Judg 7:16 | KingComments | STEP | The weapons Gideon gives out to his men are not of the kind that can make an impact on the enemy. It is not an army armed to the teeth. Each is given three ‘weapons’: a trumpet, an empty pitcher and a torch that has to be put inside the pitcher. The trumpet used here is the ramshorn. A horn speaks of power and energy and is blown to pass on a message. These trumpets or horns the inhabitants of Jericho have heard day after day as the people moved around the city seven consecutive days ( ). The blowing of the trumpet near the enemy speaks of the strong confidence that God will live up to His Word against the enemy. It is to give a testimony that victory is certain. We can let God’s Word speak because we are convinced of its truth. We can therefore say with Paul: “We also believe, therefore we also speak” ( ). We also find the pitchers in 2 Corinthians 4. There they are called “earthen vessels” and there is talk about a treasure in them ( ). In the Bible, a vessel sometimes refers to a person or a body ( ; ; ). In 2 Corinthians 4 is the addition that it is an earthen vessel. As a result, the emphasis is placed on its fragility. Unlike a treasure, which represents something precious, an earthen vessel is of low value. The treasure about which Paul writes to the Corinthians is “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” ( ). It may be that Paul, when writing 2 Corinthians 4, thought of Judges 7. So the weapons of Gideon and his men consist of: 1. a trumpet, which is a picture of the Word of God, 2. an earthen vessel, which is a picture of a weak, fragile body; and 3. a torch, which is a picture of the Light of the glory of God. In the following verses we see how they are used.

‏ Judges 7:16

Strange Weapons

The weapons Gideon gives out to his men are not of the kind that can make an impact on the enemy. It is not an army armed to the teeth. Each is given three ‘weapons’: a trumpet, an empty pitcher and a torch that has to be put inside the pitcher. The trumpet used here is the ramshorn. A horn speaks of power and energy and is blown to pass on a message. These trumpets or horns the inhabitants of Jericho have heard day after day as the people moved around the city seven consecutive days (Jos 6:4-20).

The blowing of the trumpet near the enemy speaks of the strong confidence that God will live up to His Word against the enemy. It is to give a testimony that victory is certain. We can let God’s Word speak because we are convinced of its truth. We can therefore say with Paul: “We also believe, therefore we also speak” (2Cor 4:13).

We also find the pitchers in 2 Corinthians 4. There they are called “earthen vessels” and there is talk about a treasure in them (2Cor 4:7). In the Bible, a vessel sometimes refers to a person or a body (Acts 9:15; 1Thes 4:4; 1Pet 3:7). In 2 Corinthians 4 is the addition that it is an earthen vessel. As a result, the emphasis is placed on its fragility.

Unlike a treasure, which represents something precious, an earthen vessel is of low value. The treasure about which Paul writes to the Corinthians is “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2Cor 4:6). It may be that Paul, when writing 2 Corinthians 4, thought of Judges 7.

So the weapons of Gideon and his men consist of:

1. a trumpet, which is a picture of the Word of God,

2. an earthen vessel, which is a picture of a weak, fragile body; and

3. a torch, which is a picture of the Light of the glory of God.

In the following verses we see how they are used.