‘You have too many men. With so many, I cannot help you to defeat the army from Midian. I do not want *Israel’s people to be proud. Then they would say that they had won by their own strength. V3 Ask them if anyone is afraid. Those who are afraid can go back. And they can leave Gilead mountain.’ So 22 000 men left and 10 000 men stayed....