Judges 7:9-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 7:9-15

Gideon's army being diminished as we have found it was, he must either fight by faith or not at all; God therefore here provides recruits for his faith, instead of recruits for his forces. I. He furnishes him with a good foundation to build his faith upon. Nothing but a word from God will be a footing for faith. He has this as full and express as he can desire, Jdg. 7:9. 1. A word of command to warrant the action, which otherwise seemed rash and indiscreet, and unbecoming a wise general:... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 7:16-22

Here is, I. The alarm which Gideon gave to the hosts of Midian in the dead time of the night; for it was intended that those who had so long been a terror to Israel, and had so often frightened them, should themselves be routed and ruined purely by terror. 1. The attack here made was, in many circumstances, like that which Abraham made upon the army that had taken Lot captive. The number of men was much the same: Abraham had 318, Gideon 300; they both divided their forces, both made their... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 7:23-25

We have here the prosecution of this glorious victory. 1. Gideon's soldiers that had been dismissed, and perhaps had begun to disperse themselves, upon notice of the enemies? flight got together again, and vigorously pursued those whom they had not courage to face. The men of Israel out of Naphtali and Asher who did this (Jdg. 7:23) were not such as now came from those distant countries, but the same that had enlisted themselves (Jdg. 6:35), but had been cashiered. Those who were fearful and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:9

And it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him ,.... The night after there had been so great a reduction of his army, from 32,000 to three hundred: arise, get thee down unto the host, for I have delivered it into thine hands ; that is, go down from the hill where he and his little army were, to the valley of Jezreel, where lay the numerous host of Midian; assuring him, that though the disproportion was so very great, the army of Midian should be delivered into his hands;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:10

But if thou fear to go down ,.... With his little army, to attack a numerous host in the night, then he is directed to take this step first: go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host ; in a private manner; perhaps this man was his aid-de-camp, or however a trusty servant in whom he could confide, as well as valiant: more it was not proper to take in such a secret expedition, and the fewer the better to trust, and less liable to the observation of the enemy; and yet it was proper... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:11

And thou shalt hear what they shall say ,.... The Midianites, or what shall be said by any of them; for though it was the night season, and so not a time for much conversation, as it may be supposed to be the dead of the night; yet something would be said and heard, which is a clear proof of the prescience of God respecting future contingent events: and afterwards shall thine hands be strengthened ; and his heart encouraged by what he should hear: to go down into the camp ; in an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:12

And the Midianites and the Amalekites, and the children of the east ,.... The Arabians, who with the Amalekites joined the Midianites in this expedition: lay along in the valley in the valley of Jezreel, in their tents, which overspread the valley, or at least great part of it: like grasshoppers for multitude ; or locusts, which usually come in great numbers, and cover the air and the sun where they fly, and the earth where they light, as they did the land of Egypt; this army... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:13

And when Gideon was come ,.... With his servant, near and within hearing the talk and conversation of the outer guards or sentinels: there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow ; his comrade that stood next him, and was upon guard with him; perhaps it was a dream he had dreamed the night before or this selfsame night, being just called up to take his turn in the watch, and so it was fresh upon his mind: and said, behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo ; thus it was as I am going to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:14

And his fellow answered and said ,.... As the dream was no doubt from God, so the interpretation of it was; it was he that put into the mind of the soldier's comrade to whom he told it to interpret it as follows; or otherwise in all likelihood he would never have thought of it: this is nothing else save the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, a man of Israel ; that is, this signifies nothing else, and a fit emblem it was of him and his little army. A cake is but a small thing, and, let it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:15

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof ,.... Or, "the breaking of it" F7 שברו "fractionem ejus", Vatablus, Drusius; "fracturam ejus", Piscator. ; the dream itself being like something closed up and sealed, and the interpretation of it was like the breaking of a seal, and discovering what is hid under it; or like a nut, the kernel of which cannot be come at till the shell is broken: that he worshipped ; bowed his head with an... read more

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