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.Judges 7:20 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: Gideon and his 300 men surprised the Midianite camp by blowing trumpets, smashing the jars that hid their lights, holding up their torches, and shouting that the victory belonged to the Lord and to Gideon. - Big idea: God often wins battles through surprising, humble means and by giving the credit to Himself rather than to human power. - Key points: - The tactics (trumpets, broken jars, hidden lights) were designed for surprise and psychological chaos, not brute force. - The cry “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon” claims God as the true warrior while recognizing Gideon as God’s instrument. - The scene emphasizes obedience, faith, and God’s power to deliver despite overwhelming odds. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: This verse is the climactic action in Gideon’s nighttime surprise attack against the Midianites (Judges 6–8). Chapter 7 recounts how God reduced Gideon’s army to 300 men so He alone would get the glory, then guided their unconventional victory. - Story timeline: Judges is set in Israel’s early settlement period, roughly the 12th–11th century BC. The immediate audience of the book is Israel (and later readers), with the narrator recording a cycle of sin, oppression, crying out, and deliverance led by judges like Gideon. - Surrounding passage: - Verses just before (7:16–19): Gideon divides his 300 men into three companies, gives them jars with torches inside and trumpets, and instructs them when to act. They position themselves around the Midianite camp at night. - Verses just after (7:21–22): After the cry and confusion, the Midianites turn on each other and flee; God causes panic and a rout. Israel pursues and captures Midianite leaders. ## Explanation - Quick take: Judges 7:20 describes the crucial moment when Gideon’s men execute a planned, symbolic, and terrifying surprise attack—blowing trumpets, breaking jars to show the lights, and shouting that the battle belongs to the Lord and to Gideon—leading to panic in the enemy camp and a miraculous victory. - In Depth: - The tactic: Each man carried a trumpet (to make noise) and a torch hidden inside a clay jar (to conceal the light until the right moment). At Gideon’s signal they blew the trumpets, smashed the jars to reveal the lights, and held the torches high. The sudden noise and scattered lights at night mimicked a much larger force and caused confusion. - Symbolism: The trumpet (shofar) is a biblical signal for battle and for calling people to attention. Breaking the jars transformed private, concealed light into a visible public signal—an act of exposure and revelation. The shout “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon” is both a battle cry and a theological statement: the weapon (victory) belongs to Yahweh; Gideon is His chosen leader. - Theology of means: God’s method here undercuts human pride—He uses a small, obedient force and a clever, nontraditional tactic to underscore that the victory is divine. The scene combines human courage and obedience with divine sovereignty: both matter, but God receives the ultimate credit. ## Key Words - Shofar (שׁוֹפָר) — trumpet or ram’s horn, used for battle signals and religious summons. - Kelayim / Keli (כְּלָיִם / כְּלִי) — “vessels” or jars/pitchers; here used to conceal the torches until the moment. - Me’orot / Menarot (מְאוֹרוֹת / מְנָרוֹת) — lights, lamps, or torches; the visible flames revealed when the jars were broken. - Cherev (חֶרֶב) — sword; “The sword of the Lord” indicates God as the source of martial power. ## Background - Ancient warfare: Night attacks, feints, and psychological tactics were common in ancient warfare. Trumpets or horns signaled movements, while light and noise could be used to exaggerate force. - Clay jars as covers: Using a clay jar to cover a torch would keep the light concealed until a particular moment—useful for surprise. The act of breaking the jar was dramatic and visible. - Ritual echoes: The trumpet-blast and shout also have ritual overtones in Israel’s tradition (see Jericho in Joshua 6), so the act is both military and communal/theological—a corporate claim of God’s victory. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - God’s victories often highlight His power through weak or unlikely means, so people know success is from Him, not human strength. - Worship and warfare overlap: praising God (through the shout and trumpet) is part of the battle; acknowledging God in conflict changes its meaning. - Leadership as instrument: Gideon acts as God’s agent—honored, yes, but the victory is “the Lord’s.” ## Application To Your Life - For workers: Small, well-timed actions and teamwork can have an outsized impact; don’t underestimate strategic humility or creative solutions. - For parents: Teach kids that courage doesn’t mean loud strength only—sometimes wisdom, obedience, and cooperation win the day. - For leaders: Give credit to the larger cause or team; when success comes, honor those beyond yourself and remember the role of providence and others. - For seekers: Even when you feel small or outnumbered, a faithful, daring step—taken with humility—can change things in surprising ways. - Reflection question(s): - Where in my life do I try to win by size or show rather than by faithful, humble obedience? - What small, strategic step might God be asking me to take that could have big results? - Short prayer: Lord, give me the courage to act faithfully and the humility to recognize You as the source of victory. Help me use what I have wisely for Your purposes. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: “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.” - NIV: “When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands and shouted, ‘A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!’” - ESV: “And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, and they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal, and they cried, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’” - NLT: “The three groups blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that covered their torches. Holding the torches in their left hands and blowing the trumpets in their right, they cried, ‘A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!’” - Why differences matter: Translators choose words like “jars” vs. “pitchers,” “lamps” vs. “torches,” or “trumpets” vs. “horns” to capture the scene. “Torches” and “jars” (NLT, NIV) make the practical detail clearer for modern readers—jars covering torches—while the KJV keeps a more literal, older phrasing (“lamps,” “pitchers”). The meaning (surprise attack using sound and light) remains consistent, but wording affects how vivid and immediate the picture is. ## FAQs - Q: Why did Gideon’s men smash the jars? A: The jars were hiding the lights (torches) so the Midianites would not see them coming. At Gideon’s signal they smashed the jars, instantly revealing many small scattered lights in the darkness. Combined with loud trumpet blasts and shouts, the sudden lights and noise created confusion and panic that made the enemy think a much larger force was attacking. Breaking the jars also had symbolic value: private light becomes public, secret preparation becomes visible, and the dramatic act signals a decisive moment—God’s intervention made manifest through obedient action. - Q: What does “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon” mean—did Gideon own a special sword? A: The phrase is a battle cry that attributes the victory primarily to the LORD while also naming Gideon as His chosen leader. It does not mean Gideon personally owned a magic sword. In ancient battle cries, declaring “the sword of the Lord” claims divine backing for the fight—God is the real warrior. Adding “and of Gideon” recognizes Gideon as God’s human instrument. The theological thrust is that God fights for His people through people He raises up, and victories point back to God’s power rather than merely human skill. ## Cross References - Judges 7:22 — “The LORD set every man’s sword against his companion” — confirms God caused confusion among the Midianites. - Joshua 6:20 — Trumpets and shout bring down a fortified city (Jericho); both scenes combine sound, shout, and God’s action. - 1 Samuel 14:6–14 — Jonathan’s surprise attack by faith; another example of small forces trusting God to rout enemies. - 2 Chronicles 20:22 — People praised and the Lord set ambushes against their enemies; praise and God’s deliverance linked. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Scholars emphasize that Judges 7 is both military narrative and theological demonstration. The reduction of Gideon’s army to 300 (vv. 2–8) and the unusual tactic (trumpets, jars, torches) underline God’s desire to be recognized as the source of victory. Some commentators see ritual elements—use of trumpets and shout as cultic actions—while others highlight psychological warfare. The event fits Judges’ pattern: God raises a judge, leads to deliverance, but Israel’s faith remains fragile. - Group study bullets: - Recreate the scene verbally: imagine the sounds and lights—what emotions arise? - Discuss humility vs. pride: why did God insist on a small force? - Explore the intersection of human planning and divine action—where did obedience matter most? - Apply the tactic to modern “spiritual battles”: what nontraditional, small acts could make big spiritual differences? ## Related verses (to compare and contrast) - Joshua 6:20 — Jericho fell after trumpet blasts and a shout; compare the public, ritualized victory at Jericho with Gideon’s surprise, tactical victory at night. - 1 Samuel 14:6–14 — Jonathan’s opportunistic night attack; compare faith-driven risk by small force and the theme of God fighting for Israel. - 2 Chronicles 20:21–24 — Jehoshaphat’s army praised God and the enemy destroyed themselves; compare worship/praise as part of the battle and God’s indirect means of victory. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to dig deeper and personalize this passage. Suggested prompts: - “Explain the symbolism and purpose of the jars and torches in Judges 7:20.” - “Compare Gideon’s tactics in Judges 7 with Jericho in Joshua 6—what’s similar and what’s different theologically?” - “How might the phrase ‘the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon’ shape how a leader gives and receives praise?”
