1Časně ráno vstal Jerubaal, tedy Gedeón, a všechen lid, který byl s ním, a utábořili se u Én-charódu. Tábor Midjánců byl u něho v údolí severně od návrší Móre. 2Hospodin však Gedeónovi řekl: Je s tebou příliš mnoho lidu, než abych dal Midjánce do jejich ruky. Jinak by se Izrael vůči mně vychloubal: Zachránila mě má ruka. 3A teď k lidu ihned provolej: Kdo se bojí a třese, ať se vrátí a vzdálí z pohoří Gileádu. Nato se vrátilo z lidu dvacet dva tisíce a deset tisíc zůstalo. 4Ale Hospodin Gedeónovi řekl: Ještě je lidu mnoho. Nech je sestoupit k vodě, ať ti je tam přečistím. I stane se toto: O kom ti řeknu: Tenhle půjde s tebou, ten s tebou půjde, a každý, o kom ti řeknu: Tenhle s tebou nepůjde, ten nepůjde. 5Nechal tedy sestoupit lid k vodě a Hospodin Gedeónovi řekl: Každého, kdo bude chlemtat vodu jazykem, tak jako chlemtá pes, toho postavíš zvlášť a také každého, kdo si klekne k pití na kolena. 6Počet chlemtajících, kteří si podávali rukou do úst, byl tři sta mužů. Všechen ostatní lid si k pití vody klekl na kolena. 7Nato Hospodin Gedeónovi řekl: Prostřednictvím těch tří set chlemtajících mužů vás zachráním a vydám Midjánce do tvé ruky. Všechen lid ať odejde, každý do svého domova. 8Ti, kdo zůstali, si vzali s sebou zásobu potravin lidu a jejich beraní rohy. Všechny izraelské muže poslal pryč, každého k jeho stanům. Podržel si jenom tři sta mužů. Midjánský tábor byl pod ním v údolí. 9I stalo se oné noci, že mu Hospodin řekl: Vstaň, sestup do tábora, protože jsem ti ho vydal do ruky. 10A pokud se bojíš sestoupit sám, sestup do tábora se svým služebníkem Púrou 11a uslyšíš, co budou mluvit. Potom se posilní tvé ruce a sestoupíš do tábora. Sestoupil tedy on i jeho služebník Púra ke kraji vojenských oddílů, které byly v táboře. 12Midjánců, Amálekovců a všech synů východu ležících v údolí bylo co do množství jako kobylek a jejich velbloudů co do množství bylo bezpočet jako písku, který je na mořském břehu. 13Gedeón přišel a hle, muž vypráví svému příteli sen. Říkal: Poslyš, měl jsem sen a v něm se valí pecen ječného chleba na midjánský tábor až ke stanu a udeřil do něj, až spadl, převrátil ho vzhůru nohama a ten stan se zhroutil. 14Jeho přítel odpověděl. Řekl: Tohle neznamená nic jiného než meč izraelského muže Gedeóna, syna Jóášova. Bůh mu vydal do ruky Midjánce i celý tábor. 15I stalo se, jakmile Gedeón uslyšel vyprávění toho snu a jeho výklad, že se poklonil. Vrátil se do izraelského tábora a řekl: Vstaňte, protože Hospodin vydal midjánský tábor do vaší ruky. 16Rozdělil tři sta mužů do tří oddílů, dal jim všem do ruky beraní rohy, prázdné džbány a uvnitř těch džbánů byly pochodně. 17A řekl jim: Sledujte mě a dělejte to stejně jako já. Hle, půjdu na kraj tábora a bude to tak, že co udělám já, uděláte stejně i vy. 18Až zatroubím na beraní roh já a všichni, kdo jsou se mnou, zatroubíte také vy na beraní rohy okolo celého tábora a zavoláte: Za Hospodina a za Gedeóna. 19Gedeón přišel se stem mužů, kteří byli s ním, na kraj tábora na počátku prostřední noční hlídky, jakmile zcela postavili stráže. Zatroubili na beraní rohy a rozbili džbány, které měli v rukou. 20I tři oddíly zatroubily na beraní rohy, rozbily džbány a uchopily do levé ruky pochodně a do pravé ruky beraní rohy, aby troubily, a zavolaly: Meč za Hospodina a za Gedeóna. 21Postavili se každý na své místo okolo tábora a celý tábor běžel, křičeli a utíkali. 22Tři sta beraních rohů troubilo a Hospodin obrátil meč jednoho proti druhému, a to v celém táboře. Tábor utíkal až do Bét-šity k Seréře, až k břehu Ábel-mechóly u Tabbátu. 23Byli svoláni izraelští muži z Neftalího, z Ašera a z celého Manasesa a pronásledovali Midjánce. 24Gedeón poslal posly po celém efrajimském pohoří se slovy: Sestupte vstříc Midjáncům a obsaďte jim vody až k Bét-báře a Jordán. Byli svoláni všichni efrajimští muži a obsadili vody až k Bét-báře a Jordán. 25Přitom zajali dvě midjánská knížata, Óréba a Zéba. Oréba zabili na Cúr Órébu a Zéba zabili v Jekeb Zébu. Pronásledovali Midjánce a hlavu Óréba a Zéba přinesli Gedeónovi přes Jordán.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 GIDEON'S ARMY. (
Judg 7:1-
Judg 7:8)
Jerubbaal--This had now become Gideon's honorable surname, "the enemy of Baal."
well--rather "spring of Harod," that is, "fear, trembling"; probably the same as the fountain in Jezreel (
1Sam 29:1). It was situated not far from Gilboa, on the confines of Manasseh, and the name "Harod" was bestowed on it with evident reference to the panic which seized the majority of Gideon's troops. The host of the Midianites were on the northern side of the valley, seemingly deeper down in the descent towards the Jordan, near a little eminence.
2 the Lord said unto Gideon, The people . . . are too many--Although the Israelitish army mustered only thirty-two thousand (or one-sixth of the Midianitish host), the number was too great, for it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.
3 Now therefore . . ., proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful . . . let him return--This proclamation was in terms of an established law (
Deut 20:8).
4 too many--Two reductions were ordered, the last by the application of a test which was made known to Gideon alone.
5 bring them down unto the water--When the wandering people in Asia, on a journey or in haste, come to water, they do not stoop down with deliberation on their knees, but only bend forward as much as is necessary to bring their hand in contact with the stream, and throw it up with rapidity, and at the same time such address, that they do not drop a particle. The Israelites, it seems, were acquainted with the practice; and those who adopted it on this occasion were selected as fit for a work that required expedition. The rest were dismissed according to the divine direction.
7 the Lord said, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you--It is scarcely possible to conceive a more severe trial than the command to attack the overwhelming forces of the enemy with such a handful of followers. But Gideon's faith in the divine assurance of victory was steadfast, and it is for this he is so highly commended (
Heb 11:32).
8 the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley--Attention to the relative position of the parties is of the greatest importance to an understanding of what follows.
9 HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE DREAM AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BARLEY CAKE. (
Judg 7:9-
Judg 7:15)
Arise, get thee down unto the host . . . But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant--In ancient times it was reckoned no degradation for persons of the highest rank and character to act as spies on an enemy's camp; and so Gideon did on this occasion. But the secret errand was directed by God, who intended that he should hear something which might animate his own valor and that of his troops.
11 the outside of the armed men that were in the host--"Armed," means embodied under the five officers established by the ordinary laws and usages of encampments. The camp seems to have been unprotected by any rampart, since Gideon had no difficulty in reaching and overhearing a conversation, so important to him.
12 the Midianites and the Amalekites . . . lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number--a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.
13 I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian--This was a characteristic and very expressive dream for an Arab in the circumstances. The rolling down the hill, striking against the tents, and overturning them, naturally enough connected it in his mind with the position and meditated attack of the Israelitish leader. The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitudes must have been reduced to poor and scanty fare.
15 when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation . . . he worshipped--The incident originated in the secret overruling providence of God, and Gideon, from his expression of pious gratitude, regarded it as such. On his mind, as well as that of his followers, it produced the intended effect--that of imparting new animation and impulse to their patriotism.
16 HIS STRATAGEM AGAINST MIDIAN. (
Judg 7:16-
Judg 7:24)
he divided the three hundred men into three companies--The object of dividing his forces was, that they might seem to be surrounding the enemy. The pitchers were empty to conceal the torches, and made of earthenware, so as to be easily broken; and the sudden blaze of the held-up lights--the loud echo of the trumpets, and the shouts of Israel, always terrifying (
Num 23:21), and now more terrible than ever by the use of such striking words, broke through the stillness of the midnight air. The sleepers started from their rest; not a blow was dealt by the Israelites; but the enemy ran tumultuously, uttering the wild, discordant cries peculiar to the Arab race. They fought indiscriminately, not knowing friend from foe. The panic being universal, they soon precipitately fled, directing their flight down to the Jordan, by the foot of the mountains of Ephraim, to places known as the "house of the acacia" [Beth-shittah], and "the meadow of the dance" [Abel-meholah].
23 the men of Israel gathered themselves together--These were evidently the parties dismissed, who having lingered at a little distance from the scene of contest, now eagerly joined in the pursuit southwestward through the valley.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim--The Ephraimites lay on the south and could render seasonable aid.
Come . . . take before them the waters unto Beth-barah--(See on
Judg 3:28). These were the northern fords of the Jordan, to the east-northeast of wady Maleh.
the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together . . . unto Beth-barah--A new conflict ensued, in which two secondary chiefs were seized and slain on the spots where they were respectively taken. The spots were named after these chiefs, Oreb, "the Raven," and Zeeb, "the Wolf"--appropriate designations of Arab leaders.