7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] {d} people go every man unto his place.(d) That is, the 31,000 and 700. See Jud 7:3,6. read more
ISRAEL'S ARMY REDUCED BY GOD (vv. 1-9) Gideon's influence had gathered 32,000 men, and they encamped south of the encampment of the Midianites, prepared for battle (v. 1).Compared to Midian, this army was pathetically small, but in God's eyes not small enough.He told Gideon that there was a danger of Israel's boasting of their victory if they thought that their strength had anything to do with it. Therefore, he must decrease his army.First, he was told to tell any who were afraid, to... read more
GIDEON AND THE MIDIANITES The old story of sin and suffering is repeated after the death of Deborah. The Midianites occupied territory on the south and east, contiguous to Moab, and were wandering herdsmen like the modern Bedouins, who, in connection with the Amalekites, harassed Israel at every opportunity with the results indicated in Judges 6:1-6 . God sends a prophet to His people in this case before He sends a Savior (Judges 6:7-10 ), for they must be brought to repentance before... read more
Gideon Judges 6-8 AT the close of the song of Deborah "the land had rest forty years." The sixth chapter begins with the usual black line: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." These comings and goings of evil in human history seem to be fated. Men never get so clear away from evil as never to come back again to it; at any moment the course of life may be reversed, and the altar, the vow, the song, and the prayer may be forgotten like vanished summers. This makes the... read more
What a strange process, according to human ideas, was this of the Lord's, for pointing out to Gideon the army by which the Lord would conquer Midian. But Reader! turn your thoughts to a yet more astonishing process, when, by the cross of Jesus, the crown of salvation is obtained for his people. And still going on in the wonder-working plan of mercy, when by the foolishness of preaching, and the poverty of instruments, in a few dull and unlearned fishermen of Galilee, the Lord triumphs over all... read more
Tongues. Some Latin copies add, "and hand," as it is expressed in Hebrew, &c., in the following verse. They resembled dogs more in the hurry than in the method of taking water. An old proverb says, "the dog drinks and flees away," (Calmet) alluding to the dogs of Egypt, who, through fear of the crocodiles which infest the banks of the Nile, lap the water with all expedition, "like a dog from the Nile." (Erasmus; Haydock; Macrobius ii. 2.) --- Hence we might infer, that these 300 men were... read more
That lapped water. These were preferred that took the water up in their hands, and so lapped it, before them who laid themselves quite down to the waters to drink; which argued a more eager and sensual disposition. (Challoner) --- It is thought that the former would be more capable of supporting the fatigues of war. (Menochius) --- The Jews suppose that those who knelt, had been accustomed to do so in honour of Baal. Lyranus concludes that they were extremely fatigued and thirsty, while the 300... read more
The Army Reduced. v. l. Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod, in the southwestern foothills above the plain, so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley, where their outposts commanded a free view of the valley. v. 2. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands (there were... read more
Gideon in the field. His numerous army reduced, by divinely prescribed tests, to three hundred menJudges 7:1-81Then [And] Jerubbaal (who is Gideon) and all the people that were with him, rose up early and pitched [encamped] beside the well of Harod [near En-Harod]: so that [and] the host [camp] of the Midianites were [was] on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.1 2And the Lord [Jehovah] said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the... read more
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Geneva Study Bible - Judges 7:5
7:5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; {c} likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.(c) Let them depart as unfit for this enterprise. read more