Judges 7:21

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:21

And they stood every man in his place around the camp ,.... To see the salvation of God, and that it might most clearly appear to be his own doing; and indeed, had they gone into it, they could have done nothing; they had no weapons in their hands, a trumpet in one hand, and a lamp in the other; though this their position served to increase the terror of the enemy, who might suppose that they stood either to light and introduce a large army at the back of them; or to light the forces already... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 7:21

The effect to the Midianites would be, that they were surrounded by a mighty host. Their own camp being in darkness, as soon as the confusion of flight began they would mistake friends for foes, and fleers for pursuers. When once fighting had begun by the first casual mistake, the clashing of swords and the shouts of the combatants in the camp, accompanied by the continuous blowing of Gideon’s trumpets outside, would make it appear that the whole of the enemy was in the camp. Suspicion of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 7:21-22

Judges 7:21-22. They stood As if they had been torch-bearers to the several companies. Every man’s sword against his fellow They slew one another, because they suspected treachery, and so fell upon those they first met with; which they might more easily do, because they consisted of several nations, because the darkness of the night made them unable to distinguish friends from foes, because the suddenness of the thing struck them with horror and amazement, and because God had infatuated... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 7:1-25

Deliverance under Gideon (7:1-8:35)God allowed Gideon only three hundred men to launch the attack against the Midianites, so that Israel might know that victory was not by military power but by God’s power (7:1-8). A Midianite soldier’s dream showed that an unnatural fear had come upon the Midianites. When he dreamt that a poor man’s loaf of barley overthrew a rich man’s tent, he thought that poverty-stricken Israel would overthrow Midian’s army. The Midianites could, in fact, have wiped out... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 7:21

Judges 7:21. They stood every man in his place round about the camp— Not one of the three hundred men stirred a foot from his place, but stood still without striking a blow, as if they had been only torch-bearers to give light to the army to see their way to the camp, and to do execution. The work was the Lord's; the stratagem had been in vain without his concurrence. He can make the meanest and most unlikely instruments subservient to the welfare of his people, and productive of the desolation... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 7:19-21

The defeat of the Midianites 7:19-8:21Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites took some time and involved some conflict with the other Israelites. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 7:19-22

Gideon’s initial victory 7:19-22Gideon commenced his "attack" at the beginning of the middle watch, which was evidently midnight. [Note: Bush, p. 104; Keil and Delitzsch, p. 347. Lindsey, p. 394, wrote that it was 10:00 p.m.] Many of the Midianites would have been sound asleep and upon awakening would have felt confused by the sights and sounds of their enemies. The movements of their own men milling around the camp as a result of the recent watch change would have disoriented them further.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 7:1-25

The Rout of Midian1-7. Gideon’s choice of his Followers.1. The sites here mentioned are doubtful. Moreh] said to be near Shechem (Genesis 12:6; Deuteronomy 11:30). After the battle Gideon crosses the Jordan by the fords one would take if travelling from Shechem eastwards. 3. Gilead] is E. of the Jordan: some other locality must be meant. For the return of the timid, cp. Deuteronomy 20:8.5. Probably an arbitrary test. It is as easy to find abstract reasons for choosing those who stooped down as... read more

Group of Brands