Exo 14:17-18, 28, Jos 11:4-8, Judg 7:2, 12-25, 1Sa 14:8-16, Psa 44:3, 6-7 | TSK | STEP | I, behold. I will. and I will. See on ver.

met together. Heb. assembled by appointment. waters.This is what Josephus calls the lake Semechon, now called Bahr-el-Houlé (Lake Julius) between the head of the Jordan and the lake of Tiberias. According to Josephus it was seven miles long; and according to modern authorities, it is not above two miles broad, except at the north end, where it may be four.

Be not.

10:8; Ps 27:1,2; 46:11

tomorrow.

3:5; Jud 20:28; 1Sa 11:9; 2Ch 20:16

hough.

9; 2Sa 8:4

horses.

De 7:16; Ps 20:7,8; 46:9; 147:10,11; Pr 20:7; Isa 30:16; 31:1

Ho 14:3

suddenly.

10:9; 1Th 5:2,3

the Lord.

21:44

great Zidon. or, Zidon-rabbah.

19:28; Ge 10:15; 49:13; Zec 9:2

Misrephoth-maim. or, salt pits. Heb. burning of waters.

13:6

Judges 7:2

too many.

1Sa 14:6; 2Ch 14:11; Zec 4:6; 12:7; 1Co 1:27-29; 2:4,5; 2Co 4:7

2Co 10:4,5

Israel.

De 32:27; Isa 2:11,17; Jer 9:23; Ro 3:27; 11:18; 1Co 1:29; Eph 2:9

Jas 4:6

Mine own.

De 8:17; Isa 10:13; Eze 28:2,17; Da 4:30; Hab 1:16

Judges 7:12-25

the Midianites.

6:3,5,33; 1Ki 4:30

grasshoppers.

8:10; 2Ch 14:9-12; Ps 3:1; 33:16; 118:10-12; Isa 8:9,10

lo, a cake.

3:15,31; 4:9,21; 6:15; Isa 41:14,15; 1Co 1:27

his fellow.

Nu 22:38; 23:5,20; 24:10-13; Job 1:10

into his hand.

Ex 15:14,15; Jos 2:9,24; 5:1; 2Ki 7:6,7

interpretation thereof. Heb. breaking thereof.

Ge 40:8; 41:11

worshipped.

Ge 24:26,27,48; Ex 4:30,31; 2Ch 20:18,19

Arise.

4:14; 2Co 10:4-6

three companies.This small number of men, thus divided, would be able to encompass the whole camp of the Midianites. Concealing the lamps in the pitchers, they would pass unobserved to their appointed stations; then, in the dead of the night, when most of the enemy were fast asleep, all at once breaking their pitchers one against another, with as much noise as they could, and blowing the trumpets and shouting; they would occasion an exceedingly great alarm. The obedience of faith alone could have induced such an expedient, which no doubt God directed Gideon to employ.--Scott.

a trumpet. Heb. trumpets in the hand of all of them. empty.

2Co 4:7

lamps. or, fire-brands, or torches.

9:48; Mt 16:24; 1Co 11:1; Heb 13:7; 1Pe 5:3

blow ye.

the sword.The word {cherev,} "sword," necessarily implied, and rightly supplied by our venerable translators from ver. 20, is found in this place, in the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, and in eight MSS.; and evidently appears to be genuine.

1Sa 17:47; 2Ch 20:15-17

in the beginning.

Ex 14:24; Mt 25:6; 1Th 5:2; Re 16:15

they blew.

brake.

16; Ps 2:9; Jer 13:13,14; 19:1-11

blew.How astonishing and overwhelming must the effect be, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of 300 torches, darting their splendour in the same instant on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites; accompanied with the clangor of 300 trumpets, alternately mingled with the thundering shout of {cherav yehovah oolegidon,} "The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!"

Nu 10:1-10; Jos 6:4,16,20; Isa 27:13; 1Co 15:52; 1Th 4:16

brake.

2Co 4:7; Heb 11:4; 2Pe 1:15

stood.

Ex 14:13,14; 2Ch 20:17; Isa 30:7,15

all the host.

Ex 14:25; 2Ki 7:6,7; Job 15:21,22; Pr 28:1

blew.

Jos 6:4,16,20; 2Co 4:7

the Lord.

1Sa 14:16-20; 2Ch 20:23; Ps 83:9; Isa 9:4; 19:2

in. or, toward. Zererath.Probably the same as Zartanah.

1Ki 4:12

border. Heb. lip. Abelmeholah.Situated, according to Eusebius 16 miles south from Scythopolis, or Bethshan.

1Ki 4:12; 19:16

Tabbath.Probably the town of [Oébéd,] mentioned by Eusebius, 13 miles from Neapolis, or Shechem, towards Scythopolis.

6:35; 1Sa 14:21,22

sent.

3:27; Ro 15:30; Php 1:27

take before.

3:28; 12:5

Beth-barah.Probably the same as Betha-bara, beyond Jordan, and at the ford where the Hebrews passed under the direction of Joshua.

Joh 1:28

two princes.

8:3; Ps 83:11,12

rock.

Jos 7:26; Isa 10:26

Oreb.Eusebius and Jerome speak of a small place called Araba, three miles west from Scythopolis, which is supposed by some to have had its name from Oreb.

and brought.Among ancient nations, the head of the conquered chief was usually brought to the conqueror. Thus Pompey's head was brought to Cæsar, Cicero's head to Mark Anthony, and the heads of Ahab's children to Jehu. These barbarities are seldom practised now, except among the Mahommedans, or the savages of Africa and America; and for the credit of human nature, it is to be wished that such atrocities had never been committed.

on the other side.The words {maiaiver lyyarden,} may denote at the passage of Jordan, or from beyond Jordan. Gideon does not appear to have yet passed the Jordan.

8:4

1 Samuel 14:8-16

we will pass.

Jud 7:9-14

they.

Ge 24:13,14; Jud 6:36-40

Tarry. Heb. Be still.

this shall be a sign.

10:7; Ge 24:14; Jud 7:11; Isa 7:11-14

out of the holes.

22; 13:6; Jud 6:2

Come up to us.Meaning, that they would cause them to repent of their audacity. This was the favourable sign which Jonathan had requested.

10; 17:43,44; 2Sa 2:14-17; 2Ki 14:8

Come up after me.

Ge 24:26,27,42,48; Jud 4:14; 7:15; 2Sa 5:24

climbed up.

Ps 18:29; Heb 11:34

fell.

Le 26:7,8; De 28:7; 32:30; Jos 23:10; Ro 8:31

an half acre of land. or, half a furrow of an acre of land.The original is obscure and variously understood; but it is probably a proverbial expression for a small space.

there was trembling.

Jos 2:9; Jud 7:21; 2Ki 7:6,7; Job 18:11; Ps 14:5

the spoilers.

13:17,23

the earth quaked.

Ex 19:18; Mt 24:6; 27:50,51

very great trembling. Heb. trembling of God.

Ge 35:5; Le 26:36,37; 2Sa 5:24; Da 5:6God will in some way or other direct the steps of those who acknowledge him in all their ways, and seek unto him for direction with full purpose of heart. Sometimes we find most comfort in that which is least our own doing, and into which we have been led by the unexpected, but well observed, turns of Providence.

melted away.

Ps 58:7; 68:2

beating down.

20; Jud 7:22; 2Ch 20:22-25; Isa 19:2