Judges 7

Judges 7:1

2. Gideon’s Three Hundred (Chap. 7)7:1-3 In order that victory against Midian might be clearly divine, the Lord first reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to ten thousand by sending the fearful and fainthearted home, as the law commanded (Deu_20:8). 7:4-8 In order to reduce the army still further, God tested the soldiers at the river. Those who took time to get down on their knees for a drink of water were eliminated. Those, on the other hand, who lapped up water like a dog and quickly moved on were kept in the army. These numbered three hundred men. 7:9-14 The LORD then directed Gideon to visit the outskirts of the camp of the Midianites by night. Accompanied by Purah his servant, Gideon went to the outermost part of the enemy’s encampment. There he heard a Midianite telling his friend of a dream he had had in which a loaf of barley bread rolled over a Midianite tent, crushing it. The friend understood the dream as meaning that the Israelites would defeat Midian. Barley bread was the food of the common farming people and represented Israel. The tent typified the armies of the Midianites. 7:15-20 Perhaps the thought of his diminishing army rekindled Gideon’s fears, and justifiably so. God was asking him to face an army of 135,000 with a force of 300 (Jdg_8:10)! But this word from the mouth of his enemies strengthened his faith. In response, he first worshiped (v. 15), then warred. Thus assured of victory, Gideon returned to the camp of Israel and summoned his men to war. After dividing the army into three companies of one hundred each, he armed each man with a trumpet and an earthenware pitcher with a lamp or torch inside. They marched to the fringe of the camp of the Midianites, and then at the appointed signal they all blew the trumpets, broke the earthenware pitchers so that the light of the lamps would be visible, and cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!“The divine interpretation of this incident is given in 2Co_4:7. Our bodies are the earthen vessels. It is only as we are constantly delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines forth to others. 7:21-25 In confusion and panic, the Midianites began attacking one another, then fled. At first they were chased by men from the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh. But then all the men of Ephraim were summoned to join in by taking the fords of Jordan and destroying the foe as they sought to escape across the river. The Ephraimites succeeded in capturing and killing two of the princes of Midian: Oreb (raven) and Zeeb (wolf). There are lessons we can learn about leadership in Gideon’s actions. The leader must be thoroughly convinced about what he is doing before he can lead others. He must be a worshiper first of all, giving God His rightful place (v. 15). He must lead by example (v. 17). He must be careful that the credit goes where it belongsto God first, then to the instruments of His choosing (v. 18).