Judges 7
DOYLYChap. VIII. ver. 2.—Is not the gleaning &c.] A common proverb, probably, in those days, by which they were wont to commend the smallest action of one, as superior to the greatest of another. It is as if he had said, These scattered parties, which you have gleaned and picked up at the fords of Jordan, are far more than those which I and my whole host have destroyed. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 7:3
- — from mount Gilead.] Not the mountain of that name, often mentioned in Scripture, which was east of Jordan; but another, on the west side of Jordan, in the tribe of Manasseli. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 7:4
- — The people are yet too many.] If human strength were to be opposed, there should have needed an equality of strength; but now that God meant to give the victory, His care was not how to get it, but how not to lose the glory of it. He was willing to give deliverance unto Israel, but the praise of the deliverance He would keep to Himself: it was the same with Him to save with many as with few; but He rather chose to save by few, that all the victory might redound to Himself. Bp. Hall.
Judges 7:5
- — Every one that lappeth &c.] We may well suppose they were thirsty with the heat of the weather, likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Judges 7:15
- — that he worshipped,] Gave humble thanks to God for His goodness, in giving this new encouragement to proceed in his undertaking. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 7:16
- — with empty pitchers,] Earthen pitchers. Bp. Patrick. Though leathern bottles were much used by the people of the East, earthen jars or pitchers were sometimes used also. Dr. Chandler mentions having used an earthen jar for carrying water in travelling through Asia Minor. If this was the practice in Gideon’s time, it could not be difficult for him to collect three hundred water jars from among ten thousand men. Harner. — lamps] Rather, torches, which were concealed in the pitchers. Bp. Patrick. Though God had promised by these three hundred men to chase the Midianites, yet Gideon neglected not wise stratagems to secure the victory. To wait for God’s performance, and do nothing, is to abuse that Divine providence, which will always so work, as not to allow us to remain in inactivity. Bp. Hall.
Judges 7:18
- — The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.] This watchword was taken from the interpretation of the Midianite’s dream, as referring to “the sword of Gideon,” ver. 14; to which Gideon piously prefixed “the sword of the Lord,” as the Author of the stratagem, of the dream, and of its interpretation. Dr. Hales.
Judges 7:19
- — in the beginning of the middle watch:] The Hebrews and other Eastern nations divided the night into three parts, which were called the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd watches; because the guards or watches were changed three times. The Romans, and from them the Jews in later times, divided the night into four watches; whence we read in the Gospel of the 4th watch. Lewis.
Judges 7:24
- — took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan.] That is, they secured all the fords or passes along the river Jordan, from Beth-barah, (which is thought to be the same as Bethabara, mentioned by St. John,) lying near the south end of the river Jordan, to the beginning of Jordan, or its issuing from the sea of Galilee. Dr. Wells.
Judges 7:25
- — the rock Oreb,] The rock, called Oreb in future times, from the event here related. Bp. Patrick. Zebah and Zalmunna are taken. Succoth and Penuel are destroyed. Before CHRIST about 1940. What thing is this then has done unto us? strongly. spirit. army. 10 Zebah and Zalmunna are taken.