Judges 7:22-25

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 7:22

And the three hundred men blew the trumpets ,.... Kept blowing them to continue and increase the terror of the enemy, and still held the lamps in their hands, and stood as torch bearers to light the Midianites and their associates to destroy one another, as follows: and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow throughout the host ; and so slew one another; either suspecting treachery, as Grotius, and so in revenge, wrath, and indignation, drew their swords on each other; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 7:23

And the men of Israel gathered themselves together ,.... Not out of all the tribes, but out of those which lay nearest, and which are particularly mentioned: out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh : and these seem to be the same persons out of those tribes who first joined Gideon, but were separated from his army; both those that were fearful, and those that bowed their knees to drink, and who perhaps had not gone far before they heard of the defeat and flight of the... read more

John Gill

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 7:22

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

Group of Brands