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. 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 and the hundred men with him came to the outside of the Midianite camp at the beginning of the middle watch just after the guards had been newly set, as part of God's raising up of Gideon to deliver Israel after seven years of Midianite oppression. The three hundred had been divided into three companies to surround the camp in the dead of night with a trumpet and a torch hidden in an earthen pitcher in each man's hand, and at Gideon's signal they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers to reveal the blazing lights while proclaiming the battle as the Lord's. Coming when the enemy suspected no danger, the glare of torches on every side and the blast of trumpets convinced the Midianites they were beset by an overwhelming force, so God sent supernatural terror upon them until they fled in panic, turned their swords against one another, and were routed with great slaughter without Israel striking a blow. The victory was won not by numbers but by living faith in following God's special directions through simple and unpromising means, showing that humble instruments sanctioned by God overthrow powerful enemies and that the glory belongs to the Lord and not to human strength, ingenuity, or wisdom. The breaking of the pitchers illustrates keeping the light concealed until the appointed time and then revealing it for decisive action, teaching that divinely appointed methods entered upon with humility, faith, and obedience succeed in the Christian's spiritual warfare just as they did for Gideon, while the most complete human plans apart from God's power will fail.
Historical Setting and Attack
Israel had fallen into backsliding and suffered seven years of Midianite ravaging until the people confessed their sins, and the deliverance that followed belongs to God's raising of Gideon to free them from Midianite oppression. That deliverance stands as an example of God raising up a faithful and valiant leader to rescue Israel within the recurring pattern of apostasy and rescue. Gideon and the hundred men with him came to the outside of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the watch had been newly set.
The three hundred were divided into three companies stationed to approach the Midianite camp from different directions in the dead of night, each man holding a trumpet in one hand and a torch concealed in an earthen pitcher in the other. At the signal of Gideon's war horn they blew their trumpets and broke the pitchers to uncover the blazing torches, then rushed upon the sleeping enemy with the war cry that the sword belonged to the Lord and to Gideon.
The onset came at the early watch when the enemy suspected no danger and was least secure. The glare of torches on every side with the sound of trumpets convinced the Midianites that they were at the mercy of an overwhelming force, so panic seized them and they fled for life. In that confusion they mistook and slew one another and were routed with great slaughter without a blow being struck by Israel, through supernatural terror sent by God.
The rout took place on the plain of Jezreel, where Gideon went into battle strong in faith in the God of Jacob, unlike Saul who later felt alone and defenseless because God had forsaken him. It manifested the same divine power that overthrew Pharaoh in the Red Sea and laid low the proud Assyrian and still puts to shame and scatters those who encamp against His people. Saul afterward used the same plan when he crossed the Jordan by night and fell upon the Ammonite camp before Jabesh.
Divine Power and Application
Gideon's army prevailed not because of numbers but because in living faith they followed God's special directions. The verse rebukes faithlessness and narrowness of view. Making narrow plans brings little accomplishment.
The small band used only the simple means God had appointed, sounding the trumpets against Midian, and their action succeeded through God's power. Humble means and instruments that God sanctions can overthrow powerful enemies. Victory depends on God rather than human strength, ingenuity, or wisdom. The deliverance was wrought in a way that kept people from claiming the glory, so it could not be credited to human wisdom or strength. The glory belongs to the Lord and not to the human worker.
The victory over Midian was won by simple and unpromising means rather than by the military methods of the nations. The blowing of trumpets by the little band around the hosts of Midian was made effectual through the power of God to overthrow the might of His enemies. Success came from God working with human effort, and the honor belonged to God alone. Divinely appointed methods succeed when entered upon with humility and faith, while the most complete human systems apart from God's power and wisdom will fail. Trust in God and obedience to His will are as essential to the Christian in spiritual warfare as they were to Gideon in battle. God is just as willing now to work with the efforts of His people and to accomplish great things through weak instrumentalities.
The breaking of the pitchers illustrates keeping the lamps concealed in pitchers until the appointed time and then revealing the light as the moment for decisive action begins. The breaking of the pitchers and sounding of the trumpets represents the signal to act and the releasing of a message when divine direction and urgent need call for it. Then the light shines clearly and shines forth. It helps those who had been bewildered to see the issue and take their stand.