Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:19
So Gideon, and the hundred men that [were] with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers that [were] in their hands.
19. the middle watch ] The night was therefore divided into three watches: cf. ‘the morning watch’ Exo 14:24, 1Sa 11:11. The beginning of the middle watch would be about midnight. In later times the Jews adopted the Roman custom of dividing the night into four watches, St Mar 13:35, St Mat 14:25, St Luk 12:38.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The middle watch – The old Jewish division of the night was three watches of four hours each. They are alluded to in Exo 14:24; 1Sa 11:11; Psa 63:6; Psa 90:4; Psa 119:148; Psa 130:6; Lam 2:19. After the Jews fell under the power of the Romans, they used the Roman division of four watches of three hours each Mat 14:25; Mar 13:35.
The beginning of the watch would be about eleven oclock at night.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Of the middle watch, i.e. of the second watch; for though afterwards the night was divided into four watches by the Romans, Mat 14:25, yet in more ancient times, and in the eastern parts, it was divided into three. He chose the dark and dead of the night to increase their terror by the trumpets, whose sound would then be loudest and best heard, and the lamps, whose light would then shine most brightly, and seem biggest, to surprise them at disadvantage, and to conceal the smallness of their numbers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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 watches; for though in later times there were four watches, among the Romans h, and which the Jews received from them; hence in the New Testament we read of the fourth watch; yet in earlier times, with the Jews and other eastern nations, there were but three watches, as affirmed by Jarchi and Kimchi on the place: and very wisely did Gideon fix on this watch for the time of his coming; for had he come at the first watch, many as yet might not have been in bed, or at least not fallen asleep; and had he come in the third watch, many might have been awake out of their sleep, and others up; but he took this time, a little after midnight, in the dead of the night, when the whole army was fast asleep:
and they had but newly set the watch; the first watch were just gone off, and the second were placed in their room; but since such an observation seems in a good measure unnecessary, for as Gideon came in the beginning of the watch it must in course be newly set; rather the words may be rendered, “in raising they raised up the watch” i; that is, Gideon and his men did it by their approach; and they might call to them on purpose to give the alarm to the army, who upon that would at once hear the sound of the trumpets, and the clattering of the pitchers, and see the torches burning, to their great surprise:
and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands; as soon as they came up to the watch and had raised them; this did Gideon and his hundred men.
h Liv. Hist. l. 36. c. 24. “Suidas in. voce” , “et in voce”
i “suscitando suscitaverunt custodes”, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gideon then proceeded with the 100 who were with him, i.e., the company which was led by himself personally, to the end of the hostile camp, at the beginning of the middle watch, i.e., at midnight is an accusative defining the time: see Ges. 118, 2, and Ewald, 204, a. The only other watch that is mentioned in the Old Testament beside the middle night-watch, is the morning night-watch (Exo 14:24; 1Sa 11:11), from which it has been correctly inferred, that the Israelites divided the night into three night-watches. The division into four watches (Mat 14:25; Mar 6:48) was first adopted by the Jews from the Romans. “ They (the Midianites) had only (just) posted the watchmen (of the middle watch),” – a circumstantial clause, introduced to give greater distinctness to the situation. When the first sentries were relieved, and the second posted, so that they thought they might make quite sure of their night’s rest once more, Gideon and his host arrived at the end of the camp, and, as we must supply from the context, the other two hosts at two other ends of the camp, who all blew their trumpets, breaking the pitchers in their hands at the same time. The inf. abs. , as a continuation of the finite verb , indicates that the fact was contemporaneous with the previous one (see Ewald, 351, c.).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(19) The middle watch.The Jews anciently divided the night, from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M., into three watches (Exo. 14:24; 1Sa. 11:11). The subsequent division into four watches of three hours each was borrowed from the Romans (Mat. 14:25; Mar. 6:48). At the beginning of the middle watchi.e., soon after 10 at nightwould be the time at which the host would be buried in their first sleep.
They had but newly set the watch.Literally, scarcelyor. just in rousing they roused the watch. The attack took place at the moment of confusion caused by changing the watch.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. The beginning of the middle watch At midnight. Anciently the Israelites seem to have divided the night into three watches evening, midnight, and morning watches. Exo 14:24; 1Sa 11:11. Later they adopted from the Roman’s the custom of four watches. Mat 14:25; Mar 6:48.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ So Gideon, and the one hundred men who were with him, came to the extremity of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch, and they blew the ram’s horns and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands, and the three companies blew the ram’s horns, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands and the ram’s horns in their right hands to blow withal, and they cried “The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon”.’
So the men of Israel crept silently down in the darkness just after 10:00 pm (22:00 hours, the middle watch was from around 22:00 hours to 2:00 am), when most would be asleep or dozing in anticipation of coming battle. The new watch had just come on, alert and nervous, and suddenly there came the wail of a single ram’s horn, and then the area around the camp became alive with signs of a night attack, with ram’s horns replying and torches blazing. Night attack was always devastating, for in the darkness it was not always possible to tell who was who, and figures in the darkness seemed multiplied, and could be friend or enemy.
So first the ram’s horns were sounded, echoing through the night, drawing attention to the wide areas where the attacks were coming from, then the horns on their cords were dropped while the pitchers, which would be of earth and easily broken, were smashed. This would make an unnerving noise in the darkness as they probably clashed them against each other, and the torches would then be lifted and waved, bursting into flame.
Dropping the broken jars they would again seize their ram’s horns and would give a further series of blasts, and would wave their torches and shout their warcry, “For Yahweh and for Gideon”. The torches would be of rags soaked in oil on a stick, or some other form of inflammable material. They would only glow gently within the pitchers until exposed to and waved in the air. The whole effect over a wide area can be imagined. The Midianite confederacy, already unnerved by Yahweh’s activity, wondered what was about to hit them and panicked. The dreaded Gideon, by now developed in their minds into a mythical hero, was here.
The sentinels would probably sound their own horns, and some would race to the commanders’ tents. Figures would be moving in the darkness with drawn swords, joined by others leaving their tents ready for an attack, some carrying torches. The fearful, unnerved, would think of escape, others of readiness for battle, and run to their camels with weapons at the ready. The result was that as shadowy figures came out of the darkness of the camp they began to see each other as the enemy and to cut each other down, and as blade clashed with blade it would result in further panic. The enemy were among them!
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
DISCOURSE: 267
GIDEONS VICTORY OVER MIDIAN
Jdg 7:19-22. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every mans sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.
WE are so familiar with scripture history, that we cease to be struck with the most astonishing events. Great events in profane history are handed down from generation to generation, and are made subjects of universal admiration: but those which are related in the Bible are passed over with little notice. How can we account for this? Is it that, in the one, the feats of men are seen, and in the other the feats of God? and that we are gratified with contemplating whatever advances the glory of man, but have no disposition to magnify and adore our God? We fear that this is the true solution of the difficulty. But, if we feel as we ought, we cannot be insensible to the display of Gods power and goodness in the passage we have now read. Indeed the whole history of Gideon is so curious and instructive, that, instead of confining ourselves to the particular action specified in the text, it will be desirable,
I.
To notice the circumstances which led to this victory
Here we must notice,
1.
His call to his work
[He was by nature qualified for the office of a deliverer, being a mighty man of valour. Yet that circumstance would not have justified so hopeless an attempt as that which he engaged in, if he had not been called to it by God himself. But God (under the appearance of an angel) called him to it, and assured him of his presence in the undertaking, and of ultimate success in it: Thou shalt save Israel out of the hands of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Surely I will be with thee; and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man [Note: Jdg 6:12-16.].
In confirmation of his call, God accepted his offering, which he caused to be miraculously consumed by fire out of the rock; and thereby gave him an undoubted evidence that he was that same Almighty Being, who had formerly commissioned Moses to deliver Israel from their Egyptian bondage [Note: Jdg 6:17-24.].]
2.
His preparation for it
[The work to which he was called was exceeding arduous; and it was desirable that before he undertook it, he should have an opportunity of proving his zeal for God, and of seeing the sufficiency of God to carry him through it. God therefore ordered him to begin the work of reformation in his fathers house; to cast down the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove where that idol was worshipped, and build an altar to Jehovah, and offer a bullock for a sacrifice upon it. This was impracticable by day, because the worshippers of Baal would have interfered to prevent it: but he effected it by night; and executed in every respect the divine mandate. The people, as might be expected, demanded that he should be given up and put to death: but, notwithstanding his father was a worshipper of Baal, he was overruled by God to protect his son, and to threaten with death any that should take part with Baal; since, if he was a god, he was able to plead for himself; and, if he was not, his worship ought not to be upheld [Note: Jdg 6:25-32.].
Thus, by this successful effort, Gideon was prepared for that far greater work which he was now to undertake against the Midianites.]
3.
His encouragement to it
[The attempt, according to human appearance, was madness itself; so dispirited was the state of Israel, and so great the power of their oppressors [Note: Jdg 6:2-6.]. We wonder not therefore that he should request of the Lord a sign, whereby he might be assured of success in his enterprise. He begged of God that a fleece of wool should be put out into the open air, and be filled with dew, whilst all the surrounding ground was dry: and on that sign being given him, he entreated permission to reverse the sign, the fleece being kept dry, whilst all the earth around it was wet. The events corresponding with his desires, he was assured, that God could make that distinction between the Midianites and him, which was necessary to a successful issue of his contest with them.
Thus encouraged, he entered on the office that had been assigned him; and went with two and thirty thousand men whom he had assembled, to attack the Midianites. But God knew that if so many were to go down to the attack, they would ascribe the victory to their own prowess: and therefore he ordered Gideon to dismiss from his army all who were afraid: in consequence of which no less than twenty-two thousand forsook his standard in one night. Still there was the same objection to his retaining ten thousand; and therefore God undertook to determine, by a particular test, who should go to the attack: those who on being taken to the water bowed down on their knees to drink, were not to go; but those who in a more temperate and self-denying way took up water in their hands and lapped it, as a dog lappeth, were to be the chosen band. But by this test no less than nine thousand seven hundred were cut off from his army, and he was left with only three hundred persons to undertake this arduous work [Note: Jdg 6:33-39; Jdg 7:8.].
It should seem that this reduction of his numbers filled him with some secret misgivings. God therefore graciously offered him a further sign, whereby his faith should be confirmed, and his fear altogether dispelled. This was a sign that should be given him by the enemy themselves. He was to go down with his servant to the enemys camp, and hear what they themselves said. Accordingly he went, and heard one telling a dream that he had had, namely, that a cake of barley-bread had rolled down a hill into the camp, and had overturned a tent: which dream was immediately interpreted by his comrade, as importing that this cake was no other than the sword of Gideon, and that God had delivered Midian into Gideons hand [Note: ver. 914.]. This perfectly satisfied the mind of Gideon: he had no doubt now but that God would fulfil his promise: and in a full assurance of faith he instantly arranged every thing for the encounter [Note: ver. 1518.].]
4.
His success in it
[The means he used were, no doubt, suggested to him by God himself. The little band were armed, not with sword and shield, but with a pitcher, a lamp, and a trumpet. They were instructed to surround the camp, and, at a given signal, to break their pitchers, display their lights, and sound their trumpets, and, without moving from their places, to cry, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. This was executed in due order: and instantly a panic struck the whole host of Midian, who in their fright destroyed each other; and, when put to flight, were followed by the other troops that had been dismissed, and were thus entirely destroyed [Note: ver. 1925.].
Thus have we taken a connected view of the most important circumstances, in order that we may have our minds fully prepared for such observations as naturally arise from them.]
We proceed then,
II.
To suggest some instructions arising from them
Every part of the history is truly instructive: we may learn from it,
1.
To undertake nothing in our own strength
[Though God addressed Gideon as a mighty man of valour, Gideon did not presume upon his character, or think himself competent to the undertaking: yea, though commissioned by God himself, he shrunk back from the undertaking, saying, Oh, my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house. We mean not to commend unbelief, but to express our approbation of humility. It is well to be diffident of ourselves, and to confide only in the Lord our God. We are all called to wrestle, not only against flesh and blood, but against all the powers of darkness: but who is sufficient for these things? Let us bear in mind that we are not of ourselves sufficient even to think a good thought as of ourselves, and that our whole sufficiency is of God ]
2.
To draw back from nothing to which we are called
[When Gideon was assured that God had called him to the work, he cheerfully addressed himself to the performance of it. His question seems to have resembled that of the blessed Virgin, rather than of Zacharias [Note: Luk 1:18; Luk 1:34.], and to have flowed from a gracious, rather than an unbelieving, principle. Thus should we act: our great labour should be to ascertain the mind and will of God; and being informed of that, we should, like Paul, when he was called to preach the Gospel, not confer with flesh and blood, but set ourselves to discharge our duty to the uttermost. We indeed cannot expect our call to any particular office to be made as clear as Gideons; but, having discovered the duties of our respective callings, we should make no account either of difficulties or of danger, but determine instantly, and in all things, to approve ourselves faithful unto God ]
3.
To doubt of nothing wherein God promises his aid
[Gideon is particularly commended for his faith, to which his success in this enterprise is more especially ascribed [Note: Heb 11:32-33.]. And what can we desire more than a promise of Gods presence and co-operation? If he be for us, who can be against us? God has said, Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness: though therefore our enemies come forth like Goliath, and we be only like David with a sling and a stone, we need not fear the issue of the contest; for we shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved us ]
4.
To take the glory of nothing which God does by us
[God is a jealous God: and the ground of his reducing Gideons army to three hundred men was, lest, if their numbers bore ever so small a proportion to the number of their enemies, they should ascribe to themselves the honour of the victory, instead of giving all the glory of it to God. In like manner has God treasured up for us a fulness of all blessings in Christ Jesus, and required us to live by faith upon him, and to receive out of his fulness our daily supplies of grace and strength. He would have us to glory in Christ alone, and to possess now the very spirit which we shall have in heaven, when with all the glorified saints we shall cast our crowns at his feet, and ascribe salvation to God and to the Lamb for ever and ever ]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
The midnight hour is what is particularly spoken of, as a season of terror. Mat 25:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that [were] with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that [were] in their hands.
Ver. 19. In the beginning of the middle watch. ] He took the advantage of the night, to beat up their quarters. Nox formidinem auxit. Night is full of error and terror.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 7:19-21. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
This was at the dead of night, when the hosts of Midian were fast asleep. They were startled from their slumbers by the blast of three hundred trumpets, and the flaming of three hundred torches. They gathered that these were only the bugles and the lamps at the head of vast regiments of Israelites, and they hardly dared to calculate how great the whole host must be. Filled with fear, astonished at the sound of the trumpets, and the shouting of Gideons band all round their camp, they took to their heels: all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
Jdg 7:22. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every mans sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host:
They were a motley company, every man afraid of his fellow. They had gathered together to share the spoil, and now, when fear demoralized them, the hordes of wild warriors began to destroy one another.
Jdg 7:22-23. And the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
If some have the courage to strike the enemy, there are others who will come out of their hiding places to hunt the beaten foe. When you really want help, often you cannot get it; but when you can afford to do without assistance, you will sometimes be embarrassed by it.
Jdg 7:24. And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters
Secure the fords in the streams which flow into the Jordan from the mountainous region of Ephraim, so that the refugees cannot get away.
Jdg 7:24-25. Unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
So that, though they had been very backward at the first, yet, when they were once aroused, these men of Ephraim did their part in ridding the land of the common foe, and among the trophies of war, the heads of two of the princes of the Midianites fell into their hands.
This exposition consisted of readings from Jdg 7:19-25; Jdg 8:1-27.
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
in the beginning: Exo 14:24, Mat 25:6, 1Th 5:2, Rev 16:15
they blew: Jdg 7:8
brake: Jdg 7:16, Psa 2:9, Jer 13:13, Jer 13:14, Jer 19:1-11
Reciprocal: Lev 26:8 – General Jos 23:10 – One man 2Sa 18:2 – a third part Lam 2:19 – watches Heb 11:34 – out of
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 7:19. Middle watch That is, of the second watch; for though afterward the night was divided into four watches by the Romans, (Mat 14:25,) yet in more ancient times, and in the eastern parts, it was divided into three: he chose the dark and dead of the night, to increase their terror by the trumpets, whose sound would then be loudest, and the lamps, whose light would then shine most brightly, to surprise them, and conceal the smallness of their numbers.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gideon’s initial victory 7:19-22
Gideon commenced his "attack" at the beginning of the middle watch, which was evidently midnight. [Note: Bush, p. 104; Keil and Delitzsch, p. 347. Lindsey, p. 394, wrote that it was 10:00 p.m.] Many of the Midianites would have been sound asleep and upon awakening would have felt confused by the sights and sounds of their enemies. The movements of their own men milling around the camp as a result of the recent watch change would have disoriented them further. Perhaps the camels stampeded because of the torch fire and general confusion, giving the waking Midianites the impression that mounted soldiers had invaded their camp.
The Midianites felt so bewildered by this "surprise attack" that they slaughtered their fellow soldiers in the confusion and fled for home as fast as they could go (cf. Jdg 4:15-16). The towns mentioned (Jdg 7:22) were at the southeast end of the Harod (lit. trembling) Valley. The Harod Valley is an eastern extension of the Jezreel Valley, and it connects the Jezreel Valley with the Jordan Valley. These towns stood on either side of the Jordan River. Zererah (or Zerethan, Jdg 7:22) was about five miles southwest of Succoth and Penuel. [Note: The Macmillan Bible Atlas, map 76, p. 54.] Thus God accomplished again what amounts to another exodus for Israel.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The defeat of the Midianites 7:19-8:21
Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites took some time and involved some conflict with the other Israelites.