Did Gideon's Three Hundred Men Carry Swords?

Gideon’s three hundred men did not use physical swords during their initial attack on the Midianite camp, as the victory was to be won by the power of Jehovah rather than by human weaponsBHOTV3 123.1+1. Instead of grasping naked swords, each man held a trumpet in his right hand and a burning torch hidden inside an empty pitcher in his left hand Judges 7:16+12BC 1004.2+2.

The Strategy of the Holy War

God designed this battle to be an occasion where His power would be unmistakably manifest, ensuring that Israel would not boast that their own hand had saved them Judges 7:2PP 548.3+2.

• The Armor of the Three Hundred: The men were equipped with simple lamps, pitchers, and trumpetsGSAM 34.1+2.

• The Moment of Attack: At the signal, the men blew their trumpets, broke the pitchers, and flashed their torches into the darkness Judges 7:19EP 398.1+2.

• The Battle Cry: They shouted, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon," yet they remained standing in their places while God fought for them Judges 7:20-21SLG 53.3+2.

The Divine Intervention

Because the army of Midian was vast—about 135,000 strong—the three hundred men would have seemed utterly insufficient by human standards Judges 8:10ST July 14, 1881, par. 1+2. However, when the pitchers were broken and the trumpets sounded, the Lord spread terror throughout the enemy camp, causing the Midianites to turn their own swords against one another Judges 7:22EP 398.1+3. This demonstrates that the Lord can work most effectively through those who are sensible of their own insufficiency and rely entirely on His strengthPP 550.3+2. While physical swords were eventually used during the pursuit of the fleeing Midianites, the decisive victory at the camp was a miraculous deliverance achieved through faith and obedience to God's higher ways Judges 7:22-252BC 1004.2+4.