Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
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Judges 7:2-3 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
Parallel Translations
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Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
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And 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.
Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
Show all 3 translations
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And the LORD said unto Gideon: 'The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying: mine own hand hath saved me.
Now therefore make proclamation in the ears of the people, saying: Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.' And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
Cross-references (28)
- Deuteronomy 8:17 (v2) and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (v2) but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he…
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 (v2) But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
- Deuteronomy 20:8 (v3) The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and…
- Romans 11:18 (v2) don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
Show all 28 cross-references
- Zechariah 4:6 (v2) Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’…
- Zechariah 12:7 (v2) Yahweh also will save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of David’s house and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem not be…
- Deuteronomy 32:27 (v2) were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, lest their adversaries should judge wrongly, lest they should say, ‘Our hand is…
- 1 Samuel 14:6 (v2) Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will…
- Ezekiel 28:17 (v2) Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I have cast you to the ground.…
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (v2) My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith…
- 2 Chronicles 14:11 (v2) Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help…
- Isaiah 10:13 (v2) For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of…
- Jeremiah 9:23 (v2) Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his…
- Ezekiel 28:2 (v2) “Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the…
- Daniel 4:30 (v2) The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the…
- Habakkuk 1:16 (v2) Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
- Romans 3:27 (v2) Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
- Isaiah 2:17 (v2) The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the arrogance of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (v2) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations…
- Ephesians 2:9 (v2) not of works, that no one would boast.
- James 4:6 (v2) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Revelation 17:14 (v3) These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him…
- Isaiah 2:11 (v2) The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the arrogance of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
- Matthew 20:16 (v3) So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Revelation 21:8 (v3) But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in…
- Matthew 13:21 (v3) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
- Luke 14:25-33 (v3) Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother,…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v2 God will not that any creature deprive him of…
God will not that any creature deprive him of his glory.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Jdg 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The…
Jdg 7:2 And 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.
Ver. 2. Are too many.] They thought themselves too few, and therefore feared. God’s thoughts are not as man’s thoughts: he never complaineth of too few: but saith, as that general did to his fearful soldiers, How many reckon you me for? I alone am a whole army of men. {Isa 52:12}
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Lest Israel vaunt themselves.] Which yet they had small reason to do, everything considered. But God knoweth the vanity of men’s minds, and "needeth not that any should testify of man, for he knoweth what is in man." {Joh 2:24-25} So bladder-like is the soul, that filled with the wind of vain glory, it grows great and swells in pride: but if pricked with the least pin of grief or fear, it shrivelleth to nothing.
Mine own hand hath saved me.] Memet meis viribus servavi. Man is a self-ascribing creature. Ajax acknowledged no god but his sword. Sejanus sacrificed to himself. Polyphemus setteth up himself for the sole doer. {a} The Caldeans sacrifice to their own net. {Hab 1:16}
{a} Dio. Euripides.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Too many for me, i.e. for my purpose; which…
Too many for me, i.e. for my purpose; which is, so to deliver Israel, that it may appear to be my own miraculous act, that so I may have all the glory of it, and they may be more strongly obliged to love and serve me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–3 And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that…
And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that are with thee are too many,.... It appears, by what follows, that there were 32,000 of them, which was but a small army to engage with one of 100,000 more than they; for such was the army of the Midianites and their associates, see Jdg 8:10 but the people were too many, says the Lord:
for me to give the Midianites into their hands; who would be apt to ascribe the victory to themselves, and not to the Lord; to their number, strength, and valour, and not to the hand of the Lord:
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lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, mine own hand hath saved me; or glory over me, take the glory from me, and ascribe it to themselves, boasting that by their power and prowess they had obtained the victory.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Too many - For my purpose; which is, so…
Too many - For my purpose; which is, so to deliver Israel, that it may appear to be my own act, that so I may have all the glory, and they may be the more strongly obliged to serve me. This may help us to understand those providences, which sometimes seem to weaken the church of Christ. Its friends are too many, too mighty, too wise, for God to work deliverance by. God is taking a course to lessen them, that he may be exalted in his own strength.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Verse 2. The people that are with thee are…
Verse 2. The people that are with thee are too many] Had he led up a numerous host against his enemies, the excellence of the power by which they were discomfited might have appeared to be of man and not of God. By the manner in which this whole transaction was conducted, both the Israelites and Midianites must see that the thing was of God. This would inspire the Israelites with confidence, and the Midianites with fear.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Jdg 7:2. The people that are with thee are…
Jdg 7:2. The people that are with thee are too many — The army consisted of thirty-two thousand men, a small army in comparison of what Israel might have raised on so great an occasion, and a very small one in comparison with that which the Midianites had now brought into the field. Gideon, doubtless, was ready to think they were too few; but God comes to him and tells him they were too many. It is indeed the same thing with God to save by many or by few; but man being prone to attribute every thing to natural causes rather than to God, it is one great design of God in all his dispensations, both of providence and grace, to counteract this evil disposition in our nature which robs God of his glory, and to cause us to consider him, and see his hand more in all things.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v3 The proclamation was in accordance with the Law (see…
The proclamation was in accordance with the Law (see the marginal reference). No mountain of the name of Gilead is known in this locality, and it has been conjectured that the right reading is Gilboa. Others think that this may be a form of proclamation customary in Manasseh.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Lest Israel, &c. by this we see that God…
Lest Israel, &c. by this we see that God will not choose for his instruments in great achievements, which depend purely on his grace, such as, through pride and self-conceit, will take the glory to themselves. (Challoner) --- Yet Gedeon had only 32,000 to encounter 135,000 fighting men; so that if all had remained with him, they would each had to engage above four men, ver. 3., and chap. viii. 10. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2–3 the Lord said unto Gideon, The people . .…
the Lord said unto Gideon, The people . . . are too many--Although the Israelitish army mustered only thirty-two thousand (or one-sixth of the Midianitish host), the number was too great, for it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv2–3 2. Lest Israel vaunt themselves — As human nature…
2. Lest Israel vaunt themselves — As human nature is ever prone to do. Compare marginal reference.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–3 2. The people that are with thee] Whatever is…
2. The people that are with thee] Whatever is to be understood by these words in Jdg_7:1, here they must refer to the host mentioned in Jdg_6:35.
lest Israel vaunt themselves against me] For the thought cf. Deu_8:11-17; Deu_9:4 f.; the same word vaunt occurs in Isa_10:15. The army is to be reduced in order that Jehovah’s intervention on behalf of Israel may be the more striking and all the glory His; cf. 1Sa_14:6, Psa_44:3, 1Co_1:25-27.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–3 (2) The people that are with thee are too…
(2) The people that are with thee are too many for me.—This must have put the faith of Gideon to a severe trial, since the Midianites were 135,000 in number (Jdg_8:10), and Gideon’s forces only 32,000 (Jdg_7:4).
Lest Israel vaunt themselves.—See Deu_8:17.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–3 And the Lord said, etc. It must be remembered…
And the Lord said, etc. It must be remembered that this whole movement was essentially a religious one. It began with prayer, (Jud_1:6:6, 7) it was followed up by repentance, (Jud_1:6:27, 28) and the great purpose of it was to turn the hearts of the nation back to the God of their fathers. The Lord himself, therefore, graciously forwarded this end by making it plain that the deliverance from their oppression was his work, and his only. For the general sentiment compare Deu_8:10-18 Psa_44:3-8 Zec_3:6, etc.
"Mine own hand hath saved me.
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Nothing more impressive than the secrecy observed by God in bringing on his kingdom. He is not lavish of signs and wonders. Sufficient for the occasion, and no more. Not always asserting himself. So unobtrusive, that vain and empty minds are ready to conclude him non-existent or inoperative. "Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour." The place of God at the beginnings of things the springs and roots; and the spiritual nature of God accounts for much of this He loves to work by despised instruments and obscure agencies. "Thy gentleness hath made me great.
I HOW PRONE THE NATURAL MIND IS TO THIS IMPRESSION. Israel, as here stated, was constantly imagining it. The moral systems, ancient and modern, social and political nostrums and panaceas, of men show this. The glorification of courage, intellectual gifts, material resources.
II ITS MISCHIEVOUS EFFECTS. Egotism; materialism; intellectual and moral pride. "For they being ignorant of God"s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God". (Rom_10:3) "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life". (Joh_5:40)
III PROOFS THAT MAN CANNOT BE HIS OWN SAVIOUR.
1. The miraculous deliverances of Israel. The weakness of luxurious andmaterially enriched times. The providences of life. The soul"s inner experiences.
2. The true conception of salvation. A spiritual more than a material fact. Our relation to the law of God. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done," etc. (Tit_3:5) "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness," etc. (Php_3:9) Inward witness the grace of God I am what I am". M. (1Co_15:10)
HOMILIES BY W.F. ADENEY Ver. 2. Success not dependent on numbers.
One of the first objects of a general"s anxiety is to see that he has a sufficient number of men under his command. But Gideon is made to understand that he has too many, and must reduce his hosts before going to battle with the sanction and assistance of God. In Christian work the tendency is to rely on external appearances of strength manifested by a great array of workers rather than on the inconspicuous spiritual sources of real power. While remembering the need of more labourers of the right kind for God"s field, (Mat_9:37, Mat_9:38) we must also understand that the work may be suffering through excess in numbers of those labourers, whose character and method of work are not of the highest order.
I THE POWER OF GOD IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY HUMAN AGENCY. In all Divine work the real energy is centred in God. We are but the instruments in his hands. The temptation is to forget that the true power and blessing come wholly from him, (Deu_8:17) and to think so much of our labour in planting and watering as to ignore the one most important thing, God giving the increase. (1Co_3:7) A gardener can only minister to the spontaneous life of nature; and if he becomes so infatuated with his skill as to attempt to manufacture a plant, his total reliance on his own resources will, of course, only reveal folly. So anything which leads us to magnify human agencies at the expense of Divine power will as surely produce failure.
1. The imposing appearance of too great numbers may lead us to neglect the aid of God. When we are few we feel our helplessness, and so learn to turn to God for strength; when we are many we imagine ourselves strong, and thus while we are (apparently) strong in ourselves we are really most weak. Presumption takes the place of faith, and human agency is relied on instead of Divine energy. The numbers of the Church, the elaborate organisation of her societies, the gifts and genius of individual men are all snares if they tempt us to neglect the one supreme source of success. The danger of the Church in the present day is to rely too much on the machinery of her institutions, instead of seeking the vital power which can alone inspire the energy of spiritual work.
2. The character of too great numbers may be such as to hinder the bestowal of the help of God. God cannot bestow his spiritual gifts on a people who are not spiritually-minded. If we gain numbers at the expense of spirituality, we do this also at the expense of Divine aid. Better be few, and constituting such a worthy temple that the Holy Ghost can dwell and work in us, than numerous, but possessed by a worldly spirit which degrades the temple into a house of merchandise.
II THE QUALITY OF ANY HUMAN AGENCY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SIZE OF IT. It has been well said that it would be better for the cause of Christianity in the world "if there were fewer Christians and better ones." Xerxes found the vast numbers of his Asiatic hordes a hindrance to effective warfare with the disciplined Greeks. The great want of the Church is not more labourers, but better ones better ministers, missionaries, teachers; not more sermons, but more able preaching; not a more ponderous library of Christian literature to meet the attacks of unbelief, but a few more powerful works (one book, "Butler"s Analogy was probably more effective in counteracting the influence of Deism than all the rest of the voluminous apologetic writing of the eighteenth century). It would be well if Church discipline were a reality, and Christian workers selected with conscientious care. The workers should be sifted by tests applied to their character and abilities.
1. Tests of courage and zeal are useful; so Gideon dismissed the timid, and only willing men were retained. The only valuable soldiers in Christ"s army are the volunteers who delight in his service.
2. Slight incidents will often reveal character, and serve as tests of the quality of God"s servants (ver. 7). A.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v2 for me to give you victory over the Midianites
for me to give you victory over the Midianites
The word "victory" is an abstract noun that can be translated as a verb or an adjective. AT: "for me to allow you to defeat the Midianites" or "for me to cause you to be victorious over the Midianites" (See: Abstract Nouns)
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Our own power has saved us
Here "power" represents the people themselves. AT: "We have saved ourselves without God's help" (See: Metonymy)
Now
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
proclaim in the ears of the people
Here "the ears" refers to the whole person. AT: "proclaim to the people" (See: Synecdoche)
Whoever is afraid, whoever trembles
Both of these phrases have the same meaning. (See: Parallelism)
trembles
This word describes fear that causes a person to uncontrollably shake. AT: "shakes with fear"
let him return
You can make explicit where he will go. AT: "let him return to his home" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Mount Gilead
This is the name of a mountain in the region of Gilead. (See: How to Translate Names)
twenty-two thousand
"22,000" (See: Numbers)
ten thousand remained
The word "people" or "men" is understood. AT: "10,000 people remained" or "10,000 men remained" (See: Ellipsis)
ten thousand
"10,000" (See: Numbers)
translationWords
Yahweh
Gideon
Midian
Israel
boast
power
save
preach
Gilead
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.