Judges 7:16-25 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:24

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim ,.... To raise the inhabitants of it, who lay nearer Jordan, to which the Midianites would make, in order to intercept them in their flight; or however get possession of the fords of Jordan before them, and hinder their passage over it: saying, come down against the Midianites ; for though he had routed them, and they were fled before him, yet he had not men enough with him to destroy them; and besides, as they had their camels to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:25

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb ,.... The one signifies a "raven", and the other a "wolf"; which were either nicknames given them because of their voraciousness and cruelty, or which they took themselves, or their ancestors before them, to make themselves terrible to others; so the Romans had the families of the Corvini, &c.; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb ; perhaps they found him in a cave of the rock, and dragging him out slew him, from whence the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:16

He divided the three hundred men - Though the victory was to be from the Lord, yet he knew that he ought to use prudential means; and those which he employed on this occasion were the best calculated to answer the end. If he had not used these means, it is not likely that God would have delivered the Midianites into his hands. Sometimes, even in working a miracle, God will have natural means used: Go, dip thyself seven times in Jordan. Go, wash in the pool Siloam. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:18

The sword of the Lord , and of Gideon - The word חרב chereb , "sword," is not found in this verse, though it is necessarily implied, and is found in Judges 7:20 . But it is found in this place in the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, and in eight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. The reading appears to be genuine. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:20

Blew the trumpets , and brake the pitchers - How astonishing must the effect be, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of three hundred torches, darting their splendor, in the same instant, on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites, accompanied with the clangour of three hundred trumpets, alternately mingled with the thundering shout of ולגדעון ליהוה חרב chereb layhovah ulegidon , "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" Origen, in his ninth homily on this book,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:21

They stood every man in his place - Each of the three companies kept its station, and continued to sound their trumpets. The Midianites seeing this, and believing that they were the trumpets of a numerous army which had then penetrated their camp, were thrown instantly into confusion; and supposing that their enemies were in the midst of them, they turned their swords against every man they met, while at the same time they endeavored to escape for their lives. No stratagem was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:22

Fled to Beth-shittah - This is no where else mentioned in Scripture. Zererath - This and Tabbath are nowhere else to be found. Abel-meholah - This was the birth-place of the prophet Elisha, 1 Kings 19:16 . It was beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Manasseh, 1 Kings 4:12 . The Zartanah, mentioned in this last quoted verse, was probably the same as Zererath. Its situation corresponds well with Abel-meholah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:23

The men of Israel gathered - It is very likely that these were some persons whom Gideon had sent home the day before, who now hearing that the Midianites were routed, went immediately in pursuit. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:24

Take before them the waters unto Beth-barah - This is probably the same place as that mentioned John 1:28 , where the Hebrews forded Jordan under the direction of Joshua. To this place the Midianites directed their flight that they might escape into their own country; and here, being met by the Ephraimites, they appear to have been totally overthrown, and their two generals taken. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:25

They slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb - These two generals had taken shelter, one in the cavern of the rock, the other in the vat of a winepress; both of which places were from this circumstance, afterwards called by their names. Brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon - Oreb signifies a raven and Zeeb a wolf. In all ancient nations we find generals and princes taking their names from both birds and beasts; the Romans had their Gracchi , jackdaws; Corvini ... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:25

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