Judges 7 22

Judges 7:22 kjv

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 Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

Judges 7:22 nkjv

When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

Judges 7:22 niv

When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.

Judges 7:22 esv

When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

Judges 7:22 nlt

When the 300 Israelites blew their rams' horns, the LORD caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 22 Meaning

When the three hundred chosen men blew their trumpets, the Lord intervened, causing every Midianite warrior to turn his sword against his fellow man throughout the enemy camp. This divine confusion resulted in a widespread panic and swift retreat of the Midianite army, forcing them to flee great distances toward Beth-shittah, Zererah, and ultimately as far as the border of Abel-meholah by Tabbath.

Judges 7 22 Context

Judges Chapter 7 recounts Gideon's preparation to face the vast Midianite and Amalekite forces that had been oppressing Israel for seven years. God strategically reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, emphasizing that the victory would clearly be of divine origin, not human strength or numbers, thus preventing Israel from boasting. The strategy involved psychological warfare: surrounding the enemy camp at night, blowing trumpets, breaking pitchers to reveal torches, and shouting "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" This verse (7:22) is the climactic moment where this unconventional tactic, empowered by God, shatters the morale and unity of the enemy. Historically, Midianites were nomadic raiders, their large confederacy posed a significant economic and existential threat to agricultural Israel. This account polemically demonstrates Yahweh's absolute supremacy over any tribal deities or military might relied upon by Midian or other nations.

Judges 7 22 Word analysis

• When the three hundred: This number, drastically reduced from an original 32,000, highlights God's strategy. It underlines the theme that victory belongs to the Lord, not human might. God chooses few and weak things to confound the mighty (1 Cor 1:27).
• blew (תָּקְעוּ, taqʿu): A decisive verb. It indicates the physical action of sounding the shofar. This action directly triggers the divine response.
• the trumpets (שׁוֹפָרוֹת, shofarōt): These were ram's horns, used not as musical instruments in the modern sense but as signal instruments for war, assembly, and religious rites. Their piercing sound contributed to the confusion and terror, mimicking a massive attacking army. In battle, they were meant to instill fear and rally troops, here they achieved supernatural effects.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, Yehovah): The divine, personal name of God, emphasizing His direct, sovereign action. It is explicitly stated that God Himself, not human effort, brought about the internal chaos among the Midianites. This is crucial for understanding the theology of the event.
• set (וַיָּשֶׂם, vayyāsem): This verb means "He placed," "He put," or "He caused." It signifies a deliberate and direct intervention by God. The Midianites were not merely confused; God actively orchestrated their fratricidal actions.
• every man’s sword (אֶת חֶרֶב אִישׁ, et ḥerev îsh): Refers to the personal weapon of each soldier. The sword, normally used against an enemy, is turned inwards.
• against his fellow (בְּאָחִיו, be'aḥı̂v): Literally "against his brother" or "kinsman." This emphasizes complete disunity and internecine violence within the Midianite ranks. Their strength, their numbers, became their undoing as they turned on one another, fulfilling God's judgment.
• even throughout the camp: Indicates the complete and pervasive nature of the panic and internal fighting across the vast Midianite encampment. No section was spared this divinely-induced confusion.
• And the army fled: This is the immediate consequence of the divine panic. Flight signals a complete rout and loss of cohesion. The panic was so deep that organized retreat was impossible.
• as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, and as far as the border of Abel-meholah by Tabbath: These geographical markers detail the path and extent of the enemy's disorganized retreat. They denote significant distances, testifying to the utter disarray and sustained flight of the defeated Midianites. Beth-shittah likely means "house of acacias"; Abel-meholah, "meadow of the dance," possibly a fertile plain. Their flight continued even past Jordan (Judg 7:24).

Judges 7 22 Bonus section

The event described in Judges 7:22 is a profound display of "divine terror" (mehumah in Hebrew), a strategy frequently employed by Yahweh in battle to discomfit His enemies (e.g., Exod 14:24; Deut 7:23; 1 Sam 14:15). This terror goes beyond mere fear; it is a supernatural disarray and self-destructive impulse imposed by God. The Midianites' internal conflict fulfilled the prophetic meaning behind "the sword of the LORD" which, paired with "and of Gideon" (Jdg 7:20), subtly places the primary power source with God. Gideon’s sword, representing his actions, was merely an extension of the Lord’s own effective blow. This episode is also considered typological, foreshadowing greater spiritual victories where the power of God causes chaos among spiritual enemies and where even internal divisions weaken those opposing His will. The meticulous mention of geographical details like Beth-shittah, Zererah, Abel-meholah, and Tabbath solidifies the historical veracity of this miraculous divine deliverance, marking the widespread nature of the rout and providing tangible proof of God's active involvement in human affairs.

Judges 7 22 Commentary

Judges 7:22 vividly portrays a victory achieved entirely by divine intervention, illustrating that God fights for His people, not needing human strength or overwhelming numbers. The combination of trumpets, broken pitchers, and torches, orchestrated by Gideon, served as psychological warfare, but it was God who actively "set every man's sword against his fellow." This signifies a complete breakdown of cohesion and unity among the enemy, replaced by chaos and self-destruction. The Midianite's great multitude became their own executioners through divinely infused terror. The rapid flight and distant pursuit underline the thoroughness of God's deliverance. This verse provides a powerful lesson that reliance should be placed solely on God's power and unconventional methods, as He can accomplish the impossible and deliver through unexpected means.

• Example 1: When faced with overwhelming opposition, pray for God to cause disunity and confusion among the adversaries, rather than relying on human strategies alone.
• Example 2: Trust in God's paradoxical methods; His power often manifests most strongly through human weakness and humble means.