Tyndale Open Study NotesJudges 7

Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.

The spring of Harod and the hill of Moreh were east of the town of Jezreel. They protected the pass linking the valley of Jezreel to the Jordan River crossings near Beth-shan. Gideon's army was on the north slope of Mount Gilboa. The Midianite forces were in the valley below, with the hill behind them.

The Lord does not need a large army to save his people (compare 1 Samuel 14:6). A large army might have hindered success because surprise was crucial to the Lord’s plan. Gideon reduced the army to keep humility, not for military strategy.

The first reduction identified those who were initially enthusiastic but later reconsidered.

The Lord chose those who drank from their hands instead of those who knelt. This choice seemed random, but it helped reduce the army's size.

The men would use the jars and trumpets borrowed from the warriors sent home in the upcoming battle.

The Lord gave Gideon a third sign to encourage him (Judges 6:17–21, 36–40).

Since the enemy camp was spread out across the valley (Judges 7:1, 12), Gideon and his servant could easily sneak in without being seen.

People in Egypt and Babylonia often talked about dreams and their meanings. The Old Testament says God inspires dreams, and they are best understood through his guidance (see Genesis 41:15–16, 25; Daniel 2:28). The message of this dream is clear: Gideon's group, symbolized by a round loaf of barley bread, would roll down and defeat the Midianite camp.

Splitting the small band into three groups made it seem like a much larger force.

Surprise and trickery replaced the need for a large army. The war cry, the sudden sound of 300 trumpets, and the torches lighting up made it seem like there was a big army.

• The warriors stayed in place while God fought the battle (compare Exodus 14:13; 1 Samuel 12:16; Revelation 19:11–16).

• The Midianites’ camels (Judges 6:5) might have caused panic. Camels usually gave a military advantage, but here they were a problem. They were likely tied up for the night, and camels can panic easily.

The fugitives ran southeast, past Beth-shan, toward the Jordan River crossings, seeking safer and friendlier places.

The shallow crossings of the Jordan River were crucial for stopping an army from escaping (compare Judges 3:28; 12:4–6).

Oreb, meaning "raven," and Zeeb, meaning "wolf," were military leaders. In contrast, Zebah and Zalmunna were kings (Judges 8:5). The places where Oreb and Zeeb were captured were later named after them, marking the event.