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JUDGES 7

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  1  Gideon's army of two and thirty thousand is brought to
    three hundred.
 9  He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the
    burley cake.
16  His stratagem of trumpets and lamps in pitchers.
24  The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb.


VERSE 1
- Jerubbaal.
  It 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.

   * Jud 6:32
- rose up.
   * Ge 22:3 Jos 3:1; 6:12 Ec 9:10
- Moreh.
   * Ge 12:6


VERSE 2 
 - too many.
   * 1Sa 14:6 2Ch 14:11 Zec 4:6; 12:7 1Co 1:27-29; 2:4,5 2Co 4:7
   * 2Co 10:4,5
- Israel.
   * De 32:27 Isa 2:11,17 Jer 9:23 Ro 3:27; 11:18 1Co 1:29 Eph 2:9
   * Jas 4:6
- Mine own.
   * De 8:17 Isa 10:13 Eze 28:2,17 Da 4:30 Hab 1:16


VERSE 3 
 - Whosoever.
   * De 20:8 Mt 13:21 Lu 14:25-33 Re 17:14; 21:8
- mount Gilead.
  Gideon 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 MS. or version.  Dr. Hales endeavors 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."

- twenty.
   * Mt 20:16


VERSE 4 
 - people.
   * Ps 33:16
- I will.
   * Ge 22:1 1Sa 16:7 Job 23:10 Ps 7:9; 66:10 Jer 6:27-30 Mal 3:2,3


VERSE 5 
 - lappeth.
  The 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 MS. 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.

   * :5

VERSE 6
    * :6

VERSE 7
    * :18-22 1Sa 14:6 Isa 41:14-16


VERSE 8 
 - trumpets.
   * Jud 3:27 Le 23:24; 25:9 Nu 10:9 Jos 6:4,20 Isa 27:13 1Co 15:52
- in the valley.
   * Jud 6:33


VERSE 9 
 - the same.
   * Ge 46:2,3 Job 4:13; 33:15,16 Mt 1:20; 2:13 Ac 18:9,10; 27:23
- Arise.
   * Jos 1:5-9 Isa 41:10-16; 43:1,2
- I have delivered.
   * Jud 3:10,28; 4:14,15 2Ch 16:8,9; 20:17

VERSE 10
    * Jud 4:8,9 Ex 4:10-14


VERSE 11 
 - thou shalt.
   * :13-15 Ge 24:14 1Sa 14:8,12
- thine hands.
   * 1Sa 23:16 Ezr 6:22 Ne 6:9 Isa 35:3,4 2Co 12:9,10 Eph 3:16
   * Eph 6:10 Php 4:13
- armed men.  or, ranks by five.
   * Ex 13:18 *marg:


VERSE 12 
 - the Midianites.
   * Jud 6:3,5,33 1Ki 4:30
- grasshoppers.
   * Jud 8:10 2Ch 14:9-12 Ps 3:1; 33:16; 118:10-12 Isa 8:9,10


VERSE 13 
 - lo, a cake.
   * Jud 3:15,31; 4:9,21; 6:15 Isa 41:14,15 1Co 1:27


VERSE 14 
 - his fellow.
   * Nu 22:38; 23:5,20; 24:10-13 Job 1:10
- into his hand.
   * Ex 15:14,15 Jos 2:9,24; 5:1 2Ki 7:6,7


VERSE 15 
 - interpretation thereof.  Heb. breaking thereof.
   * Ge 40:8; 41:11
- worshipped.
   * Ge 24:26,27,48 Ex 4:30,31 2Ch 20:18,19
- Arise.
   * Jud 4:14 2Co 10:4-6


VERSE 16 
 - three companies.
  This 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 trumpet.  Heb. trumpets in the hand of all of them.  empty.
   * 2Co 4:7
- lamps.  or, fire-brands, or torches.

VERSE 17
    * Jud 9:48 Mt 16:24 1Co 11:1 Heb 13:7 1Pe 5:3


VERSE 18 
 - blow ye.
   * :20
- the sword.
  The word {cherev,} "sword," necessarily implied, and rightly
  supplied by our venerable translators from ver. 20, is found
  in this place, in the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, and in
  eight MSS.; and evidently appears to be genuine.

   * 1Sa 17:47 2Ch 20:15-17


VERSE 19 
 - in the beginning.
   * Ex 14:24 Mt 25:6 1Th 5:2 Re 16:15
- they blew.
   * :8
- brake.
   * :16 Ps 2:9 Jer 13:13,14; 19:1-11


VERSE 20 
 - blew.
  How astonishing and overwhelming must the effect be, in a dark
  night, of the sudden glare of 300 torches, darting their
  splendor 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!"

   * Nu 10:1-10 Jos 6:4,16,20 Isa 27:13 1Co 15:52 1Th 4:16
- brake.
   * 2Co 4:7 Heb 11:4 2Pe 1:15


VERSE 21 
 - stood.
   * Ex 14:13,14 2Ch 20:17 Isa 30:7,15
- all the host.
   * Ex 14:25 2Ki 7:6,7 Job 15:21,22 Pr 28:1


VERSE 22 
 - blew.
   * Jos 6:4,16,20 2Co 4:7
- the Lord.
   * 1Sa 14:16-20 2Ch 20:23 Ps 83:9 Isa 9:4; 19:2
- in.  or, toward.  Zererath.
  Probably the same as Zartanah.

   * 1Ki 4:12
- border.  Heb. lip.  Abelmeholah.
  Situated, according to Eusebius 16 miles south from
  Scythopolis, or Bethshan.

   * 1Ki 4:12; 19:16
- Tabbath.
  Probably the town  of [O‚b‚d,] mentioned by Eusebius, 13 miles
  from Neapolis, or Shechem, towards Scythopolis.

VERSE 23
    * Jud 6:35 1Sa 14:21,22


VERSE 24 
 - sent.
   * Jud 3:27 Ro 15:30 Php 1:27
- take before.
   * Jud 3:28; 12:5
- Beth-barah.
  Probably the same as Betha-bara, beyond Jordan, and at the
  ford where the Hebrews passed under the direction of Joshua.

   * Joh 1:28


VERSE 25 
 - two princes.
   * Jud 8:3 Ps 83:11,12
- rock.
   * Jos 7:26 Isa 10:26
- Oreb.
  Eusebius 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 brought.
  Among ancient nations, the head of the conquered chief was
  usually brought to the conqueror.  Thus Pompey's head was
  brought to C'sar, 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 side.
  The words {maiaiver lyyarden,} may denote at the passage of
  Jordan, or from beyond Jordan.  Gideon does not appear to have
  yet passed the Jordan.

   * Jud 8:4



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