Judges 7:8

_SO THE PEOPLE TOOK VICTUALS IN THEIR HAND, AND THEIR TRUMPETS: AND HE SENT ALL THE REST OF ISRAEL EVERY MAN UNTO HIS TENT, AND RETAINED THOSE THREE HUNDRED MEN: AND THE HOST OF MIDIAN WAS BENEATH HIM IN THE VALLEY._ He sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent. ["The rest" are neither in the Hebrew original nor in the Septuagint: kai ton andra Israeel exapesteilen, andra eis skeeneen autou]. THE HOST OF MIDIAN WAS BENEATH HIM IN THE VALLEY. Attention to the relative position of the parties is of the greatest importance to an understanding of what follows....

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....

The sense is, “And they (the three hundred) took the victuals and trumpets of the people (all the people of Judges 7:7) into their hands.” so that each of the three hundred should have a trumpet and a pitcher....

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" ...

SO THE PEOPLE TOOK VICTUALS IN THEIR HANDS AND THEIR TRUMPETS,.... That is, the three hundred took victuals of those that departed, as much as was necessary for them, and also their trumpets, being directed thereunto by Gideon, no doubt; perhaps they took all the trumpets they had; however, as many as would furnish every man with one. And from hence it appears, that these three hundred that were ordered to stay and go with Gideon were unarmed men, at least could carry no arms in their hands; for in one hand they carried their victuals, and in the other hand their trumpets, so that the salvation wrought by them would most clearly appear to be of the Lord: AND HE SENT ALL THE REST OF ISRAEL EVERY MAN UNTO HIS TENT; not to his tent in the army, but to his own house, in the tribe and city to which he belonged: and retained these three hundred men; that had lapped water, to engage with the M...

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 PEOPLE. So the 300 are called....

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