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Then from chapter 6: 34 to the end of chapter 7: we read of Gideon's army and
conquest of the enemy. He gathered to himself a company of twelve thousand and
twenty (possibly, even of thirty-two thousand). But this force was too large, and perhaps
too strong, to be used of God. He was instructed to reduce the numbers with him, and
after an appeal for those whose hearts were not in the fight and who were afraid, to leave,
no less than "twenty and two thousand" went home. But still the number was too large.
After the test at the water (7: 5, 6) only three hundred were left. The fearful (possibly
the faithless?), and the incautious, or possibly idolaters departed.
It is interesting to note the title given to the three hundred who remained. In verse 8
they are spoken of as `the people': an inference that in this small band Gideon had the
`faithful remnant' of his day.
Then comes the well known story of the defeat of Midian. By the most ridiculous
means the enemy army was reduced to chaos and confusion. After the breaking of the
pitchers, and the sudden appearance of the light of the torches, and the equally sudden
shout of "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon", "all the host ran, and cried, and fled".
"And the three hundred blew the trumpet, and the Lord set every man's sword against
his fellow, even throughout all the host" (7: 22).
Thus it appears that the defeat of Midian was accomplished without the three hundred
using their swords. Only when the Midianites had fled, did Gideon call together the men
of Israel to pursue, and to consolidate the victory. It was an excellent example of:
"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 that are mighty; and base
things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things
which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His
presence" (I Cor. 1: 27-29).
Indeed, this was very much what Jehovah said to Gideon concerning the numbers with
which he set out:
"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" (Judges 7: 2).
But, alas, Gideon, like so many men God calls, was not without his faults. He resisted
the suggestion that he should be king (Judges 8: 22, 23), but he made an ephod of the
spoils of battle that came to him.
"And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all
Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his
house" (8: 27).
It may have been that Gideon did this with the best of intentions, seeking to
re-establish the worship of the true God, but it led the whole nation astray, and became
`a snare' to Gideon and his family. Nevertheless his commission: