In this chapter we have an account of the army under Gideon gathered out of several tribes, which from 32,000 were reduced to three hundred, and we are told by what means this was done, Jude 1–8 and how he was directed to go into the host of the Midianites, where he heard one of them telling his…

Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon That being the name his father had lately given him, and all the people that were with him, rose up early; encouraged by the signs and miracles wrought, by which he was assured of success; he was eager to be about his work, and therefore rose early in the morning, and…

And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that are with thee are too many It appears, by what follows, that there were 32,000 of them, which was but a small army to engage with one of 100,000 more than they; for such was the army of the Midianites and their associates, see but the people were too…

Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people Such a proclamation as follows, was, according to the law of God, to be made when Israel went out to battle against their enemies, ; though it looks as if Gideon would not have made such proclamation, had he not been directed to it by the…

And the Lord said to Gideon, the people are yet too many Though they were but just the number that Barak had with him, when he attacked Sisera’s army and got the victory, which yet was ascribed to God, whose hand was manifestly seen in it; but as these might be supposed to be able men of valour…

So he brought them down to the water ] His whole army of 10,000 men: and the Lord said unto Gideon, everyone that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shall thou set by himself; this has led some, as particularly Grotius, to think of the Egyptian dogs; of whom Aelianus…

And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth That is, that took up water in the hollow of their hands, which they lifted up to their mouths, and so lapped it, as the Egyptians about the Nile are said [[3]] to do, who drank not out of pots and cups, but used their hands to…

And the Lord said unto Gideon, by the three hundred men that lapped I will save and deliver the Midianites into thine hand It is hard to say what character this action of the three hundred is expressive of, whether of weakness or of courage.

So the people took victuals in their hands and their trumpets, &c.] That is, the three hundred took victuals of those that departed, as much as was necessary for them, and also their trumpets, being directed thereunto by Gideon, no doubt; perhaps they took all the trumpets they had; however, as…

And it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, &c.] The night after there had been so great a reduction of his army, from 32,000 to three hundred: arise, get thee down unto the host, for I have delivered it into thine hands; that is, go down from the hill where he and his little army…

But if thou fear to go down With his little army, to attack a numerous host in the night, then he is directed to take this step first: go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host; in a private manner; perhaps this man was his aid-de-camp, or however a trusty servant in whom he could confide,…

And thou shalt hear what they shall say The Midianites, or what shall be said by any of them; for though it was the night season, and so not a time for much conversation, as it may be supposed to be the dead of the night; yet something would be said and heard, which is a clear proof of the…

And the Midianites and the Amalekites, and the children of the east The Arabians, who with the Amalekites joined the Midianites in this expedition: lay along in the valley in the valley of Jezreel, in their tents, which overspread the valley, or at least great part of it: like grasshoppers for…

And when Gideon was come With his servant, near and within hearing the talk and conversation of the outer guards or sentinels: there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow; his comrade that stood next him, and was upon guard with him; perhaps it was a dream he had dreamed the night before or…

And his fellow answered and said As the dream was no doubt from God, so the interpretation of it was; it was he that put into the mind of the soldier’s comrade to whom he told it to interpret it as follows; or otherwise in all likelihood he would never have thought of it: this is nothing else save…

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof Or, “the breaking of it” [[6]]; the dream itself being like something closed up and sealed, and the interpretation of it was like the breaking of a seal, and discovering what is hid under it; or like a nut,…

And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, &c.] One hundred in a company, partly to make the better figure, a show of an army, with a right and left wing, and partly that they might fall upon the camp of Midian in different parts: and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand; they that…

And he said unto them, look on me, and do likewise Observe what I do, and do the same, in blowing a trumpet, breaking a pitcher, and shouting with the words expressed by him: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp; where the sentinels stood, and the watch was set: it shall be, that as…

When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me He being at the head of one of the three companies, perhaps the middlemost, which might stand for the body of the army; and the other two be one to the right and the other to the left of him, and so could more easily discover his motions: then…

So Gideon, and the one hundred men that were with him Which was one of the three companies his army was divided into, and which company he had the command of particularly: came unto the outside of the camp, in the beginning of the middle watch; the second watch, for the night was divided into three…

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers The other two, observing what Gideon and his company did, followed their example, and at the same time blew their trumpets, and broke their pitchers; for that there were four companies, three besides Gideon’s, as Kimchi and Ben…

And they stood every man in his place around the camp To see the salvation of God, and that it might most clearly appear to be his own doing; and indeed, had they gone into it, they could have done nothing; they had no weapons in their hands, a trumpet in one hand, and a lamp in the other; though…

And the three hundred men blew the trumpets Kept blowing them to continue and increase the terror of the enemy, and still held the lamps in their hands, and stood as torch bearers to light the Midianites and their associates to destroy one another, as follows: and the Lord set every man’s sword…

And the men of Israel gathered themselves together Not out of all the tribes, but out of those which lay nearest, and which are particularly mentioned: out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh: and these seem to be the same persons out of those tribes who first joined Gideon, but…

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim To raise the inhabitants of it, who lay nearer Jordan, to which the Midianites would make, in order to intercept them in their flight; or however get possession of the fords of Jordan before them, and hinder their passage over it: saying, come…

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, &c.] The one signifies a “raven”, and the other a “wolf”; which were either nicknames given them because of their voraciousness and cruelty, or which they took themselves, or their ancestors before them, to make themselves terrible to…