Judges 7
Overview
7:1 Gideon's army of two and thirty thousand is brought to three hundred;
7:9 He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the burley cake;
7:16 His stratagem of trumpets and lamps in pitchers;
7:24 The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb. Verse 1JerubbaalIt appears that Jerubbaal had now become the surname of Gideon. He is mentioned by Sanchoniathon, quoted by Eusebius, who lived in the reign of Ithobal, king of Tyre, and consequently a little after the time of Gideon, by the name of Jerombalus, a priest of Jeuo or Jao. Judges 6:32 rose upGenesis 22:3; Joshua 3:1, 6:12; Ecclesiastes 9:10 MorehGenesis 12:6ReciprocalDeuteronomy 11:30 - Gilgal; Judges 9:17 - fought; 2 Samuel 11:21 - Jerubbesheth Verse 2too many1 Samuel 14:6; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Zechariah 4:6, 12:7; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 2:4, 2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 10:4, 10:5 IsraelDeuteronomy 32:27; Isaiah 2:11, 2:17; Jeremiah 9:23; Romans 3:27, 11:18; 1 Corinthians 1:29; Ephesians 2:9; James 4:6 Mine ownDeuteronomy 8:17; Isaiah 10:13; Ezekiel 28:2, 28:17; Daniel 4:30; Habakkuk 1:16ReciprocalExodus 8:9 - Glory over me; Numbers 31:4 - a thousand; Deuteronomy 2:33 - the Lord; 1 Kings 17:9 - widow woman; Job 32:13 - Lest; Psalm 33:16 - no king; Isaiah 9:21 - Ephraim; 1 Corinthians 1:25 - the foolishness Verse 3WhosoeverDeuteronomy 20:8; Matthew 13:21; Luke 14:25-33; Revelation 17:14, 21:8 mount GileadGideon was certainly not at mount Gilead, east of Jordan at this time; but rather near mount Gilboa, west of Jordan. Calmet thinks there must either have been two Gileads, which does not appear from Scripture to have been the case, or that the Hebrew Text is corrupt, and that for Gilead we should read Gilboa. This reading, though adopted by Houbigant, is not confirmed by an manuscript or version. Dr. Hales endeavours to reconcile the whole, by the supposition that in Gideon's army there were many eastern Manassites from mount Gilead, near the Midianites; and therefore proposes to read, "Whosoever from mount Gilead is fearful and afraid, let him return (home) and depart early."twentyMatthew 20:16ReciprocalExodus 13:17 - the people repent; 1 Samuel 13:7 - followed him trembling Verse 4peoplePsalm 33:16 I willGenesis 22:1; 1 Samuel 16:7; Job 23:10; Psalm 7:9, 66:10; Jeremiah 6:27-30; Malachi 3:2, 3:3Reciprocal1 Samuel 14:6 - for there is no restraint; 1 Kings 17:9 - widow woman; Psalm 44:7 - But Verse 5lappethThe original word yalok, is precisely the sound which the dog makes in lapping. It appears that it is not unusual for the Arabs to drink water out of the palms of their hands; and, from this account, we learn that the Israelites did so occasionally. Dr. A. Clarke, in his edition of Harmer, has presented us with the following curious manuscript note from Dr. Russell. "When they take water with the palms of their hands, they naturally place themselves on their hams, to be nearer the water; but when they drink from a pitcher or gourd, fresh filled, they do not sit down on purpose to drink, but drink standing, and very often put the sleeve of their shirt over the mouth of the vessel, by way of strainer, lest small leeches might have been taken up with the water. For the same reason they often prefer taking the water with the palm of the hand to lapping it from the surface." From the letters of Busbequius we learn, that the Eastern people are not in the habit of drinking standing. The 300 men, who satisfied their thirst in the most expeditious manner, by this sufficiently indicated their spirit, and alacrity to follow Gideon in his dangerous enterprise; while the rest shewed their love of ease, self-indulgence, effeminacy, and want of courage. Judges 7:5Reciprocal1 Kings 17:13 - make me thereof; Psalm 110:7 - He shall Verse 6ReciprocalPsalm 110:7 - He shall Verse 7Judges 7:18-22; 1 Samuel 14:6; Isaiah 41:14-16ReciprocalJoshua 6:4 - trumpets of rams'; 1 Samuel 23:4 - for I will; 1 Kings 20:15 - two hundred; 22:36 - Every man; 2 Chronicles 14:11 - nothing; 25:8 - God hath power Verse 8trumpetsJudges 3:27; Leviticus 23:24, 25:9; Numbers 10:9; Joshua 6:4, 6:20; Isaiah 27:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52 in the valleyJudges 6:33Reciprocal7:19 - they blew; 1 Kings 20:27 - were all present; 22:36 - Every man; 2 Chronicles 23:13 - sounded Verse 9the sameGenesis 46:2, 46:3; Job 4:13, 33:15, 33:16; Matthew 1:20, 2:13; Acts 18:9, 18:10, 27:23 AriseJoshua 1:5-9; Isaiah 41:10-16, 43:1, 43:2 I have deliveredJudges 3:10, 3:28, 4:14, 4:15; 2 Chronicles 16:8, 16:9, 20:17ReciprocalJudges 20:28 - Go up; 1 Samuel 14:8 - we will pass; 2 Kings 13:17 - The arrow; 1 Chronicles 14:15 - then thou Verse 10Judges 4:8, 4:9; Exodus 4:10-14Reciprocal1 Samuel 26:6 - Who will go; Acts 10:7 - two Verse 11thou shaltJudges 7:13-15; Genesis 24:14; 1 Samuel 14:8, 14:12 thine hands23:16; Ezra 6:22; Nehemiah 6:9; Isaiah 35:3, 35:4; 2 Corinthians 12:9, 12:10; Ephesians 3:16; 6:10; Philippians 4:13 armed menor, ranks by five, Exodus 13:18 *marg.Reciprocal3:12 - token; 1 Samuel 10:9 - and all those signs; 14:10 - this shall be a sign; 26:6 - Who will go Verse 12the MidianitesJudges 6:3, 6:5, 6:33; 1 Kings 4:30 grasshoppersJudges 8:10; 2 Chronicles 14:9-12; Psalm 3:1, 33:16, 118:10-12; Isaiah 8:9, 8:10ReciprocalGenesis 29:1 - came; 41:49 - General; Joshua 11:4 - as the sand; 1 Samuel 13:5 - as the sand; 1 Kings 4:29 - as the sand; Job 1:3 - men; Isaiah 60:6 - multitude; Jeremiah 46:23 - because; 49:29 - camels; Ezekiel 25:4 - men; Habakkuk 1:9 - they shall gather; 3:1 - as the sand; Revelation 9:3 - locusts; 20:8 - the number Verse 13a cakeJudges 3:15, 3:31, 4:9, 4:21, 6:15; Isaiah 41:14, 41:15; 1 Corinthians 1:27ReciprocalGenesis 24:14 - thereby; 37:5 - dreamed; 40:5 - General; 40:9 - a vine; 41:1 - that Pharaoh; Exodus 3:12 - token; Judges 7:11 - thou shalt; Job 7:14 - thou scarest; Daniel 4:9 - tell; Jonah 1:7 - every; 2 Corinthians 4:7 - in; 10:4 - mighty Verse 14his fellowNumbers 22:38, 23:5, 23:20, 24:10-13; Job 1:10 into his handExodus 15:14, 15:15; Joshua 2:9, 2:24, 5:1; 2 Kings 7:6, 7:7ReciprocalGenesis 37:5 - dreamed; 40:5 - General; 40:12 - This; 41:1 - that Pharaoh; Exodus 3:12 - token; Job 7:14 - thou scarest; Jonah 1:7 - every; 2 Corinthians 4:7 - in Verse 15interpretation thereofHeb. breaking thereof, Genesis 40:8, 41:11 worshipped24:26, 24:27, 24:48; Exodus 4:30, 4:31; 2 Chronicles 20:18, 20:19 AriseJudges 4:14; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6ReciprocalJoshua 6:4 - trumpets of rams'; Judges 3:28 - the Lord; 1 Samuel 14:12 - Come up after me; 2 Samuel 5:24 - thou shalt bestir; 1 Chronicles 14:15 - then thou Verse 16three companiesThis small number of men, thus divided, would be able to encompass the whole camp of the Midianites. Concealing the lamps in the pitchers, they would pass unobserved to their appointed stations; then, in the dead of the night, when most of the enemy were fast asleep, all at once breaking their pitchers one against another, with as much noise as they could, and blowing the trumpets and shouting; they would occasion an exceedingly great alarm. The obedience of faith alone could have induced such an expedient, which no doubt God directed Gideon to employ. - Scott.a trumpetHeb. trumpets in the hand of all of themempty2 Corinthians 4:7 lampsor, fire-brands, or torchesReciprocalNumbers 10:9 - oppresseth; Judges 7:19 - brake; 15:15 - slew; 1 Samuel 11:11 - in three; 17:40 - staff; 2 Samuel 18:2 - a third part; 1 Kings 20:14 - young men; 20:15 - two hundred; 1 Corinthians 14:8 - General Verse 17Judges 9:48; Matthew 16:24; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 5:3ReciprocalJudges 3:28 - Follow Verse 18blow yeJudges 7:20 the swordThe word cherev, "sword," necessarily implied, and rightly supplied by our venerable translators from 7:20, is found in this place, in the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, and in eight manuscripts; and evidently appears to be genuine. 1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15-17ReciprocalJudges 7:7 - General; 9:48 - What ye; 2 Chronicles 13:15 - as the men; 23:13 - sounded Verse 19in the beginningExodus 14:24; Matthew 25:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 16:15 they blewJudges 7:8 brake7:16; Psalm 2:9; Jeremiah 13:13, 13:14, 19:1-11ReciprocalLeviticus 26:8 - General; Joshua 23:10 - One man; 2 Samuel 18:2 - a third part; Lamentations 2:19 - watches; Habakkuk 3:1 - out of Verse 20blewHow astonishing and overwhelming must the effect be, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of 300 torches, darting their splendour in the same instant on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites; accompanied with the clangor of 300 trumpets, alternately mingled with the thundering shout of cherav yehovah oolegidon, "The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!" Numbers 10:1-10; Joshua 6:4, 6:16, 6:20; Isaiah 27:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 brake2 Corinthians 4:7; Habakkuk 3:1; 2 Peter 1:15ReciprocalDeuteronomy 33:29 - the sword; Joshua 6:5 - the people; Judges 7:18 - blow ye; 1 Kings 20:20 - the Syrians; Jeremiah 13:14 - I will dash Verse 21stoodExodus 14:13, 14:14; 2 Chronicles 20:17; Isaiah 30:7, 30:15 all the hostExodus 14:25; 2 Kings 7:6, 7:7; Job 15:21, 15:22; Proverbs 28:1Reciprocal1 Samuel 14:15 - there was trembling Verse 22blewJoshua 6:4, 6:16, 6:20; 2 Corinthians 4:7 the Lord1 Samuel 14:16-20; 2 Chronicles 20:23; Psalm 83:9; Isaiah 9:4, 19:2 inor, towardZererathProbably the same as Zartanah. 1 Kings 4:12 borderHeb. lipAbelmeholahSituated, according to Eusebius 16 miles south from Scythopolis, or Bethshan. 4:12, 19:16 TabbathProbably the town of Οηβης, mentioned by Eusebius, 13 miles from Neapolis, or Shechem, towards Scythopolis.ReciprocalLeviticus 26:37 - they shall; Deuteronomy 32:30 - one chase; Judges 8:10 - fell an hundred; 9:20 - let fire come out; 1 Samuel 14:20 - every man's; 18:19 - Meholathite; 2 Chronicles 20:22 - to sing and to; Isaiah 49:26 - I will feed; Jeremiah 51:46 - ruler against; Ezekiel 38:21 - every; Haggai 2:22 - every; Zechariah 14:13 - a great Verse 23Judges 6:35; 1 Samuel 14:21, 14:22ReciprocalDeuteronomy 32:30 - one chase; 1 Samuel 17:52 - the men of Israel; 1 Kings 20:21 - went out Verse 24sentJudges 3:27; Romans 15:30; Philippians 1:27 take beforeJudges 3:28, 12:5 BethbarahProbably the same as Betha-bara, beyond Jordan, and at the ford where the Hebrews passed under the direction of Joshua. John 1:28ReciprocalJudges 6:33 - went over; 8:3 - God; 2 Samuel 20:21 - a man Verse 25two princesJudges 8:3; Psalm 83:11, 83:12 rockJoshua 7:26; Isaiah 10:26 OrebEusebius and Jerome speak of a small place called Araba, three miles west from Scythopolis, which is supposed by some to have had its name from Oreb.and broughtAmong ancient nations, the head of the conquered chief was usually brought to the conqueror. Thus Pompey's head was brought to Cesar, Cicero's head to Mark Anthony, and the heads of Ahab's children to Jehu. These barbarities are seldom practised now, except among the Mahommedans, or the savages of Africa and America; and for the credit of human nature, it is to be wished that such atrocities had never been committed.on the other sideThe words maiaiver lyyarden, may denote at the passage of Jordan, or from beyond Jordan. Gideon does not appear to have yet passed the Jordan. Judges 8:4