Judges 7

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 7 of 21

1 And Jerubbaal (he is Gideon) rose early, and all the people with him. And they camped by the spring of Harod, and the army of Midian was north of him on Mount Moreh, in the valley.

2 And Jehovah said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, that Israel not glorify itself against Me, saying, My hand has delivered me.

3 And now please cry in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever fears and trembling, let him return and leave Mount Gilead. And twenty-two thousand of the people returned. And ten thousand were left.

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Chapter Summary

Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is sifted down to three hundred. 16 His strategy of trumpets and torches in jars. 23 The men of Ephraim take Oreb and Zeeb.

Key Hebrew Words

יָשַׁע deliver, save H3467 · TWOT 929
לָקַק lap (water) H3952 · TWOT 1126
שֹׁפָר rams' horn, trumpet H7782 · TWOT 2449c
כַּד jar, pitcher H3537 · TWOT 953a
לַפִּיד torch H3940 · TWOT 1122a
חֲלוֹם dream H2472 · TWOT 663a

People & Context

Gideon (Jerubbaal)

Leads the 300 against Midian with trumpets, jars, and torches after Jehovah sifts his army

Phurah

Gideon's young servant who goes down with him to overhear the Midianite's dream

Oreb

Midianite ruler captured and slain at the rock of Oreb; his head brought to Gideon

Zeeb

Midianite ruler captured and slain at the winevat of Zeeb; his head brought to Gideon

Joash

Gideon's father, named when the Midianite identifies the dream as the sword of Gideon son of Joash

Timeline

Gideon's Army Camps at Harod

Gideon (Jerubbaal) and his people camp by the spring of Harod, with the Midianite camp to the north.

Judges 7:1
The Fearful Sent Home

Jehovah tells Gideon the army is too large and orders anyone afraid to leave. 22,000 men depart, leaving 10,000.

Judges 7:2-3
The Water Test

Jehovah states there are still too many men and tests them at the water. The 300 who lap water with their hands are kept; the rest are sent away.

Judges 7:4-8

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