Judges 7:22

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

And when the three hundred rams’ 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.

American Standard Version

And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Jehovah set every man’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

### SUMMARY
Judges 7:22 vividly portrays the climactic moment of Gideon's miraculous victory over the vast Midianite forces, unequivocally demonstrating the profound and direct supernatural intervention of God. As Gideon's small contingent of three hundred men executed their unconventional strategy by blowing trumpets and shattering pitchers, the Lord Himself supernaturally orchestrated chaos within the enemy ranks, causing every Midianite soldier to turn his sword against his fellow. This divinely induced fratricide led to a swift and disorganized rout, scattering the enemy host across the Jordan Valley. The verse powerfully underscores the principle of divine sovereignty in warfare, affirming that ultimate victory belongs solely to the Lord, not to human strength, strategic brilliance, or numerical superiority.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 7:22 serves as the dramatic and divinely orchestrated climax of Gideon's campaign against the Midianites, building directly on the preceding narrative. The overarching context of the book of Judges is Israel's cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression, and subsequent divine deliverance. In this particular cycle, Israel has been severely oppressed by the Midianites for seven years, leading to their desperate cry for salvation in [Judges 6](/judges/6 "Judges 6 - Midianite Oppression and Gideon's Call"). God's call to Gideon, initially marked by hesitation and a demand for confirming signs, culminates in a crucial divine command: God deliberately reduces Gideon's massive initial army of 32,000 men to a mere 300. This drastic reduction, explicitly stated by God in [Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "Judges 7:2 - God Reduces Gideon's Army"), was to prevent Israel from boasting that "Mine own hand hath saved me." This theological imperative sets the stage for a victory that could only be attributed to supernatural power. Gideon's unconventional strategy, detailed in [Judges 7:16-21](/judges/7-16-21 "Judges 7:16-21 - Gideon's Strategy and Battle Cry"), involved his small band surrounding the Midianite camp at night, each man equipped with a trumpet, a pitcher concealing a lamp, and the battle cry, "The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon!" ([Judges 7:20](/judges/7-20 "Judges 7:20 - Gideon's Battle Cry")). Judges 7:22, therefore, is the immediate and direct consequence of this obedient, faith-filled action, showcasing God's instantaneous and overwhelming response.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (approximately 12th-11th centuries BC) was characterized by a decentralized Israelite society, frequent spiritual backsliding, and intermittent subjugation by surrounding peoples. The Midianites, a formidable nomadic people originating from the Arabian desert, had become a severe scourge upon Israel, systematically devastating their crops and livestock for seven years, forcing the Israelites to abandon their fertile lands and seek refuge in mountainous strongholds and caves. This context highlights Israel's dire military weakness, economic ruin, and general state of despair, making any human-led victory against such a numerous, well-equipped, and mobile foe seem utterly impossible. While ancient warfare often employed psychological tactics such as surprise attacks, noise, and light to induce panic, the scale and immediate internal turning of swords described in Judges 7:22 transcend typical human stratagem, pointing definitively to a direct, supernatural act of God. The mention of specific geographical locations—Bethshittah, Zererath, Abelmeholah, and Tabbath—grounds the narrative in historical reality, tracing the path of the Midianite rout through the strategic Jordan Valley, confirming the thoroughness and historical veracity of the event.

* **Key Themes:** Judges 7:22 powerfully encapsulates several core theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, where God actively and directly intervenes in human affairs, particularly in warfare, to achieve His redemptive purposes. The explicit statement that "the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow" leaves no ambiguity; this was a divinely orchestrated event, not a mere stroke of luck or human ingenuity. This highlights God's absolute control over outcomes and His unique ability to turn the enemy's strength against itself. Secondly, the passage emphasizes **God's Use of the Weak and Few**, demonstrating His consistent preference for working through seemingly inadequate means to magnify His power and ensure that all glory is ascribed to Him alone. Gideon's 300 men were merely obedient instruments; God was the true warrior, a theme powerfully echoed in the New Testament where God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise" ([1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak and Foolish")). Finally, the verse brilliantly illustrates the theme of **Divine Chaos and Confusion Among the Enemy**, a recurring motif in biblical warfare where God fights for His people by sowing discord, terror, and self-destruction among their adversaries, as seen in the account of Jehoshaphat's victory where the Ammonites and Moabites turned on each other ([2 Chronicles 20:23](/2_chronicles/20-23 "2 Chronicles 20:23 - Jehoshaphat's Victory")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Set (Hebrew, _sûwm'_):** The Hebrew verb וַיָּשֶׂם (_vayyāśem_), derived from the root שׂוּם (_sûwm_), carries the meaning "to put, place, set, appoint, make." In this context, its usage is crucial, signifying a deliberate, active, and volitional placement or arrangement by the Lord. It is not a passive allowance or a mere coincidence, but a direct, intentional act of God that caused the Midianites to turn their weapons against each other. This verb unequivocally underscores divine agency and intentionality in the supernatural chaos that ensued, leaving no room for human explanation of the victory.
* **Sword (Hebrew, _chereb'_):** The Hebrew word חֶרֶב (_chereb_) refers specifically to a sword, the primary cutting weapon of ancient warfare. The phrase "every man's sword against his fellow" literally means that their own instruments of war, which were intended for the destruction of Israel, were supernaturally directed by God against their comrades. This highlights the profound irony and devastating precision of God's intervention, turning the enemy's means of offense into instruments of self-destruction. The sword, a symbol of human power and aggression, becomes a tool of divine judgment within the enemy's own ranks.
* **Host (Hebrew, _machăneh'_):** The Hebrew term מַחֲנֶה (_machăneh_) denotes an encampment, a military camp, or an army/host. Its use here emphasizes the vast numerical superiority of the Midianite forces, highlighting the overwhelming odds faced by Gideon's small band. The fact that the Lord caused internal strife "throughout all the host" signifies the widespread, comprehensive, and pervasive nature of the divine confusion, affecting the entire massive encampment, not just a localized skirmish. This indicates a total breakdown of order and cohesion across the entire enemy army.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the three hundred blew the trumpets":** This initial clause describes the immediate and obedient action of Gideon's small, seemingly inadequate force. Their compliance with God's unusual command, involving a loud, sudden sound in the dead of night, served as the human catalyst for the divine intervention. The trumpets were not conventional weapons but instruments of noise and signal, emphasizing the non-military nature of their "attack" and underscoring that the victory would not come through conventional human might.
* **"and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host":** This is the pivotal statement of the verse, directly attributing the miraculous outcome to God. The phrase "the LORD set" emphasizes divine agency and active involvement. Disoriented by the sudden noise, light, and shouting in the darkness, the Midianites were supernaturally confused by God, causing them to mistake their own allies for enemies. This resulted in widespread fratricide and panic within their vast camp, leading to their self-destruction and complete disarray.
* **"and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath":** This concluding part of the verse describes the immediate and chaotic consequence of the internal strife: the Midianite army's headlong, desperate flight. The mention of specific geographical locations details their escape route, indicating a disorganized and panicked retreat across the Jordan Valley. This geographical detail confirms the thoroughness of their defeat and grounds the miraculous event in historical reality, tracing the path of their utter collapse.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 7:22 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message and dramatic impact. **Divine Irony** is central to the narrative, as the very weapons intended for Israel's destruction—the swords of the Midianites—are turned by God against the Midianites themselves, leading to their self-inflicted defeat. The "sword of the LORD" (mentioned in Gideon's battle cry in [Judges 7:20](/judges/7-20 "Judges 7:20 - Gideon's Battle Cry")) is manifested not through Gideon's men wielding physical swords, but through God causing the enemy to wield their *own* swords against each other, demonstrating a higher, supernatural power at work that transcends human military logic. The description of the widespread chaos "throughout all the host" utilizes **Hyperbole** to emphasize the complete and overwhelming nature of the rout, though it also reflects the practical reality of a massive army in disarray and panic. The swift transition from the blowing of trumpets and shattering of pitchers to the enemy's flight highlights **Cause and Effect**, underscoring the direct and immediate link between Gideon's obedient action and God's miraculous, decisive intervention. The use of **Pathos** is evident in the description of the enemy's panicked flight through specific locations, evoking the desperation, terror, and complete demoralization of a defeated army.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 7:22 stands as a profound testament to God's absolute sovereignty and His unique methods of warfare, which often defy human logic and military conventions. It dismantles the human tendency to rely on strength in numbers, superior weaponry, or strategic genius, instead exalting divine power and intervention as the sole source of true victory. The triumph is not merely a strategic success but a theological declaration that "the battle is the LORD's" ([1 Samuel 17:47](/1_samuel/17-47 "1 Samuel 17:47 - The Battle is the Lord's")). This event serves as a powerful reminder that God often chooses to work through seemingly weak, few, or unconventional means to accomplish His mighty purposes, ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone. It teaches that obedience to God's commands, even when they appear illogical or counter-intuitive from a human perspective, unlocks supernatural power and ensures victory against overwhelming odds. The chaos sown among the Midianites is a recurring divine strategy throughout scripture, demonstrating God's ability to confound, dismantle, and turn the plans of His adversaries against themselves.

* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16-17 "Psalm 33:16-17 - No King is Saved by the Size of His Army")
* [2 Chronicles 20:23](/2_chronicles/20-23 "2 Chronicles 20:23 - Jehoshaphat's Victory")
* [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by Might Nor by Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 7:22 offers timeless and profound encouragement for believers facing seemingly insurmountable challenges in their lives. It serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest victories, whether in personal struggles, spiritual warfare against unseen forces, or daunting life circumstances, are ultimately won not by our own strength, abundant resources, or cleverness, but by God's omnipotent power working through our obedience and faith. When confronted with overwhelming odds, a "host" of problems, or a situation that feels impossible, this verse calls us to shift our focus from our limited capabilities to God's unlimited power and His unique methods. It encourages us to trust implicitly in His ability to intervene in miraculous ways, even turning our adversaries or the very circumstances against themselves for our deliverance and His glory. The lesson is clear: our role is to be faithful in the small, seemingly insignificant acts of obedience—like blowing a trumpet or breaking a pitcher—and God, in His sovereignty, will bring about the mighty, often unexpected, results. This passage fosters a deep reliance on divine strategy rather than human might, cultivating a faith that knows with God, victory is assured, regardless of the numbers or the apparent impossibility of the circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently facing "overwhelming odds" that seem impossible to overcome by your own strength or resources?**
* **How might God be calling you to an act of "foolish" or unconventional obedience that requires complete and radical trust in His intervention rather than your own logic?**
* **What "swords" (e.g., internal conflicts, external pressures, spiritual attacks, or even self-defeating habits) in your life might God be able to turn against themselves for your ultimate good and His glory?**

### FAQ

**How did the Midianites turn their swords on each other? Was it truly supernatural or a natural panic?**

Answer: While panic and confusion are indeed natural reactions in a surprise night attack, the biblical text explicitly states, "the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow." This phrasing strongly indicates a direct, supernatural intervention by God. It wasn't merely a general chaos that might arise from a surprise attack, but a divinely orchestrated disorientation that caused them to mistake their own allies for enemies in the darkness and confusion of the sudden noise and light. This divine act ensured that the victory was clearly attributed to God, not to Gideon's military genius or the strength of his small army. It is presented as a miracle, a direct act of God's power, rather than solely a psychological phenomenon.

**What is the significance of the trumpets, pitchers, and lamps in Gideon's strategy?**

Answer: The trumpets, pitchers, and lamps were not conventional weapons but served as instruments of psychological warfare and profound symbolic declarations. The trumpets created a deafening, sudden noise, mimicking a much larger attacking force and signaling a widespread assault. The simultaneous breaking of the pitchers, revealing the lamps, created a sudden burst of light in the darkness, adding to the disorientation, terror, and illusion of a vast attacking army. Symbolically, these actions represented the breaking of human strength and reliance (the pitchers) to reveal God's light and power (the lamps), with the trumpets proclaiming His victory. The fact that Gideon's men had no swords (apart from Gideon's own, implied by the battle cry in [Judges 7:20](/judges/7-20 "Judges 7:20 - Gideon's Battle Cry")) further emphasizes that the victory was God's alone, achieved through unconventional means.

**Does this story suggest that God always intervenes miraculously in battles or conflicts?**

Answer: While God certainly possesses the power to intervene miraculously in any conflict, Judges 7:22 highlights a specific instance where He chose to do so to teach a profound lesson about His sovereignty and Israel's absolute dependence on Him. It is not a blanket promise that every battle or conflict will end with divine fratricide among enemies. Instead, it underscores that God is ultimately in control of all outcomes, and He can deliver His people through means that defy human logic and military might. The primary lesson is about trusting God's power, obeying His commands regardless of the apparent odds, and recognizing that His ways are higher than ours, rather than expecting a specific type of miraculous intervention in every situation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 7:22, with its vivid depiction of divine intervention and victory achieved through apparent weakness, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Gideon's battle, where God turns the enemy's weapons against themselves, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate victory achieved by Jesus Christ, not through military might or conventional power, but through apparent weakness and self-sacrifice on the cross. Just as Gideon's 300 men, armed with trumpets and lamps, were obedient instruments for God's supernatural confusion and defeat of the Midianites, so Christ, through His crucifixion—a seeming defeat and scandal to human wisdom—disarmed and triumphed over the spiritual forces of darkness. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers") declares that Jesus "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." The "sword" of the enemy, which is death and sin, was turned against itself by Christ's resurrection, utterly destroying the very power of the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ Destroys the Power of Death")). Furthermore, the victory in Judges 7:22 was for Israel's temporal deliverance, pointing forward to Jesus as the true [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), securing eternal deliverance and salvation for all who believe. In Him, believers are empowered to be "more than conquerors" ([Romans 8:37](/romans/8-37 "Romans 8:37 - More Than Conquerors Through Christ")), not by their own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, wielding not physical weapons, but spiritual ones ([2 Corinthians 10:4](/2_corinthians/10-4 "2 Corinthians 10:4 - The Weapons of Our Warfare")) against spiritual foes ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Our Struggle Against Spiritual Forces")). Thus, Judges 7:22 stands as a powerful Old Testament echo of the New Testament truth that God's greatest victories are achieved through means that confound human wisdom, culminating in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 4:12

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

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

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

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

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

Joshua 6:4

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

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.