Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. Gideon and the hundred men with himThis phrase highlights the leadership and strategic planning of Gideon, a judge chosen by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. The number "hundred" signifies a small, yet divinely appointed group, emphasizing that victory comes not by might, but by the Lord's power. Historically, Gideon's selection of men was a process of divine filtration, ensuring that those who remained were truly reliant on God. reached the edge of the camp
The "edge of the camp" signifies a position of vulnerability and surprise. In military strategy, approaching the edge of an enemy camp at night would be unexpected, creating an element of surprise. This tactic reflects God's wisdom imparted to Gideon, as it allowed the Israelites to catch the Midianites off guard, demonstrating that God's plans often defy human logic. at the beginning of the middle watch
The "middle watch" refers to a specific time during the night, typically from 10 PM to 2 AM, when soldiers would be most weary and least alert. This timing is crucial, as it underscores God's perfect timing in orchestrating events for His purposes. The changing of the guard would have been a moment of confusion and transition, making the Midianites more susceptible to panic. just after the changing of the guard
This phrase indicates a moment of transition and potential chaos within the camp. The changing of the guard was a routine but critical moment when vigilance could lapse. Spiritually, it symbolizes the importance of being prepared and alert, as God often moves in unexpected ways during times of transition. They blew their trumpets
The blowing of trumpets is a significant biblical motif, often associated with divine intervention and the announcement of God's presence. In this context, the trumpets served as a signal of God's impending victory. The Hebrew word for trumpet, "shofar," is traditionally linked to calls for repentance and the heralding of God's deliverance. and broke the jars that were in their hands
The breaking of jars symbolizes the breaking of human limitations and the unleashing of divine power. The jars, likely made of clay, represent human frailty, while their breaking reveals the light within, symbolizing God's glory and strength. This act of breaking jars is a powerful metaphor for how God uses our brokenness to reveal His light and accomplish His purposes. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonA judge of Israel chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Known for his initial hesitance and need for reassurance from God, Gideon ultimately demonstrates faith and obedience. 2. The Hundred MenPart of the 300 men selected by God to accompany Gideon in the battle against the Midianites. Their small number highlights God's power in delivering victory through unlikely means. 3. The CampRefers to the encampment of the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples who were oppressing Israel. The camp was vast and intimidating, emphasizing the miraculous nature of Israel's victory. 4. The Middle WatchA time during the night, typically from 10 PM to 2 AM, when the camp would be most vulnerable due to the change of guards and the deep sleep of the soldiers. 5. Trumpets and JarsInstruments used by Gideon and his men to create confusion and fear among the Midianites. The breaking of jars and the blowing of trumpets symbolize God's unconventional methods of warfare. Teaching Points God's Power in WeaknessGod often uses the weak and the few to accomplish His purposes, demonstrating that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Obedience to God's PlanGideon's victory was contingent upon his obedience to God's specific instructions, reminding us of the importance of following God's guidance even when it seems illogical. Faith Over FearGideon's initial fear was overcome by faith in God's promises, encouraging us to trust God in the face of overwhelming odds. Divine TimingThe timing of the attack during the middle watch shows God's perfect timing in orchestrating events for His glory and our good. Symbolism of the Trumpets and JarsThe use of simple tools to achieve victory illustrates how God can use ordinary things in extraordinary ways for His purposes. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Gideon's account encourage us to trust in God's strength rather than our own abilities? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of obedience to God's unconventional plans in our daily lives? 3. How does the timing of Gideon's attack reflect God's sovereignty and timing in our personal circumstances? 4. What are some "trumpets and jars" in our lives that God might use to bring about His purposes? 5. How can we draw parallels between Gideon's faith journey and our own spiritual walk, especially when facing daunting challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 6The fall of Jericho, where trumpets and obedience to God's unusual battle plan led to victory, parallels Gideon's victory over the Midianites. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29Paul speaks of God choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong, reflecting how God used Gideon's small army to defeat a vast enemy. Psalm 33:16-17This passage emphasizes that victory does not come from the strength of armies but from the Lord, aligning with the theme of divine intervention in Gideon's account. People Abel, Amalek, Amalekites, Asher, Gideon, Israelites, Jerubbaal, Joash, Manasseh, Midianites, Naphtali, Oreb, Phurah, ZeebPlaces Abel-meholah, Beth-barah, Beth-shittah, Harod, Jordan River, Midian, Mount Gilead, Ophrah, Tabbath, ZererahTopics Beginning, Blew, Blow, Brake, Broke, Broken, Camp, Changed, Confirmed, Dashing, Edge, Extremity, Gideon, Guard, Hands, Horns, Hundred, Jars, Line, Middle, Newly, Outer, Outermost, Outside, Outskirts, Pieces, Pitchers, Posted, Reached, Smashed, Sounded, Start, Stations, Tents, Trumpets, Vessels, Watch, WatchmenDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 7:19 4909 beginning
4957 night Judges 7:15-22 5597 victory, act of God Judges 7:16-21 5608 warfare, strategies Judges 7:16-22 5595 trumpet Judges 7:19-21 5214 attack Judges 7:19-22 5290 defeat Library A Great victory
TEXT: "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."--Judges 7:21. Few things in this world are so inspiring to the traveler and at the same time so depressing as a city or temple in ruins. I remember a delightful experience in passing through the ruins of Karnak and Luxor, on the Nile in Egypt, and later passing through Phylae at Assuan on the Nile; and these two thoughts, each the opposite of the other, kept constantly coming to my mind. …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas IscariotAugust 18. "The Three Hundred Blew the Trumpets" (Judges vii. 22).
"The three hundred blew the trumpets" (Judges vii. 22). We little dream, sometimes, what a hasty word, a thoughtless speech, an imprudent act, or a confession of unbelief and fear may do to hinder our highest usefulness, or turn it aside from some great opportunity which God has been preparing for us. Although the Holy Ghost uses weak men, He does not want them to be weak after He chooses and calls them. Although He uses the foolish things to confound the wise, He does not want us to be foolish after …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth 'Fit, Though Few'
'Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Battle Without a Sword
'And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley-bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15, And it was so, when Gideon heard the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation
1801-1832 The Bible Carey's missionary weapon--Other vernacular translators--Carey's modest but just description of his labours--His philological key--Type-cutting and type-casting by a Hindoo blacksmith--The first manufacture of paper and steam-engines in the East--Carey takes stock of the translation work at the opening of 1808--In his workshop--A seminary of Bible translators--William Yates, shoemaker, the Coverdale of the Bengali Bible--Wenger--A Bengali Luther wanted--Carey's Bengali Bible--How …
George Smith—The Life of William Carey The New Convert.
…
John Newton—Olney Hymns Whether Divination by Auguries, Omens, and by Like Observations of External Things is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by auguries, omens, and by like observations of external things is not unlawful. If it were unlawful holy men would not make use thereof. Now we read of Joseph that he paid attention to auguries, for it is related (Gn. 44:5) that Joseph's steward said: "The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh and in which he is wont to divine [augurari]": and he himself afterwards said to his brethren (Gn. 44:15): "Know you not that there is no one …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Fear is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that fear is not a mortal sin. For, as stated above ([3323]FS, Q[23], A[1]), fear is in the irascible faculty which is a part of the sensuality. Now there is none but venial sin in the sensuality, as stated above ([3324]FS, Q[74], A[4]). Therefore fear is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, every mortal sin turns the heart wholly from God. But fear does not this, for a gloss on Judges 7:3, "Whosoever is fearful," etc., says that "a man is fearful when he trembles at the …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Immanuel
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL , God with us. T here is a signature of wisdom and power impressed upon the works of God, which evidently distinguishes them from the feeble imitations of men. Not only the splendour of the sun, but the glimmering light of the glow-worm proclaims His glory. The structure and growth of a blade of grass, are the effects of the same power which produced the fabric of the heavens and the earth. In His Word likewise He is …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 7:19 NIVJudges 7:19 NLTJudges 7:19 ESVJudges 7:19 NASBJudges 7:19 KJV
Judges 7:19 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
