Judges 7:6-10

Judges 7:6

And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

 

So the Lord made a great culling that day for Gideon.  There 9,700 men had gone upon their knees to drink the water and because they did this they became disqualified and went home.  Gideon was now left with 300 men.  The reason for this test was simple.  Those who got on their knees to drink would only be able to see the water and nothing else around them.  Those who lapped the water by bringing it up to their mouths were qualified to be in the army.  Those who brought the water up to their mouth were able to drink and simultaneously watch for the enemy because their faces were not staring at the ground but were in a position to scan.

 

Judges 7:7

And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

 

The Lord now had the exact number that He wanted.  There was now no way that Israel could boast that it was by their might and acumen that they defeated the Midianites.  So the three hundred that God chose would now go on to the battle and the other 9,700 would be sent home.  The 300 who lapped must have had some type of prior military training or understanding knowing how to drink water and at the same time keep a lookout.

 

Judges 7:8

So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

 

So now the three hundred and Gideon were now ready to meet the Midianites head on as they took food for the battle and their trumpets while the other 9,700 had headed for home.  The trumpets were the shofar horns.  It seems that once Gideon had brought the men down to the water, they ascended back up the hill, Mt. Gilboa where they were situated before and the Midianites were now in the valley of Jezreel where Gideon’s band of brothers could look down upon them and see the immensity of the confederacy of the three warring allies.

 

Judges 7:9

And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

 

God now comes to Gideon to tell him to go on a reconnaissance mission to gather information from the camp of the Midianites.  He took his servant Phurah with him to gather information by getting close to the Midianite camp and ascertain some information from them as to strength or strategy of their defense or offense.  God once again assures Gideon that He has already delivered the Midianites into his hands.

 

Judges 7:10

But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

 

The name “Phurah” means “that bears fruit.”  It seems Gideon had another panic attack because it seems he still had some fear in him.  So the Lord tells Gideon if you are afraid to go by yourself, then go with Phurah your servant.  It is important for us to know an important principle in this verse.  Even though God has given the victory to Gideon and his small army, He still wants Gideon involved and not just sitting around waiting for the victory.  It is like Christianity, we know the outcome and that we are on the winning team because of what Christ did on Calvary, yet God wants us involved all of our lives even though the Lord is the one who saves and wins all the victories until the last day.

Back