Judges 7:13

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.

And when Gideon {H1439} was come {H935}, behold, there was a man {H376} that told {H5608} a dream {H2472} unto his fellow {H7453}, and said {H559}, Behold, I dreamed {H2492} a dream {H2472}, and, lo, a cake {H6742}{H6742} of barley {H8184} bread {H3899} tumbled {H2015} into the host {H4264} of Midian {H4080}, and came {H935} unto a tent {H168}, and smote {H5221} it that it fell {H5307}, and overturned {H2015}{H4605} it, that the tent {H168} lay along {H5307}.

Gid'on got there just as a man was telling a comrade about a dream he had had: "I just now dreamt that a loaf of barley bread fell into the camp of Midyan, came to the tent and struck it so hard that it overturned the tent and knocked it flat."

And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man telling a dream unto his fellow; and he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream; and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent, and smote it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.

Commentary

Context

Judges 7:13 is a pivotal moment in the story of Gideon, who was called by God to deliver Israel from the oppressive Midianites. Leading up to this verse, God had dramatically reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to a mere 300 men, ensuring that the victory would clearly be attributed to divine power, not human strength. God had encouraged Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp to overhear what they were saying as a sign of assurance. This verse captures Gideon's dramatic encounter with the Midianite army while on this scouting mission, where he overhears a crucial conversation between two enemy soldiers.

Key Themes

  • Divine Assurance and Encouragement: God orchestrates this moment for Gideon, providing a direct, unsolicited sign that bolsters his faith and removes any lingering fear. The dream, though told by an enemy, serves as a powerful message from God Himself.
  • God's Sovereignty in Unexpected Ways: The Lord uses a seemingly random conversation among the enemy to convey His plan and assure His servant. This demonstrates God's complete control over circumstances, even within the enemy's camp.
  • The Humility of God's Chosen Instrument: The "cake of barley bread" is a humble, common food, often associated with the poor. Its role in the dream symbolically represents Gideon and his small, seemingly insignificant army, yet it powerfully overturns the mighty tent of Midian, emphasizing that God uses the weak to confound the strong.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cake of barley bread" (Hebrew: צְלִיל לֶחֶם שְׂעֹרִים, tzelil lechem se'orim) is significant. Barley was a staple food, often eaten by the common people or the poor. This contrasts sharply with the vast, imposing "host of Midian," who represented overwhelming military might. The dream vividly portrays the humble barley cake causing utter destruction to a tent, which likely symbolizes the entire Midianite encampment or perhaps even their leadership. The verbs "smote," "fell," and "overturned" emphasize the complete and decisive nature of the coming defeat, foreshadowing the victory God would grant through Gideon's small force.

Related Scriptures

  • This moment directly precedes and sets up the interpretation of this dream in Judges 7:14, where the Midianite soldier correctly identifies the barley cake as Gideon's sword.
  • Gideon's initial call and God's dramatic reduction of his army are detailed earlier in Judges 7:2-7, highlighting God's intent to display His power.
  • The theme of God using the humble and weak to accomplish His purposes resonates throughout scripture, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27, where Paul speaks of God choosing the "foolish things of the world to confound the wise."

Practical Application

Judges 7:13 offers profound encouragement for believers today. When facing overwhelming odds or daunting challenges, this verse reminds us that God is sovereign and can use the most unassuming means to achieve His mighty purposes. It encourages us to:

  • Trust God's unconventional methods: Sometimes, God's plan doesn't align with human logic or strength. We are called to obey even when the odds seem stacked against us.
  • Overcome fear through divine assurance: Like Gideon, we may experience fear, but God provides specific, timely assurances to strengthen our faith. Look for God's subtle confirmations in your own life.
  • Recognize God's power in humility: Our weaknesses or perceived insignificance are not barriers to God's work. Instead, they can become vessels through which His power is most clearly displayed, ensuring that He alone receives the glory for any victory.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27 (2 votes)

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  • Judges 4:9 (2 votes)

    And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

  • Judges 3:15 (2 votes)

    But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

  • Judges 6:15 (2 votes)

    And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family [is] poor in Manasseh, and I [am] the least in my father's house.

  • Judges 3:31 (2 votes)

    ¶ And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

  • Judges 4:21 (2 votes)

    Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

  • Isaiah 41:14 (2 votes)

    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.