Judges 7:22

And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

And the three {H7969} hundred {H3967} blew {H8628} the trumpets {H7782}, and the LORD {H3068} set {H7760} every man's {H376} sword {H2719} against his fellow {H7453}, even throughout all the host {H4264}: and the host {H4264} fled {H5127} to Bethshittah {H1029} in Zererath {H6888}, and to the border {H8193} of Abelmeholah {H65}, unto Tabbath {H2888}.

Gid'on's men blew their 300 shofars, and ADONAI caused everyone in the camp to attack his comrades; and the enemy fled beyond Beit-Sheetah near Tz'rerah, as far as the border of Avel-M'cholah, by Tabat.

And when the three hundred ramsโ€™ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Jehovah set every manโ€™s sword against his fellow, and against all the host; and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

Commentary

Judges 7:22 vividly describes the pivotal moment in Gideon's miraculous victory over the Midianite army. Following Gideon's strategic deployment of his 300 men, this verse highlights the immediate, supernatural effect of their actions, showcasing God's direct intervention in battle.

Context

This verse is the climax of Gideon's campaign against the massive Midianite, Amalekite, and "children of the east" confederacy, as detailed in the book of Judges. God had purposefully reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to a mere 300 men, ensuring that the victory would be attributed solely to Him and not to human strength or numbers (Judges 7:2-7). Gideon's unconventional strategy involved his men surrounding the enemy camp at night, each carrying a trumpet, a pitcher, and a lamp inside the pitcher. At Gideon's signal, they simultaneously blew the trumpets, broke the pitchers to reveal the lamps, and shouted, "The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon!" (Judges 7:20).

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Sovereignty: The core message is that the victory was not won by Gideon's 300 men, but by the LORD Himself. The phrase "the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow" clearly attributes the confusion and self-destruction within the Midianite camp to God's direct hand. This demonstrates God's absolute control over outcomes.
  • God Uses the Weak and Few: This event powerfully illustrates how God chooses to work through seemingly inadequate means to display His immense power. The 300 men were merely instruments; God was the true warrior. This echoes themes found elsewhere, such as God choosing the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
  • Chaos and Confusion Among the Enemy: The Midianite host, overwhelmed by the sudden noise, light, and shouting in the darkness, became disoriented. God supernaturally caused them to turn their weapons on one another, leading to their rout and flight. This divine confusion is a recurring motif in biblical warfare, where God fights for His people by sowing discord among their adversaries (as seen in King Jehoshaphat's victory).
  • Obedience Leads to Victory: Gideon's obedience to God's unusual instructions, even when they seemed illogical, was crucial. The simple act of blowing trumpets and breaking pitchers, coupled with faith, unleashed God's power.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow" (Hebrew: ื•ึทื™ึผึธืฉื‚ึถื ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืึถืช ื—ึถืจึถื‘ ืึดื™ืฉื ื‘ึผึฐืจึตืขึตื”ื•ึผ) emphasizes a divinely orchestrated internal conflict. Itโ€™s not just a general panic, but a specific turning of their own weapons against each other, highlighting the devastating precision of God's intervention. The term "host" (Hebrew: ืžึทื—ึฒื ึถื”, machaneh) refers to a large military encampment or army, underscoring the vast numbers of the Midianite forces compared to Gideon's small band.

Practical Application

Judges 7:22 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us that our greatest battles are often won not by our own strength, resources, or cleverness, but by God's power working through our obedience and faith. When facing overwhelming odds or daunting challenges, this verse encourages us to trust in God's ability to intervene in miraculous ways, even turning our adversaries against themselves. It's a call to rely on divine strategy rather than human might, knowing that with God, victory is assured, regardless of the numbers or circumstances. We are to be faithful in the small, seemingly insignificant acts of obedience, and God will bring about the mighty results.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 4:12 (6 votes)

    Baana the son of Ahilud; [to him pertained] Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which [is] by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, [even] unto [the place that is] beyond Jokneam:

  • 2 Chronicles 20:23 (4 votes)

    For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them]: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

  • 1 Kings 19:16 (4 votes)

    And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint [to be] king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint [to be] prophet in thy room.

  • Joshua 6:20 (4 votes)

    So the people shouted when [the priests] blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

  • Psalms 83:9 (3 votes)

    ยถ Do unto them as [unto] the Midianites; as [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

  • Joshua 6:4 (3 votes)

    And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

  • Isaiah 19:2 (3 votes)

    And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.