Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:7
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.
i.e. To his own home, as Num 24:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. the Lord said, By the threehundred men that lapped will I save youIt is scarcely possibleto conceive a more severe trial than the command to attack theoverwhelming 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 (Heb11:32).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord said unto Gideon, by the three hundred men that lapped I will save and deliver the Midianites into thine hand,…. It is hard to say what character this action of the three hundred is expressive of, whether of weakness or of courage. Some think that those who drank upon their knees were faint and weary, and men of intemperance, and indulged themselves, and were unfit for war, while those that only lapped a little water to refresh themselves appeared to be eager, and in haste and readiness to engage in it; and so Ben Gersom takes those that bowed to be slothful persons, and those that lapped courageous and mighty men, and so were ordered to be taken and go along with Gideon; and this agrees with the method before taken, to dismiss the fearful, and only take those that were men of courage; but Josephus f is of opinion that they that drank upon their knees were the men of spirit and courage, and those that lapped, such who drank hastily, with trembling, and through fear of the enemy, and these were ordered to go with Gideon, and not the other: and indeed this most displays the glory of God to save Israel, and deliver them from the Midianites by a handful of such poor dispirited creatures. Though it seems that all the 10,000 men were men of courage; and this method was taken not to distinguish those that were the most courageous from those that were the least so, but only to reduce the number that should be engaged in this battle; for it being the summer season, it may reasonably be supposed that the greater part of the army was very thirsty, and would kneel down to take a large draught of water, when those that were not so thirsty would be the fewer number, and so taken:
and let all the other people go every man to his place; all the rest, who bowed on their knees to drink, which were 9,700, these were ordered to march homewards; though perhaps before they got home, hearing of the victory, they returned and joined in the pursuit, Jud 7:23.
f Antiqu. l. 5. c. 6. sect. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Every man unto his place.i.e., home, as in Num. 24:11.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Yahweh said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. And let all the people go, every man to his place.” ’
Then Yahweh confirmed to Gideon that by these three smaller units of men would deliverance come and the enemy be defeated. The remainder could go to their tents and await the call to further action.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.
Ver. 7. By the three hundred men. ] “They shall be holpen with a little help.” Dan 11:34 And why with a little? but that through weaker means may be seen God’s greater strength.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 7:18-22, 1Sa 14:6, Isa 41:14-16
Reciprocal: Jos 6:4 – trumpets of rams’ 1Sa 23:4 – for I will 1Ki 20:15 – two hundred 1Ki 22:36 – Every man 2Ch 14:11 – nothing 2Ch 25:8 – God hath power
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 7:7. Every man unto his place That is, to his own home. By this further distinction, says Henry, it was proved that none should be made use of, but, 1st, Men that were hardy, that could endure fatigue, without complaining of thirst or weariness; 2d, Men that were hasty, that thought it long till they were engaged with the enemy, preferring the service of God and their country before their necessary refreshment. Such as these God chooses to employ, that are not only well affected, but zealously affected to his work.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] {d} people go every man unto his place.
(d) That is, the 31,000 and 700. See Jud 7:3,6.