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._ The Lord said ... The people ... are too many. Although the Israelite army mustered only 32,000-or one-sixth of the Midianite host-the number was too great; because it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him....

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 Israelites and Midianites must see that the thing was of God. This would inspire the Israelites with confidence, and the Midianites with fear....

EXPOSITION JUDGES 7:1 JERUBBAAL. The mention of this name seems intended to keep before our minds that it is emphatically the servant of the Lord who is going forth to victory. THE WELL OF HAROD, _i.e._ of _trembling_,_ _so called, no doubt, from the incident recorded in Judges 7:3, that every one who was _afraid _(Hebrew, _hared_)_ _departed from Mount Gilead. The well of _Harod _is not mentioned elsewhere, though two of David's mighty men are called Harodites (2 Samuel 23:25); but it is thought to be identical with "the fountain which is in Jezreel" ...

AND THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH THEE ARE TOO MANY,.... It appears, by what follows, that there were 32,000 of them, which was but a small army to engage with one of 100,000 more than they; for such was the army of the Midianites and their associates, see Judges 8:10 but the people were too many, says the Lord, FOR ME TO GIVE THE MIDIANITES INTO THEIR HANDS; who would be apt to ascribe the victory to themselves, and not to the Lord; to their number, strength, and valour, and not to the hand of the Lord: LEST ISRAEL VAUNT THEMSELVES AGAINST ME, SAYING, MINE OWN HAND HATH SAVED ME; or glory over me, take the glory from me, and ascribe it to themselves, boasting that by their power and prowess they had obtained the victory....

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

THE REDUCTION OF GIDEON'S ARMY. This section teaches that Yahweh is the giver of victory, and that it is as easy for Him to save by few as by many (1 Samuel 14:6). The spring of Harod (trembling, _cf._ Judges 7:3) may be - Ain Jâ lû d, 2 m. from Jezreel, at the foot of Gilboa (p. 30). The hill of Moreh may be Little Hermon. Gilead (Judges 7:3) is on the eastern side of the Jordan, and we should probably read Gilboa. Judges 7:3. The number of those who, in modern phrase, showed the white feather, is surprisingly great. Gideon lets them go, having no use for the fearful and trembling....

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. lest, &c. This is the real reason of this direction....

Judges 7:1-8. _Gideon's army is reduced_ It seems to have been a fixed element in the tradition that 300 was the number of Gideon's force (Judges 7:6_; Judges 7:16; Judges 7:19_, Judges 8:4); but Judges 6:35 has just declared that four tribes responded to his call; accordingly we are here told how this army of volunteers, numbering 32,000, was cut down to 300. The story, however, rests upon an insecure foundation, for...

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, as to prove, beyond doubt, that he alone was the author of it. REFLECTIONS.—Gideon, now fully convinced of his mission, is in haste to execute it. At early dawn he rises, his army is drawn out, and his camp fixed near the well of Harod. Diligence in duty must follow faith in the promise. The disproportion was very great, indeed, between the hosts of Midian and Israel; but, instead of lessening, God will have it increased, that they may see it was not their own arm which saved them. For this purpose, God commands, 1. Proclamation to be made through the camp, for the fearful and faint-hearted t...

_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