Judges 7:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: That same night the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.

NIV: During that night the LORD said to Gideon, 'Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.

NASB: Now on the same night it came about that the Lord said to him, 'Arise, go down against the camp, for I have handed it over to you.

CSB: That night the Lord said to him, "Get up and attack the camp, for I have handed it over to you.

NLT: That night the Lord said, 'Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!

KJV: And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

NKJV: It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.

After spending the day reducing the size of Gideon's army down to a relatively minuscule 300 men (Judges 7:5–8), the Lord speaks to Gideon at night. His command is to attack the Midianite camp. God insists that Gideon's victory is already assured. The instruction here is undoubtedly one for battle: the moment has come for Israel to defeat her enemies.

Even so, God is aware of Gideon's secret thoughts and fears (1 Samuel 16:7). To this point, Gideon's anxious nature has been evident (Judges 6:15, 17, 27, 36–40). So, once again, God will provide reassurance. In the next verse, God will let Gideon make a secret spy mission, if he is afraid to attack immediately (Judges 7:10). That trip will provide Gideon with the boost of faith he needs to make a daring, aggressive attack against the Midianites.

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 5/4/2024 10:15:26 PM