Comments on Judges 7

v1-8  The encroaching nations move back onto the lands of Israel
in order to consume their fields and pastures as was the case in
6:4-5.  So, Gideon summons up an army from several tribes of
Israel.  However, the Lord wants a small army to do the job so
that there will be no question that the delivery was from the arm
of the Lord and not from the arm of flesh.  

v9-14  While 3200 might seem like a large force, it was probably
still small compared to when the force gets pared down to 300.
Gideon is getting worried about the outcome.  The Lord sees this
and gives Gideon another sign.  After the sign is given, Gideon
is once again convinced and worships the Lord.

v13-14  The Aggies beat the nomads.  The barley loaf is symbol of 
the agriculturalist Israelites and the tent is a symbol of the
encroaching nomadic pastoralists.  This vision is given and
people in the camp begin to panic.

v15-25  Gideon gets his 300 together and arms them with pots,
torches and trumpets from ram's horns.  They go to the camp late
at night and all smash their pots and blow the trumpets and the
result is the already panicked Midianites and Amalekites turn
their swords on each other in the confusion.  After the internal
conflict has decimated the camp, Gideon summons the rest of the
armies and puts them to chase.  Ultimately the opposing forces
are wiped out and their kings executed.



Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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