Juízes 7
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Juízes 7
NJB (MT versing) Gideon's 300 Chosen Men Gideon's Valiant Three Hundred Gideon (6:1-8:35) Gideon Defeats the Midianites Yahweh Reduces the Number of Gideon's Army 7:1 7:1 7:1 7:1 7:1-3 7:2-3 7:2-3 7:2-3 7:2-3 7:4-8 7:4-8 7:4-8 7:4-8 7:4-8 An Omen of Victory 7:9-14 7:9-14 7:9-14 7:9-12 7:9-11 7:12-15 7:13 7:14 7:15-18 7:15-18 7:15-18 7:15-18 The Surprise Attack Confusion of the Enemy 7:16-18 7:19-23 7:19-23 7:19-23 7:19-22 7:19-22 The Pursuit 7:23-25 7:23-25 7:24-25 7:24-25 7:24-25 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS YHWH must limit Gideon's army to show His power (cf. Jdgs. 7:2). Gideon is still afraid and must have yet another sign (cf. Jdgs. 7:9-14). Judges 7:24-25 shows how geographical places in Canaan, after the invasion of Israel, got their names. Gideon, like Samson, clearly shows the fallen, frail nature of Israel's judges/deliverers. YHWH's will and Spirit are the true forces behind the historical events. YHWH uses fallen, weak people (i.e., Noah, Jacob, Moses) to accomplish His purposes.
Juízes 7:1
7:1 "Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon)" See note at Jdgs. 6:32. ▣ "the spring of Harod" This name (BDB 353) means "trembling" (cf. Jdgs. 7:3). The valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon is the geographical setting. ▣ "Midian" The LXX (Alexandrinus) adds "and Amalek" (from Jdgs. 6:33), both here and 7:12, but LXX (Vaticanus) has only "Amalek" at Jdgs. 7:12. ▣ "the hill of Moreh" This is located to the southeast of Mt. Tabor (see The Macmillan Bible Atlas, p. 15, maps 8, 60). This is not the same locality as "the oak of Moreh" (Gen. 12:6; Deut. 11:30), which is near Shechem. The name (BDB 435 II) means "teacher." Trees were sacred sites in the ANE, probably because they identified in-ground water sources.
Juízes 7:2-3
7:2 "The people who are with you are too many" God's ways are not man's way (cf. Isa. 55:6-9)! ▣ "for Israel would become boastful" God wanted all to know it was His victory, not Israel's (cf. Deut. 8:17-18). 7:3 "Whoever is afraid and trembling" Lack of faith in God could cause panic to spread within the troops (cf. Deut. 20:8). Notice YHWH reduces the army of Gideon in two ways. those who are afraid, go home (22,000 reduced to 10,000) those who drink without watching (Jdgs. 7:5-8), go home; the group left would have been the best soldiers (10,000 down to 3,000) ▣ "depart from Mount Gilead" This seems to be an early scribal error for Mt. Gilboa. Mt. Gilead is on the eastern side of the Jordan, while Mt. Gilboa is in the plain of Esdraelon. The UBS Text Project gives "Gilead" an "A" rating (certain). However, it does not fit the context. Context is crucial and determines word meaning. Gilead ‒ גלעד Gilboa ‒ גלבע The REB has "Mount Galud," from LXX, "Mount Galaad," which is a spring at the foot of Mt. Gilboa. ▣ "depart" This VERB (BDB 861, KB 1050, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) occurs only here. There are several options. NKJV ‒ "let him depart at once from Mt. Gilead" NJB, Peshitta ‒ "go back and watch from Mt. Gilboa" JPSOA ‒ "as a bird flies from Mt. Gilead" REB ‒ "to leave Mt. Galud at once" LXX (B) ‒ "leave Mt. Galaad" Kimchi ‒ "depart early" (Young's literal) G. F. Moore (ICC) ‒ "Gideon put them to the test" (BDB 861, #2; NAB) C. F. Burney ‒ "decamp" Obviously no one knows. JPSOA marks this as "meaning of Heb. uncertain."
Juízes 7:4-8
7:4 "I will test them" YHWH Himself "tests" (BDB 864, KB 1057, Qal IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense). This term is from metallurgy and means to heat something to purify it (i.e., smelter; cf. Isa. 48:10; Zech. 13:9). In this context it refers to YHWH trying human's hearts (cf. Ps. 17:3; 26:2; 66:10; 105:19; 1 Pet. 1:7). 7:5 "he brought the people down to the water" Josephus (Antiq. 5.6.3) tells us it was at noon when they were very thirsty. ▣ "everyone who laps the water. . .everyone who kneels to drink" There are two opinions about these different drinkers. I tend to see the smaller group as the most inexperienced soldiers. YHWH brings victory through the least likely group in order to show His power (cf. Jdgs. 7:2). It seems the former group was alert and prepared, while the latter group was concerned more with their immediate physical needs. Josephus says the first group were cowards (Antiq. 5.6.3) and the Jewish Study Bible agrees (p. 525). Jewish tradition says that those who knelt showed they had at some point worshiped Ba'al (see Jewish Study Bible, p. 525). 7:8 "provision" This term (BDB 845) usually means "food supply" (i.e., Jos. 1:11; 9:11), but here it seems to refer to the empty food jars used to conceal the torches in the nighttime surprise attack. It could also refer to the "trumpets." Not every person would normally have a trumpet but the remaining 300 each had one. ▣ "each to his tent" This is a Hebrew idiom for "return home." It does not imply anything about what kind of structure (cf. 1 Sam. 4:10; 13:2; 2 Sam. 18:17; 19:8; 20:1, 22).
Juízes 7:9-14
7:9-14 Gideon's tendency toward doubt is revealed again and dealt with by God again (i.e., a sign, cf. Jdgs. 6:17, 36-40). 7:9 Notice YHWH reveals Himself in two dreams. Gideon's in Jdgs. 7:9 a man in Jdgs. 7:13 (i.e., one of the enemy); God uses many ways to accomplish His will ▣ "for I have given it into your hands" This is a PROPHETIC PERFECT. This victory has not yet occurred but YHWH's promise was certain. 7:10 "Purah your servant" This is obviously an eyewitness account! 7:12 There are three groups of invaders identified (cf. Jdgs. 6:3): (1) Midianites, (2) Amalekites, (3) "all the sons of the east." ▣ Notice the three ways the opposing army is characterized. as numerous as locusts camels without number as numerous as the sand on the seashore It was a large coalition. No wonder Gideon was shocked to be told to reduce his 33,000 soldiers to 300! This is the faith element in Israel's battles (cf. Deut. 3:22; 7:18; 20:1; 31:6, 8; 1 Sam. 17:45, 47; Ps. 20:7; 33:6-17; 44:1-3, 5-7; Isa. 63:1-6,9). YHWH was their covenant God and Divine Warrior (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 545-549)! 7:13 "loaf of barley bread" This was food for the poor. The Hebrew word "loaf" (BDB 853) occurs only here in the OT. The New Jerusalem Bible's footnote and Jewish Study Bible (p. 526) both say the "barley loaf" represented the agricultural Israelites, while the "tent" represented the nomadic enemy. 7:14 This interpretation by another enemy soldier is also a revelation from YHWH. There is no reason why an army as large as the one described (Jdgs. 7:12) should be afraid of Gideon and his much weaker troops. YHWH has placed fear in the hearts of the enemy (cf. Jdgs. 7:22).
Juízes 7:15-18
7:15 "its interpretation" This NOUN (BDB 991 I) used in this sense (i.e., "breaking" a dream's meaning) is found only here. ▣ "he bowed in worship" Gideon has a worshipful moment amidst the enemy's camp! 7:16 Torches will not burn in an overturned pottery jar. The jar had some hole in it or this is another miracle of God! 7:18 The war cry of Jdgs. 7:18 leaves out "a sword for" (see Peshitta) but the full form appears in Jdgs. 7:20. This war cry (Jdgs. 7:18, 20) was the only part of the battle required of Gideon's soldiers. YHWH, as the Divine Warrior (i.e., Holy War), is the victor! The Jewish Study Bible, p. 526, supports this by noting that Gideon's soldiers had both hands full (i.e., jar and torch), so no hand for the sword. The sword was YHWH's sword! However, there is the question of how they also carry a trumpet.
Juízes 7:19-23
7:19 "middle watch" This was the second night watch from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. ▣ "when they had just posted the watch" The Hebrew text has an intensified form here (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB from the same root, BDB 877, KB 1086). Exactly why is uncertain. Apparently the guards were not yet settled in for their watch, while the other guards were walking back to their tents. ▣ "trumpets" They used ram's horns. SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL 7:20 "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon" This was their battle cry! 7:21 "crying out" This VERB (BDB 929, KB 1206, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) is the opposite of the war cry of Gideon's army in Jdgs. 7:18 and 20. This VERB is never used for victory, only the sound of fear, defeat, and flight (i.e., Micah 4:9). There is another word for "crying out" (BDB 858, KB 1042) used in Jdgs. 7:23, for Gideon calling out to the other Israeli tribes. 7:22 "the Lord set the sword of one against another" This is also mentioned in 1 Sam. 14:20; 2 Chr. 20:23. ▣ "Beth-shittah" This location is uncertain. The name (BDB 112) means "house of Acacia. It is not the same as "Shittim." ▣ "Abel-meholah" It means "dancing brook" (KB 7). This is located very close to the Jordan River, about level with Samaria (cf. 1 Kgs. 4:12; 19:16).
Juízes 7:24-25
7:24 The Ephramites are invited by Gideon to join in the pursuit of the invaders, especially at the fords of the Jordan. This was so that several tribes could be part of the victory. Manasseh, Asher, Zebulon, Naphtali (Jdgs. 6:35) Ephraim (Jdgs. 7:24; 8:1); they cut off the enemy's retreat towards the fords of Jordan ▣ "Beth-barah" This name means, "house of the ford" (BDB 111). Its location is uncertain but must be close to the Jordan (cf. Jdgs. 3:28). 7:25 "Oreb" This word means "raven" (BDB 788). ▣ "Zeeb" The word means "wolf" (BDB 255 II).