13. And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, 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.
14. And his fellow answered and said, 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.
15. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
21. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
22. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host; and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.
23. And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
Golden Text: “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” Ps. 27:3.
NOTE.—The present lesson is located 200 years after the death of Joshua. During this time there had been three great relapses into idolatry, followed by oppression by their enemies, aggregating fifty-three years in all. When these bitter experiences led the people to repentance, judges were raised up who delivered them. To the time of Gideon, the judges were Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Barak, with his associate, Deborah. At this time the Midianites oppressed the people seven years. These marauders, the traveling merchants of the deserts, took possession of the choicest portions of Canaan, and at this time were gathered a host of 135,000 strong, in the plain of Jezreel, or Es-dra-e'lon, northeast of Mt. Carmel. A prophet is sent to Israel, who tells them the reason of these afflictions, and an angel appears to Gideon, commanding him to deliver Israel. Evidence is given him (chapter 6) that the Lord is indeed leading, and he proceeds against the invaders with men from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, besides his own men. On the night of attack, the Lord tells him to descend to the enemy's camp, with his servant (chapter 7, verses 9–12), where he would hear something that would encourage him. Here the lesson text begins. The portion of Scripture included in the account is chapters 6–8.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What did one Midianite relate to his fellow? Verse 13. (2) How was this interpreted? Verse 14. Note . (3) What effect did this conversation have upon Gideon? Verse 15, first part. (4) How did he make use of the assurance he received? Same verse. (5) What move was made as a preparation for the attack? Verse 16. Note . (6) What disposition was made of the small force for the attack? (7) What was then to be done? Verses 17, 18. (8) How was this plan carried out? Verses 19, 20. Note . (9) How did this affect the Midianites? Verse 21. Note . (10) How was the victory gained? Verse 22. (11) Who then assisted in the pursuit? Verse 23.
