1Jerobaal, que es otro nombre de Gedeón, y todos los que estaban con él, se levantaron de mañana y acamparon junto a la fuente Harod.[1] El campamento de los madianitas les quedaba entonces al norte, en el valle, más allá del collado de More.[2] 2Jehová dijo a Gedeón: "Hay mucha gente contigo para que yo entregue a los madianitas en tus manos, pues Israel puede jactarse contra mí, diciendo: "Mi mano me ha salvado".[3] 3Ahora, pues, haz pregonar esto a oídos del pueblo: "Quien tema y se estremezca,[4] que madrugue y regrese a su casa[5] desde el monte de Galaad". Regresaron de los del pueblo veintidós mil, y quedaron diez mil. 4Jehová dijo de nuevo a Gedeón: "Aún son demasiados; llévalos a beber agua y allí los pondré a prueba. Del que yo te diga: "Vaya este contigo", irá contigo; pero de cualquiera que yo te diga: "Que este no vaya contigo", el tal no irá". 5Entonces Gedeón llevó el pueblo a las aguas, y Jehová le dijo: "A cualquiera que lama las aguas con la lengua como lo hace el perro, lo pondrás aparte; y lo mismo harás con cualquiera que doble sus rodillas para beber". 6El número de los que lamieron llevándose el agua a la boca con la mano fue de trescientos hombres; el resto del pueblo dobló sus rodillas para beber las aguas. 7Entonces Jehová dijo a Gedeón: "Con estos trescientos hombres que lamieron el agua os salvaré y entregaré a los madianitas en tus manos; váyase toda la demás gente cada uno a su lugar". 8Habiendo tomado provisiones para el pueblo, y sus trompetas, envió a todos los israelitas cada uno a su tienda, y retuvo a aquellos trescientos hombres. El campamento de Madián le quedaba abajo, en el valle. 9Aconteció que aquella noche Jehová le dijo: "Levántate y desciende al campamento, porque yo lo he entregado en tus manos. 10Si tienes temor de descender, baja al campamento con tu criado Fura, 11y oirás lo que hablan. Entonces te animarás y descenderás a atacarlos". Gedeón descendió con su criado Fura hasta los puestos avanzados de la gente armada que estaba en el campamento. 12Los madianitas, los amalecitas y los hijos del oriente se habían esparcido por el valle como una plaga de langostas, y sus camellos eran innumerables como la arena que se acumula a la orilla del mar. 13En el momento en que llegó Gedeón, un hombre contaba un sueño a su compañero, diciendo: --He tenido un sueño: Veía un pan de cebada que rodaba hasta el campamento de Madián. Llegó a la tienda y la golpeó de tal manera que cayó; la trastornó de arriba abajo y la tienda cayó.[6] 14Su compañero respondió: --Esto no representa otra cosa sino la espada de Gedeón hijo de Joás, varón de Israel. Dios ha entregado en sus manos a los madianitas con todo el campamento. 15Cuando Gedeón oyó el relato del sueño y su interpretación, adoró. Después volvió al campamento de Israel y dijo: "Levantaos, porque Jehová ha entregado el campamento de Madián en vuestras manos". 16Y repartiendo los trescientos hombres en tres escuadrones,[7] puso trompetas en manos de todos ellos, y cántaros vacíos con antorchas ardiendo dentro de los cántaros, 17y entonces les dijo: "Miradme a mí y haced como hago yo; cuando yo llegue al extremo del campamento, haréis vosotros como hago yo. 18Tocaré la trompeta, y también todos los que estarán conmigo; entonces vosotros tocaréis las trompetas alrededor de todo el campamento, gritando: "¡Por Jehová y por Gedeón!" 19Llegaron, pues, Gedeón y los cien hombres que este llevaba consigo, al extremo del campamento, cuando acababan de renovar los centinelas de la guardia de la medianoche.[8] Tocaron entonces las trompetas y quebraron los cántaros que llevaban en sus manos. 20Los tres escuadrones tocaron las trompetas y, quebrando los cántaros, tomaron con la mano izquierda las antorchas y con la derecha las trompetas que tocaban, y gritaron: --¡Por la espada de Jehová y de Gedeón! 21Los israelitas se mantuvieron firmes cada uno en su puesto alrededor del campamento, y todo el ejército madianita echó a correr dando gritos y huyendo.[9] 22Mientras los trescientos tocaban las trompetas, Jehová puso la espada de cada uno contra su compañero en todo el campamento. Y el ejército huyó hasta Bet-sita, en dirección de Zerera, hasta la frontera de Abel-mehola, en Tabat.[10] 23Se reunieron entonces los de Israel, de Neftalí, de Aser y de todo Manasés, y persiguieron a los madianitas. 24Gedeón también envió mensajeros por todo el monte de Efraín, que decían: "Descended al encuentro de los madianitas; tomad los vados de Bet-bara y del Jordán antes que ellos lleguen". Unidos, todos los hombres de Efraín tomaron los vados de Bet-bara y del Jordán. 25Capturaron a dos príncipes de los madianitas, Oreb y Zeeb;[11] mataron a Oreb en la peña de Oreb, y a Zeeb lo mataron en el lagar de Zeeb. Después que persiguieron a los madianitas, trajeron las cabezas de Oreb y de Zeeb a Gedeón, que estaba al otro lado 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.