The 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!" The three companiesThis phrase refers to the strategic division of Gideon's 300 men into three groups. The number three often symbolizes completeness or divine perfection in the Bible. Historically, dividing forces into smaller units was a common military tactic to create confusion and surprise. Gideon's use of this strategy, under divine guidance, emphasizes the theme of God's wisdom surpassing human understanding. blew their trumpets
The trumpet, or "shofar" in Hebrew, was traditionally used in Israel for religious ceremonies, to signal war, or to announce important events. The sound of the shofar was associated with the presence and power of God. In this context, the blowing of the trumpets signifies a divine intervention, as it was not the might of the army but the sound that initiated the victory. broke the jars
The breaking of the jars symbolizes the revelation of God's light and power. The jars, which concealed the torches, represent human frailty and the limitations of earthly vessels. When broken, they reveal the light within, illustrating how God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). held the torches in their left hands
The torch, a symbol of light and guidance, represents the presence of God leading His people. Holding the torches in their left hands, the weaker hand for most, signifies reliance on God's strength rather than human ability. This act of faith demonstrates that victory comes from divine illumination and guidance. and the trumpets in their right hands to blow
The right hand is often associated with power and authority in biblical texts. By holding the trumpets in their right hands, the men were prepared to proclaim God's victory. This act of faith and obedience underscores the importance of proclaiming God's power and presence in the face of overwhelming odds. and they shouted
The shout is a declaration of faith and a call to action. In biblical history, shouting often precedes divine intervention, as seen in the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:20). This vocal proclamation serves as a catalyst for God's miraculous deliverance, emphasizing the power of spoken faith. 'A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!'
This battle cry acknowledges both divine and human leadership. The "sword" symbolizes God's judgment and deliverance. By invoking the name of the LORD first, the Israelites recognize that the victory belongs to God. Gideon's inclusion signifies his role as God's chosen instrument. This dual acknowledgment highlights the partnership between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in fulfilling God's purposes. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonA judge of Israel chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. He is a central figure in this account, demonstrating faith and obedience to God's unconventional battle plan. 2. MidianitesThe oppressors of Israel during this period. They were a nomadic people who had been raiding and impoverishing the Israelites. 3. The Three CompaniesRefers to the 300 men divided into three groups by Gideon. This small force was used by God to achieve a great victory, emphasizing His power and the importance of faith. 4. Trumpets and JarsInstruments used in the battle strategy. The trumpets were used to create noise and confusion, while the jars, when broken, revealed the torches, symbolizing the light of God's deliverance. 5. TorchesRepresent the light and presence of God, which brought fear and confusion to the Midianites, leading to their defeat. Teaching Points God's Power in WeaknessGod often uses the weak and the few to accomplish His purposes, demonstrating that victory comes from Him, not human strength. Obedience to God's PlanGideon's obedience to God's unconventional strategy teaches us the importance of trusting God's wisdom over our own understanding. The Light of God's PresenceThe torches symbolize God's presence, reminding us that His light dispels darkness and brings victory over our spiritual battles. Faith in ActionThe actions of Gideon's men show that faith requires action, even when the plan seems illogical by human standards. Proclaiming God's VictoryThe shout, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon," emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God's role in our victories and giving Him the glory. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Gideon's account in Judges 7:20 illustrate the principle of God's strength being made perfect in weakness? (Consider 2 Corinthians 12:9) 2. What can we learn from Gideon's obedience to God's unconventional battle plan about trusting God's guidance in our own lives? 3. In what ways do the trumpets and torches in Gideon's battle symbolize spiritual truths about God's presence and power? 4. How can we apply the lesson of proclaiming God's victory in our own lives, especially in the face of challenges or spiritual battles? 5. Reflect on a time when you felt outnumbered or overwhelmed. How can Gideon's account encourage you to rely on God's power rather than your own strength? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 6The fall of Jericho, where trumpets were also used as a divine instrument of victory, showing a pattern of God using unconventional means to achieve His purposes. 2 Corinthians 4:7Paul speaks of having treasures in jars of clay, which can be connected to the jars in Gideon's account, symbolizing God's power working through human weakness. Psalm 27:1The Lord as light and salvation, paralleling the torches that symbolize God's presence and deliverance in Gideon's battle. 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 Bands, Blew, Blow, Blowing, Brake, Branches, Break, Broke, Broken, Companies, Cried, Cry, Crying, Detachments, Flaming, Gideon, Grasping, Hands, Held, Hold, Holding, Horns, Jars, Lamps, Loud, Note, Pitchers, Ready, Shouted, Smashed, Sword, Torches, Trumpets, Vessels, Wherewith, WithalDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 7:20 5528 shouting 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 Judges 7:20-22 5572 sword 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.
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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 7:20 NIVJudges 7:20 NLTJudges 7:20 ESVJudges 7:20 NASBJudges 7:20 KJV
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