Judges 7:16-20

Judges 7:16

And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

Now Gideon is showing some military skill in the art of deception.  He goes about and divides his small army up into three companies, possibly 100 each to show strength to the enemy that they might be attacked by many.  He then places a trumpet in every man’s hand.  What he would do with these was at the right time he would have all the men blow their trumpet which would make a formidable sound as if thousands were ready to attack.  The sound of the trumpets would be amplified especially if they were echoed off the mountain.  He then gave them empty pitchers and they were to place lamps in those pitchers, that is, torches which would light immediately and give off a good light.  Combining all of them together would make a great light and at night would have a doubling effect especially since the enemy would see three companies of these lights but would be unable to calculate how many troops there were.  It would cause a blinding effect.

Judges 7:17

And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

Gideon now takes the lead and tells his men that they must observe him and at the right time they are to do likewise.  He will tell them what to do when he reaches the edge of the camp where the guards were that had the prophetic dream.  When he gets to the edge, then he will show the men what to do next but were not to do anything until Gideon was in position.  This way it would be a total surprise and would not give the enemy a chance to prepare or respond.

Judges 7:18

When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

Gideon was probably positioned in the middle company so it would look like the other two companies were big enough and were going to flank the Midianites.  They were waiting for the command from Gideon to blow the trumpet and begin the assault.  Along with their trumpets, they had the battle cry which they were to say, probably they said it very loud so the enemy would hear them plainly.  Their battle cry was “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”  They wanted the enemy to know that the Lord was the one who empowered Gideon and his band.

Judges 7:19

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

Gideon knew that he was to make the attack in the darkest part of the night which would have been the middle watch.  That watch went from 10 PM to 2 AM.  Later on the night would be divided into four watches but at this time in history there were three.  Gideon knew the best time to strike was when they were changing the guard.  At that time there would be more confusion among the enemy because they would be the most vulnerable.  When the Midianites had set the new watch, Gideon had begun to blow the trumpet and along with the trumpet the pitchers were broken.  The broken pitchers would add to the noise and create more confusion.  It would be like if you were asleep or in a quiet area and then you heard glass being broken in a rapid manner.  Your first instinct would be to hide from possible danger.

Judges 7:20

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.