Study notes

Judges 7

Introducing JudgesWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

6:1–9:57 Section

The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. These words are also found in the stories about the judges Gideon, Jephthah and Samson. Their stories show something about the people God works through.

Gideon, Jephthah and Samson didn’t know God well or serve him faithfully. Yet God still worked through them to save his people from their suffering. A prophet had explained why the Israelites were being treated badly by the Midianites. It was because the Israelites had stopped worshipping only God. Yet Gideon blamed God for their suffering.

The Holy Spirit made Gideon able to lead a small army to destroy the Midianites. Gideon recognised that God is Lord and King. Yet Gideon led the Israelites to worship a gold object instead of God. Gideon recognised that God should be the only ruler in Israel. Yet his sons ruled over Shechem.

Abimelek even made himself king over the people of Shechem. Shechem was where the Israelites had committed themselves to the Mount Sinai covenant. That was in Joshua’s time. But they were worshipping a god named Baal-Berith or El-Berith at Shechem instead.

In the Hebrew language the name of the god means lord of the covenant. This shows how the Israelites mixed their worship of God with worshipping Canaanite false gods. Both Abimelek and the people of Shechem were destroyed for their violent and evil deeds.

7:1–8:32

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

7:1

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.

7:2

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.

7:3

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

7:4–8

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.

7:8

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

7:10–15

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

7:11

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.

7:13–14

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.

7:16

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

7:17–20

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.

7:21

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.