1LEVANTÁNDOSE pues de mañana Jerubaal, el cual es Gedeón, y todo el pueblo que estaba con él, asentaron el campo junto a la fuente de Jarad: y tenía el campo de los Madianitas al norte de la otra parte del collado de More, en el valle. 2Y Jehová dijo a Gedeon: El pueblo que está contigo es mucho para que yo dé a los Madianitas en su mano: porque no se alabe Israel contra mí, diciendo: Mi mano me ha salvado. 3Haz pues ahora pregonar que lo oiga el pueblo, diciendo: El que teme y se estremece, madrugue y vuélvase desde el monte de Galaad. Y volviéronse de los del pueblo veinte y dos mil: y quedaron diez mil. 4Y Jehová dijo a Gedeon: Aun es mucho el pueblo; llévalos a las aguas, y allí yo te los probaré: y del que yo te dijere: Vaya este contigo; vaya contigo. Mas de cualquiera que yo te dijere: Este no vaya contigo; el tal no vaya. 5Entónces él llevó el pueblo a las aguas: y Jehová dijo a Gedeon: Cualquiera que lamiere las aguas con su lengua como lame el perro, aquel pondrás a parte: y asimismo cualquiera que se arrodillare sobre sus rodillas para beber. 6Y fué el número de los que lamieron las aguas llegándola con la mano a la boca trescientos varones: y todo el resto del pueblo se arrodillaron sobre sus rodillas para beber las aguas. 7Entónces Jehová dijo a Gedeon: Con estos trescientos varones que lamieron el agua, os salvaré, y entregaré a los Madianitas en tus manos: y váyase todo el pueblo cada uno a su lugar. 8Y tomada provisión para el pueblo en sus manos, con sus bocinas, envió a todos los otros Israelitas cada uno a su tienda, y retuvo a aquellos trescientos varones: y tenía el campo de Madián abajo en el valle. 9Y aconteció que aquella noche Jehová le dijo: Levántate y desciende al campo: porque yo lo he entregado en tus manos. 10Y si tienes temor de descender, desciende tú, y Fara tu criado al campo: 11Y oirás lo que hablan: y entónces tus manos se esforzarán, y descenderás al campo. Y él descendió con Fara su criado al principio de la gente de armas que estaba en el campo. 12Y Madián, y Amalec, y todos los Orientales estaban tendidos en el valle muchos como langosta: y sus camellos eran innumerables, como la arena que está a la ribera de la mar en multitud. 13Y como Gedeón vino, he aquí que un varón estaba contando a su compañero un sueño, diciendo: He aquí que yo soñé un sueño: Que veía un pan de cebada que rodaba hasta el campo de Madián: y llegaba a las tiendas, y las hirió de tal manera que cayeron, y las trastornó de arriba abajo, y que las tiendas cayeron. 14Y su compañero respondió, y dijo: Esto no es otra cosa sino la espada de Gedeón hijo de Joas, varón de Israel, que Dios ha entregado en sus manos a los Madianitas con todo el campo. 15Y como Gedeón oyó la historia del sueño con su declaración, adoró; y vueltó al campo de Israel, dijo: Levantáos, que Jehová ha entregado el campo de Madián en vuestras manos. 16Y repartiendo los trescientos hombres en tres escuadrones dió a cada uno de ellos sendas bocinas en sus manos, y sendos cántaros vacios, con sendos tizones ardiendo dentro de los cántaros. 17Y díjoles: Mirádme a mí, y hacéd como yo hiciere: he aquí que cuando yo llegaré al principio del campo, como yo hiciere, así haréis vosotros. 18Yo tocaré la bocina, y todos los que estarán conmigo: y vosotros entónces tocaréis las bocinas al rededor de todo el campo; y diréis: Jehová y Gedeón. 19Llegó pues Gedeón, y los cien varones que llevaba consigo al principio del campo al principio de la vela del medio, despertando solamente las guardas: y tocaron las bocinas, y quebraron los cántaros, que llevaban en sus manos. 20Y los tres escuadrones tocaron sus bocinas, y quebrando los cántaros tomaron en las manos izquierdas los tizones, y en las derechas los cuernos con que tañiban: y dieron grita: La espada de Jehová, y la de Gedeón. 21Y estuviéronse en sus lugares en derredor del campo: y todo el campo fué alboratado y huyeron gritando. 22Mas los trescientos tocaban las bocinas: y Jehová puso la espada de cada uno contra su compañero en todo el campo. Y el campo huyó hasta Bet-seca en Cererat, y hasta el término de Abel-mejula en Tebbat. 23Y juntándose los de Israel de Neftalí, y de Aser, y de todo Manasés, siguieron a los Madianitas. 24Gedeón también envió mensajeros a todo el monte de Efraim, diciendo: Descendéd al encuentro de los Madianitas, y tomádles las aguas hasta Bet-bera, y el Jordán. Y juntos todos los varones de Efraim tomaron las aguas hasta Bet-bera, y el Jordán. 25Y tomaron dos príncipes de los Madianitas Oreb, y Zeb; y a Oreb mataron en la peña de Oreb; y a Zeb mataron en el lagar de Zeb; y siguieron a los Madianitas, y trajeron las cabezas de Oreb, y de Zeb a Gedeón de la otra parte del Jordán.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 GIDEON'S ARMY. (
Judg 7:1-
Judg 7:8)
Jerubbaal--This had now become Gideon's honorable surname, "the enemy of Baal."
well--rather "spring of Harod," that is, "fear, trembling"; probably the same as the fountain in Jezreel (
1Sam 29:1). It was situated not far from Gilboa, on the confines of Manasseh, and the name "Harod" was bestowed on it with evident reference to the panic which seized the majority of Gideon's troops. The host of the Midianites were on the northern side of the valley, seemingly deeper down in the descent towards the Jordan, near a little eminence.
2 the Lord said unto Gideon, The people . . . are too many--Although the Israelitish army mustered only thirty-two thousand (or one-sixth of the Midianitish host), the number was too great, for it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.
3 Now therefore . . ., proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful . . . let him return--This proclamation was in terms of an established law (
Deut 20:8).
4 too many--Two reductions were ordered, the last by the application of a test which was made known to Gideon alone.
5 bring them down unto the water--When the wandering people in Asia, on a journey or in haste, come to water, they 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 stream, 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 selected as fit for a work that required expedition. The rest were dismissed according to the divine direction.
7 the Lord said, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you--It is scarcely possible to conceive a more severe trial than the command to attack the overwhelming forces of the enemy with such a handful of followers. But Gideon's faith in the divine assurance of victory was steadfast, and it is for this he is so highly commended (
Heb 11:32).
8 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.
9 HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE DREAM AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BARLEY CAKE. (
Judg 7:9-
Judg 7:15)
Arise, get thee down unto the host . . . But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant--In ancient times it was reckoned no degradation for persons of the highest rank and character to act as spies on an enemy's camp; and so Gideon did on this occasion. But the secret errand was directed by God, who intended that he should hear something which might animate his own valor and that of his troops.
11 the outside of the armed men that were in the host--"Armed," means embodied under the five officers established by the ordinary laws and usages of encampments. The camp seems to have been unprotected by any rampart, since Gideon had no difficulty in reaching and overhearing a conversation, so important to him.
12 the Midianites and the Amalekites . . . lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number--a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.
13 I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian--This was a characteristic and very expressive dream for an Arab in the circumstances. The rolling down the hill, striking against the tents, and overturning them, naturally enough connected it in his mind with the position and meditated attack of the Israelitish leader. The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitudes must have been reduced to poor and scanty fare.
15 when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation . . . he worshipped--The incident originated in the secret overruling providence of God, and Gideon, from his expression of pious gratitude, regarded it as such. On his mind, as well as that of his followers, it produced the intended effect--that of imparting new animation and impulse to their patriotism.
16 HIS STRATAGEM AGAINST MIDIAN. (
Judg 7:16-
Judg 7:24)
he divided the three hundred men into three companies--The object of dividing his forces was, that they might seem to be surrounding the enemy. The pitchers were empty to conceal the torches, and made of earthenware, so as to be easily broken; and the sudden blaze of the held-up lights--the loud echo of the trumpets, and the shouts of Israel, always terrifying (
Num 23:21), and now more terrible than ever by the use of such striking words, broke through the stillness of the midnight air. The sleepers started from their rest; not a blow was dealt by the Israelites; but the enemy ran tumultuously, uttering the wild, discordant cries peculiar to the Arab race. They fought indiscriminately, not knowing friend from foe. The panic being universal, they soon precipitately fled, directing their flight down to the Jordan, by the foot of the mountains of Ephraim, to places known as the "house of the acacia" [Beth-shittah], and "the meadow of the dance" [Abel-meholah].
23 the men of Israel gathered themselves together--These were evidently the parties dismissed, who having lingered at a little distance from the scene of contest, now eagerly joined in the pursuit southwestward through the valley.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim--The Ephraimites lay on the south and could render seasonable aid.
Come . . . take before them the waters unto Beth-barah--(See on
Judg 3:28). These were the northern fords of the Jordan, to the east-northeast of wady Maleh.
the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together . . . unto Beth-barah--A new conflict ensued, in which two secondary chiefs were seized and slain on the spots where they were respectively taken. The spots were named after these chiefs, Oreb, "the Raven," and Zeeb, "the Wolf"--appropriate designations of Arab leaders.