So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink." So Gideon brought the people down to the waterThis phrase sets the scene for a divine test. Gideon, whose name means "hewer" or "one who cuts down," is obediently following God's instructions. The act of bringing the people to the water is symbolic of a purification process, reminiscent of other biblical instances where water serves as a means of testing or cleansing, such as the crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan River. In the Hebrew context, water often represents life and sustenance, but also a place of decision and separation. and the LORD said to him
The direct communication from the LORD (YHWH) to Gideon underscores the personal relationship and guidance God provides to His chosen leaders. This divine instruction is pivotal, as it demonstrates God's sovereignty and His active role in the affairs of Israel. The phrase highlights the importance of listening to God's voice, a recurring theme throughout Scripture, where obedience to God's word leads to victory and blessing. Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog
The act of lapping water like a dog is a unique criterion for selection. In the ancient Near Eastern context, dogs were often seen as unclean animals, yet here, the action of lapping signifies vigilance and readiness. Those who lap the water remain alert, keeping their eyes on their surroundings, unlike those who kneel. This separation is not based on human wisdom but divine insight, illustrating that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). from those who kneel to drink
Kneeling to drink suggests a posture of vulnerability and distraction. In the context of an impending battle, this posture could indicate a lack of readiness or awareness. Historically, kneeling is often associated with worship or submission, but here it contrasts with the alertness required for the task at hand. This distinction serves as a reminder that God often chooses the unexpected and the seemingly weak to accomplish His purposes, as seen throughout biblical history. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonA judge of Israel chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Known for his initial hesitance and need for reassurance from God, Gideon becomes a mighty warrior through God's guidance. 2. The LORDThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, who directs Gideon in the selection of his army. God's involvement emphasizes His sovereignty and the importance of divine guidance. 3. The IsraelitesThe people of God who are under Midianite oppression. They are in need of deliverance, which God provides through Gideon. 4. The MidianitesThe oppressors of Israel during this period. Their presence is a consequence of Israel's disobedience to God. 5. The WaterThe location where God tests the men of Gideon's army. This test is crucial in determining who will fight in the battle against the Midianites. Teaching Points Divine SelectionGod’s criteria for choosing His servants often defy human logic. Trust in His wisdom and guidance, even when it seems counterintuitive. Obedience to GodGideon’s willingness to follow God’s instructions, despite the risk of reducing his army, highlights the importance of obedience in faith. God’s SovereigntyThe account underscores that victory comes from God, not from human strength or numbers. Recognize and rely on God’s power in your life. Testing and PreparationGod often tests His people to prepare them for greater tasks. Be open to His testing as a means of refining and equipping you for His purposes. Faith in ActionGideon’s actions demonstrate that faith requires action. Be ready to act on God’s instructions, trusting in His plan and provision. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Gideon's obedience to God's unconventional method of selecting soldiers challenge your understanding of faith and trust in God? 2. In what ways can you apply the principle of divine selection in your own life, recognizing that God’s criteria may differ from human expectations? 3. Reflect on a time when you felt God was testing you. How did that experience prepare you for future challenges or opportunities? 4. How can the account of Gideon and his army encourage you to rely on God’s strength rather than your own abilities or resources? 5. Consider the connection between Judges 7:5 and 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. How does this reinforce the idea that God uses the unexpected to accomplish His purposes? Connections to Other Scriptures Judges 6Provides the background of Gideon's calling and his initial interactions with God, setting the stage for the events in Judges 7. 1 Samuel 16The selection of David as king, where God emphasizes looking at the heart rather than outward appearances, similar to how God selects Gideon's army based on their actions at the water. Proverbs 3:5-6Encourages trust in the Lord's guidance, which is exemplified by Gideon's obedience to God's unconventional method of selecting soldiers. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29Discusses how God uses the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the strong and wise, paralleling how God reduces Gideon's army to demonstrate His power. | A Sifting Among the Defenders of the Faith | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Backing Out of God's Service | Marcus Dods, D. D. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Divinely-Ordained Tests | A.F. Muir | Judges 7:1-8 | | Fit Men for the Fight | A. Maclaren, D. D. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon and the Three Hundred | J. B. Brown, B. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon's Army | Sermons by the Monday Club | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon's Army | Edward B. Mason. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon's Band | R. J. Campbell, B. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon's Three Hundred | T. Kelly. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Gideon's Three Hundred | J. McNeill. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Pride Excluded | G. A. Rogers, M. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Testing-Points in Life | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Best Work of the World Done by the Few | J. Parker, D. D. | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Reduced Army | A. Roberts, M. A. | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Revelation of Character | Christian Age | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Sifting | W. W. Duncan, M. A | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Three Hundred Men that Lapped | Canon Newbolt. | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Trial of Gideon's Army by the Proclamation | F. Elwin. | Judges 7:1-8 | | The Trial of Gideon's Army by the Water | F. Elwin. | Judges 7:1-8 | | Why Were the Fearful Dismissed | A. Maclaren, D. D. | Judges 7:1-8 |
People Abel, Amalek, Amalekites, Asher, Gideon, Israelites, Jerubbaal, Joash, Manasseh, Midianites, Naphtali, Oreb, Phurah, ZeebPlaces Abel-meholah, Beth-barah, Beth-shittah, Harod, Jordan River, Midian, Mount Gilead, Ophrah, Tabbath, ZererahTopics Apart, Boweth, Bows, Bringeth, Dog, Drink, Drinking, Gideon, Kneel, Kneels, Knees, Lap, Lappeth, Laps, Likewise, Separate, Themselves, Tongue, TonguesDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 7:5 4630 dog
5193 tongue Judges 7:1-8 5266 conscription Judges 7:4-7 5955 strength, divine Judges 7:5-6 5167 mouth Library A Great victory
TEXT: "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."--Judges 7:21. Few things in this world are so inspiring to the traveler and at the same time so depressing as a city or temple in ruins. I remember a delightful experience in passing through the ruins of Karnak and Luxor, on the Nile in Egypt, and later passing through Phylae at Assuan on the Nile; and these two thoughts, each the opposite of the other, kept constantly coming to my mind. …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas IscariotAugust 18. "The Three Hundred Blew the Trumpets" (Judges vii. 22).
"The three hundred blew the trumpets" (Judges vii. 22). We little dream, sometimes, what a hasty word, a thoughtless speech, an imprudent act, or a confession of unbelief and fear may do to hinder our highest usefulness, or turn it aside from some great opportunity which God has been preparing for us. Although the Holy Ghost uses weak men, He does not want them to be weak after He chooses and calls them. Although He uses the foolish things to confound the wise, He does not want us to be foolish after …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth 'Fit, Though Few'
'Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Battle Without a Sword
'And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley-bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15, And it was so, when Gideon heard the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Wyclif of the East --Bible Translation
1801-1832 The Bible Carey's missionary weapon--Other vernacular translators--Carey's modest but just description of his labours--His philological key--Type-cutting and type-casting by a Hindoo blacksmith--The first manufacture of paper and steam-engines in the East--Carey takes stock of the translation work at the opening of 1808--In his workshop--A seminary of Bible translators--William Yates, shoemaker, the Coverdale of the Bengali Bible--Wenger--A Bengali Luther wanted--Carey's Bengali Bible--How …
George Smith—The Life of William Carey The New Convert.
…
John Newton—Olney Hymns Whether Divination by Auguries, Omens, and by Like Observations of External Things is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by auguries, omens, and by like observations of external things is not unlawful. If it were unlawful holy men would not make use thereof. Now we read of Joseph that he paid attention to auguries, for it is related (Gn. 44:5) that Joseph's steward said: "The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh and in which he is wont to divine [augurari]": and he himself afterwards said to his brethren (Gn. 44:15): "Know you not that there is no one …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Fear is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that fear is not a mortal sin. For, as stated above ([3323]FS, Q[23], A[1]), fear is in the irascible faculty which is a part of the sensuality. Now there is none but venial sin in the sensuality, as stated above ([3324]FS, Q[74], A[4]). Therefore fear is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, every mortal sin turns the heart wholly from God. But fear does not this, for a gloss on Judges 7:3, "Whosoever is fearful," etc., says that "a man is fearful when he trembles at the …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Immanuel
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL , God with us. T here is a signature of wisdom and power impressed upon the works of God, which evidently distinguishes them from the feeble imitations of men. Not only the splendour of the sun, but the glimmering light of the glow-worm proclaims His glory. The structure and growth of a blade of grass, are the effects of the same power which produced the fabric of the heavens and the earth. In His Word likewise He is …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 7:5 NIVJudges 7:5 NLTJudges 7:5 ESVJudges 7:5 NASBJudges 7:5 KJV
Judges 7:5 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
