Judges 7:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.

NIV: If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah

NASB: But if you are afraid to go down, go with Purah your servant down to the camp,

CSB: But if you are afraid to attack the camp, go down with Purah your servant.

NLT: But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah.

KJV: But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

NKJV: But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant,

Gideon sits camped with his 300 men in the hills above the massive Midianite camp in the valley below. In the night, the Lord has come to command Gideon to attack—to "go down against" the enemy (Judges 7:9). Immediately, however, God adds a condition: if Gideon is afraid, he can take his servant Purah with him on a spying mission, first.

So far, Gideon's approach has been marked by indecisiveness and doubt (Judges 6:11, 15, 17, 27, 36–40). Prior to this moment, God instructed him to reduce his fighting forces from many thousands to just 300 (Judges 7:2–7). Based on the numbers given elsewhere in the book of Judges, his army is outnumbered by around 450-to-1 (Judges 8:10). It's reasonable that he might be afraid, so God tells him there's a purpose behind making an excursion, first. God's reason for allowing Gideon a brief detour, before the attack, is given in the next verse. The Lord's intent is to strengthen Gideon's faith, not challenge it further.

Judges 7:1–18 begins with Gideon and his large company of Israelite volunteers setting up camp in the hills just a few miles from the Midianite camp in the valley below. God gives Gideon two tests to reduce the number of his troops until only 300 are left. God tells Gideon to spy on the Midianite camp, where he overhears a conversation which bolsters his faith. Gideon returns to his camp and prepares for the attack that night. He gives his men torches concealed in clay jars, as well as trumpets.

Gideon and his 32,000–man army of volunteer Israelites camp in the hills above the Midianite invaders in the valley. The Lord tells Gideon to reduce his troops until only 300 remain. God allows Gideon to overhear the interpretation of a Midianite dream, an event that strengthens his faith. Gideon and his 300 men take positions around the Midianite camp and blow trumpets, hold up torches, and shout battle cries. Those in the camp panic and begin attacking each other. The survivors flee toward the Jordan but are eventually cut off.

Despite a miraculous calling from God, and success in his first actions, Gideon still expressed doubt (Judges 6). After seeing two custom-requested miracles, Gideon prepares to attack the Midianite invaders. He winnows his army down to only 300 men and overhears an encouraging conversation. Gideon and his men surprise the enemy after nightfall with trumpets and torches, sparking a panic. This begins a rout of the enemy. In the next chapter, Gideon succeeds further despite stubbornness from his own people (Judges 8).

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).

Accessed 5/18/2024 8:41:00 PM