494
Patriarchs and Prophets
The Israelites were stationed on the brow of a hill overlooking
the valley where the hosts of the invaders lay encamped. “And the
Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay
along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were
without number, as the sand which is upon the seashore for multitude.”
Judges 7:12
, R.V. Gideon trembled as he thought of the conflict of
the morrow. But the Lord spoke to him in the night season and bade
him, with Phurah his attendant, go down to the camp of the Midianites,
intimating that he would there hear something for his encouragement.
He went, and, waiting in the darkness and silence, he heard a soldier
relating a dream to his companion: “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.” The other answered in words
that stirred the heart of that unseen listener, “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.” Gideon recognized
the voice of God speaking to him through those Midianitish strangers.
Returning to the few men under his command, he said, “Arise; for the
Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.”
By divine direction a plan of attack was suggested to him, which he
immediately set out to execute. The three hundred men were divided
into three companies. To every man were given a trumpet, and a torch
concealed in an earthen pitcher. The men were stationed in such a
manner as to approach the Midianite camp from different directions.
In the dead of night, at a signal from Gideon’s war horn, the three
companies sounded their trumpets; then, breaking their pitchers and
displaying the blazing torches, they rushed upon the enemy with the
terrible war cry, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!”
The sleeping army was suddenly aroused. Upon every side was
seen the light of the flaming torches. In every direction was heard the
sound of trumpets, with the cry of the assailants. Believing themselves
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at the mercy of an overwhelming force, the Midianites were panic-
stricken. With wild cries of alarm they fled for life, and, mistaking
their own companions for enemies, they slew one another. As news
of the victory spread, thousands of the men of Israel who had been
dismissed to their homes returned and joined in pursuit of their fleeing
enemies. The Midianites were making their way toward the Jordan,
hoping to reach their own territory, beyond the river. Gideon sent