Judges 7:21

Verse

Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran.

American Standard Version (1901)

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight.

Bible in Basic English

Then they made a line round the tents, every man in his place; and all the army, awaking from sleep, came running out, and with loud cries went in flight.

Free Bible Version

Each man stood in his place encircling the camp, and all the enemy soldiers ran around shouting—then they fled.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they stoode, euery man in his place round about the hoste: and all the hoste ranne, and cryed, and fled.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

Translation for Translators

Each of Gideon’s men stood in his position around the enemy camp. As they watched, all the Midian men started running around and shouting in a panic.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Every man stood in his place around the camp and all the Midianite army ran. They shouted and ran away.

Noah Webster Bible

And they stood every man in his place around the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

World English Bible

They each stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight.

Young's Literal Translation

And they stand each in his place, round about the camp, and all the camp runneth, and they shout, and flee;

Context

Gideon Defeats Midian

²⁰The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”²¹Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. ²²And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

Sermons

A Great Victory

J. Wilbur Chapman

What Happened?

K.P. Yohannan

Standing Firm in the Lord

T. Austin-Sparks

Summary

In this verse, Gideon and his men, armed with trumpets, empty jars, and torches, surround the Midianite camp at night. At Gideon's signal, they break the jars, revealing the torches, and blow their trumpets, creating confusion and fear among the Midianites. This unconventional battle strategy, orchestrated by God, leads to the Midianites turning on each other in panic, resulting in a great victory for Gideon's small army. It showcases God's power and ability to bring triumph through unexpected and seemingly weak means, demonstrating that victory ultimately comes from the Lord.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 in the midst of them, while they destroyed them; which latter seems rather to be the thing their imaginations were possessed with, since they fell to slaying their fellows, supposing them to be enemies, as in the following verse: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled; or "were broken" (l); as some render the first word, their lines were broken; they could not put themselves in rank and file, but were thrown into the utmost confusion; and cried as being in the utmost danger of their lives, and fled for their safety as fast, as they could; see Isa 27:13. (l) "confracta", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus.