Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 7
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 7
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 7
"Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley." — Judges 7:1 (ASV)
The well of Harod – that is, of trembling, evidently so called from the people who were afraid (Judges 7:3). It is identified with great probability with Ain Jalud, a spacious pool at the foot of Gilboa (by Conder, with Ain el Jem’ain (the spring of the two troops)).
Moreh was, probably, the little Hermon, the Jebel ed-Duhy of the Arabs, which encloses the plain two or three miles north of Gilboa, which shuts it in on the south.
"Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand." — Judges 7:3 (ASV)
The proclamation was in accordance with the Law (see the marginal reference). No mountain of the name of Gilead is known in this locality, and it has been conjectured that the right reading is Gilboa. Others think that this may be a form of proclamation customary in Manasseh.
"And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go." — Judges 7:4 (ASV)
Try – The word used for refining metals by separating the dross from the pure ore. Those who threw themselves on the ground and drank freely were the more self-indulgent; while those who, remembering the near presence of the enemy, slaked their thirst with moderation, and without being off their guard for an instant, were the true soldiers of the army of God.
"So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley." — Judges 7:8 (ASV)
The sense is, “And they (the three hundred) took the victuals and trumpets of the people (all the people of Judges 7:7) into their hands”; so that each of the three hundred should have a trumpet and a pitcher.
"and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thy hands be strengthened to go down into the camp. Then went he down with Purah his servant unto the outermost part of the armed men that were in the camp." — Judges 7:11 (ASV)
The armed men - The word is rendered harnessed in Exodus 13:18 (see the note). The most probable meaning of the word is arrayed in divisions or ranks.
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