Gideon's Victory Judges 7b

Judges 7:21 "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."

Gideon's army of 300 has surrounded the host of Midian. 100 to a group. Their weapons are an empty pitcher, lamps, and a trumpet. Total confusion happened in the enemy camp. They took up their swords and in the confusion slew each other. Gideon and his men stood in their place.

v19 "So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch, and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands."

Suddenly in the quiet of night. A lot of commotion sets in.

The result was a ring of light around the enemy and 300 trumpets blowing at the same time. The Midianites must have thought they were surrounded by a great army and they could not see them. Perhaps they thought some were already in their camp, as it would be assumed that with all the trumpets blowing there would be an onslaught. The 300 cried: The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

Then, those remaining fled v22. At this time Gideon called upon other tribes in Israel to come down off the mountain and pursue the enemy which they did. Finally, the two princes Oreb and Zeeb were caught at the river Jordan and slain by Ephraim. Naphtali and Asher were also involved in the pursuit.

It was a great victory. Gideon has become the hero. Unfortunately, Israel seems to have forgotten to give God the glory for the victory, although Gideon tries to direct them to the LORD in a later chapter.

Psalms 119:169 "Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word."

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