Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

Judges - Chapter 7

Test of Gideon’s Men, vs. 1-8

Gideon did not longer delay when he had received the Lord’s last positive assurance that He would deliver Israel from Midian by his hand. He took his men, which we learn numbered 32,000, and moved toward the enemy. Their campsite is identified as the well of Harod, which was a strong spring at the foot of mount Gilboa, very near Jezreel. It formed a pool some fifteen feet wide, according to scholars. The vast throng of the Midianites were camped to the north of Israel by the hill of Moreh, also in the valley of Jezreel. It was the same general area as that in which Deborah and Barak won the victory over the Canaanites.

The 32,000 men of Gideon was surely an insignificant number in comparison with the Midianites, Amalekites and Arabians. Yet the Lord anticipated that the Israelites would boast of winning by their own power if He gave them the victory with that number. Therefore He would pre-empt their boasting by having Gideon apply the ancient law prescribed for those going into war (De 20:5-9). Gideon was to use the part which applied to those who were fearful and fainthearted. These he was told to release from service and to send home, for to doubt and fear the outcome of the battle would cause others to doubt and fear also. Imagine the astonishment of Gideon when 22,000 of his men turned their backs on him and went home when given the opportunity!

Yet the Lord said that the 10,000 remaining were still too many. Gideon was to bring them down to the spring and have them drink. He would tell him which should go with him to battle and which should remain in their tents. The test was based on the manner in which they drank. Those who remained erect, dipped the water with their hand, and sucked it from the cupped hand as a dog might lap water, were set aside. When the test was over this group numbered only three hundred. God told Gideon he would deliver the Midianites by the three hundred. These had exhibited vigilance and alertness. By drinking from the hand they were on their feet, their eyes were lifted up, and the other hand was free to hold on to their weapons. They would not have been surprised and incapacitated by a sudden attack of the enemy, (1 Peter 5:8).

These three hundred men were given food and a trumpet. The rest were to remain in their tents. This very small band were not to go out against the Midianites host, which was spread out all along the valley of Jezreel.

Encouraged by a Dream, vs. 9-14

Was Gideon still doubtful? It would appear that he may have been. And who would not have felt some misgiving if sent out with three hundred men to meet a horde innumerable? Now, however, the Lord again assured Gideon that the Midianites would be delivered into his hand and proposes to bolster his confidence by sending him secretly to the Midianite camp. For companionship he was to take his servant, Phurah, about whom nothing more is known. With Phurah Gideon was to eavesdrop on the edge of the enemy camp and hear what they were saying.

As Gideon and Phurah neared the host of Midianites, Amalekites, and men of the east they could see what a mighty physical power they represented. They were covering the valley like a grasshopper plague, and their camels, beasts unfamiliar to the Israelites generally, seemed innumerable, like sand by the sea side.

While the pair listened they heard one of the Midianite soldiers telling of a dream he had dreamed to his friend. In the dream he had seen a barley biscuit come tumbling into the camp of Midian. It struck a tent and flattened it. His companion interpreted the dream for him, showing the fear that the Lord had put into the hearts of the soldiers. They had heard of the courage and boldness of Gideon, who had come out with his men to put them to flight. Without doubt they had also heard the old accounts of how the Lord had, through the centuries, blessed Israel with unusual victories, and they were afraid. That barley biscuit was surely Gideon, a man insignificant and common, like the barley bread which the poor people of all countries ate, (1 Corinthians 1:28).

Midianites Routed, vs. 15-25

Hearing the Midianites’s dream Gideon was finally fully convinced that the Lord would give the great host into his hand. His first act was worshipful thanks for the Lord’s assurance. He could now return to his three hundred men and command them to get up and proceed with him to the certain victory God was about to give them. the great faith of the three hundred is not to be overlooked, for they were surely not unmindful of the great physical superiority of their enemies. Gideon’s boldness and confidence reassured them also, (Matthew 5:16).

The men were armed with a trumpet, empty pitcher, and a lamp, or torch, to be concealed inside the pitcher, and divided into three companies. Gideon commanded them to follow his lead and to do all the things they observed him doing, when they should come to the outside of the camp of the Midianites. When Gideon blew his trumpet they were to blow theirs and to shout, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon." It was near midnight when they reached the enemy camp, for the middle watch of the night had just been set. Gideon distributed his men on all sides of the camp. They would have been in the hills surrounding the Midianite camp in the valley, concealed in the darkness.

When all were set Gideon put the plan in motion. Trumpets were blown, pitchers were shattered, and light flashed suddenly and unexpectedly in the hills, seen and heard in the Midianite camp. The shouting of three hundred lusty men, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon," invoked terror in the hearts of Midian. The Lord’s might they had heard of, the dread of Gideon they were experiencing. Pandemonium and bedlam broke out in their midst, but the three hundred "stood every man in his place," (1 Corinthians 16:13). The host of Midian ran, fled, and struck out with their swords at everything before them, thus slaying one another. It was a complete rout, though Israel wielded no sword.

The flight turned toward the Jordan in their attempt to escape to its east side. Generally they fled toward the southeast. Going down to the valley they came by Beth-shittah, attempted to cross at Zererath (Zarethan), hoping to reach Abel-meholah and Tabbath on the east bank in Gilead in the eastern allotment of the tribe of Manasseh.

When news of the rout reached the men left in their tents they roused themselves to pursue, and even those who had returned home for fear were aroused and hastened to the battle. The bravery and faithfulness of the few carried the day and was instrumental in stirring the lethargic and the fearful. The Ephraimites had not been previously alerted, but now Gideon sent out messengers to sound the alarm to them. They could reach the fords across Jordan and cut off the fleeing Midianites before they escaped to their own country. This they did in a great way, capturing two of the chief princes, Oreb and Zeeb. They took the heads of these two and brought them to Gideon.

Judges, chapter 7 contains some of the favorite preaching passages in all the Book. Find here these lessons: 1) Only those wholeheartedly devoted to the cause of Christ can accomplish the greatest victories for Him; 2) it is not numbers that count for most, but dedication; 3) the Lord will put His fear in the heart of the enemy so that they cannot stand against Him; 4) every man standing in his place in the Lord’s service will always win; 5) a victory initiated by the faithful will bolster the faith of others, who will fall into place also.