Judges 7:4

_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 UNTO THEE, THIS SHALL GO WITH THEE, THE SAME SHALL GO WITH THEE; AND OF WHOMSOEVER I SAY UNTO THEE, THIS SHALL NOT GO WITH THEE, THE SAME SHALL NOT GO._ Too many. Two reductions were ordered; the last by the application of a test which was made known to Gideon alone. BRING THEM DOWN TO THE WATER. The wandering people in Asia, when, on a journey or in haste, they come to water, do not stoop down with deliberation on their knees, but only bend forward as much as is necessary to bring their hand in contact with the streams, and throw it up with rapidity, and at the same time such address, that they do not drop a particle. The Israelites, it seems were acquainted with the practice; and those who adopted it on this occasion were...

TRY - The word used for refining metals by separating the dross from the pure ore. They who threw themselves on the ground and drank freely were the more self-indulgent; while they who, remembering the near presence of the enemy, slaked their thirst with moderation, and without being off their guard for an instant, were the true soldiers of the army of God....

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 TO GIDEON, THE PEOPLE ARE YET TOO MANY,.... Though they were but just the number that Barak had with him, when he attacked Sisera's army and got the victory, which yet was ascribed to God, whose hand was manifestly seen in it; but as these might be supposed to be able men of valour that remained, they were too many for God to have that glory he intended to display in this victory: BRING THEM DOWN UNTO THE WATER; from the hill on which they were, to a brook that ran at the bottom of it, perhaps a stream from the fountain or well of Harod, Judges 7:1 AND I WILL TRY THEM FOR THEE THERE, or "purge them" a, as silver is purged from dross, so the word signifies, as Kimchi observes, the righteous from the wicked, as he thinks; who, with others, suppose that by those who bowed on their knees to drink, were such as had been used to bow the knee to Ba

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....

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...

_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....