Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:14

And his fellow answered and said, This [is] nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: [for] into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

14. of Gideon the son of Joash ] The phrase which follows means the men of Israel, as in Jdg 7:8 ; Jdg 7:23, Jdg 8:22, Jdg 9:55, Jdg 20:20, the sing, being used in a collective sense; and this rendering agrees with the symbol of the barley cake, which suggests the peasantry in general, not any particular individual. If, in accordance with usage, we translate the men of Israel, then it seems likely that the names of Gideon and his father were inserted to make the application more distinct. Some scholars would include the sword among the inserted words (cf. Jdg 7:20), but this is hardly necessary.

into their hand God hath delivered ] A foreigner uses the name Elohim: Jehovah is for Israelites; cf. Jdg 3:20.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon – The word rendered tumbled in Jdg 7:13, is rather descriptive of a sword brandished (compare Gen 3:24). Hence, the interpretation the sword of Gideon. Hearing this dream and the interpretation would convince Gideon that he was indeed under the guidance of God, and so assure him of Gods aid; and secondly, it would show him that a panic had already fallen npon the mind of the enemy.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Into his hand hath God delivered Midian] This is a full proof that God had inspired both the dream and its interpretation.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

As there are many examples of. significant dreams given by God to heathens, as Ge 41; Da 2; Da 4, so some of them had the gift of interpreting dreams; which they sometimes did by study and art, and sometimes by Divine direction, as in this case.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

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 the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, a man of Israel; that is, this signifies nothing else, and a fit emblem it was of him and his little army. A cake is but a small thing, and, let it come tumbling as it will, can have no force or strength in it equal to overturn a tent; and a cake of barley is mean and contemptible; and a cake baked under ashes, or on coals, is what is soon and hastily done, and fitly represented the smallness and weakness of Gideon’s army, their meanness and contemptibleness; the Israelites being, as Josephus e represents the soldier saying, the vilest of all the people of Asia; and those that were with Gideon were suddenly and hastily got together, raw and undisciplined, and very unfit to engage the veteran troops of the united forces of Midian, Amalek, and Arabia. It appears from hence that Gideon’s name was well known in the camp of Midian, what was his descent, and his character as a valiant man, which is meant by

a man of Israel; namely, a courageous mighty man, and the very name of him might strike with terror:

for into his hands hath God delivered Midian and all his host; which the man concluded from this dream, and the interpretation of it suggested to him from God, and impressed upon his mind; which he speaks of with the greatest assurance and confidence, which he was inspired to do, for the strengthening of Gideon, and the encouragement of him to come down with his army, and fall on the host of Midian.

e Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 6. sect. 4.)

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(14) This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon.The sort of dread which revealed itself by this instant interpretation of the dream shows that Israel Was formidable even in its depression, doubtless because the nations around were well aware of the Divine aid by which they had so often struck terror into their enemies. The fact that this Bath Kol echoed the promise which Gideon had already received (Jdg. 7:9) would give it additional force.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

14. This is nothing else, save the sword of Gideon This ready interpretation of the dream shows that Gideon’s mustering of the thousands of Israel had already filled many of the Midianites with alarm and terror. So often, when the masses of a nation recognize no danger, the dark presentiment of approaching calamity throws its grim shadow over some anxious and restless spirits, which, though comparatively unknown, still yearn for the public weal.

Into his hand hath God delivered Midian “If Gideon had heard the dream only, and he and his servant had been left to interpret it themselves, it might have done him little service; but having the interpretation from the mouth of an enemy, it not only appeared to come from God, who has all men’s hearts and tongues in his hand, but it was likewise an evidence that the enemy was quite dispirited, and that the name of Gideon was become so formidable to them that it disturbed their sleep.” Henry.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments