Judges 7 24

Judges 7:24 kjv

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.

Judges 7:24 nkjv

Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the mountains of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites, and seize from them the watering places as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan." Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together and seized the watering places as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan.

Judges 7:24 niv

Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.

Judges 7:24 esv

Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.

Judges 7:24 nlt

Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah." So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 24 Meaning

After the initial miraculous rout of Midian by Gideon and his 300 men, Gideon dispatched messengers to the tribe of Ephraim, commanding them to descend from their hill country and secure the vital water crossings, specifically Beth-barah and other points along the Jordan River. This strategic move was to cut off the fleeing Midianite forces, preventing their escape back across the Jordan into their own territory. Ephraim promptly obeyed, effectively seizing these critical escape routes.

Judges 7 24 Context

Judges 7 narrates the extraordinary victory God gave Israel over the Midianites through Gideon. Beginning with a vast Israelite army, God dramatically reduced the numbers first to 10,000, then to only 300 men, to demonstrate that the victory was solely His doing, not due to human strength. These 300 men, armed only with trumpets, jars, and torches, threw the Midianite camp into chaos. The resulting confusion led the Midianites to turn their swords on one another and flee in disarray. Verse 24 follows this initial, divinely orchestrated rout, showing Gideon's immediate, practical step to ensure the complete elimination of the remaining enemy forces by mobilizing a broader Israelite contingent to secure crucial escape routes. This phase transitions from a miraculous direct divine intervention to human strategic cooperation to finish the job.

Judges 7 24 Word analysis

• And Gideon: From the Hebrew גִּדְעוֹן (Gideon), meaning "hewer" or "feller." The protagonist chosen by God despite his initial hesitations, central to God's plan to deliver Israel.
• sent messengers: Hebrew: שָׁלַח מַלְאָכִים (shalach mal'akhim). "Sent" implies active dispatch; "messengers" are often agents for vital communication or even divine emissaries. Here, it denotes decisive and urgent communication, mobilizing human resources for God's work.
• throughout all the hill country of Ephraim: Hebrew: בְּכָל־הַר אֶפְרַיִם (be'khol-har Ephraim). Ephraim was a large, geographically central, and often politically dominant tribe among the northern tribes of Israel, known for its strategic location and strength. The "hill country" refers to their specific territory, indicating the necessity for them to "come down" to the lower Jordan Valley.
• saying, “Come down: Hebrew: רְדוּ (redu), an imperative meaning "go down" or "descend." This direct command signifies the need for swift action and a move from a higher elevation (the Ephraimite hill country) to the lower terrain of the Jordan Valley where the escaping Midianites would cross.
• against the Midianites: Refers to the fleeing enemy forces. The action is targeted to intercept their retreat.
• and seize the waters before them: Hebrew: תִּפְשׂוּ אֶת־הַמַּיִם (tifsu et-hamayim). "Seize" (תפשו) implies to capture or take firm control of. "The waters" here refers not merely to the liquid itself but specifically to the vital fords, crossings, and strategic points along the Jordan River, which served as essential escape routes. It is about blocking their passage.
• as far as Beth-barah: Hebrew: עַד בֵּית־בָּרָה (ad Beit-barah). "Beth-barah" means "house of the ford" or "place of crossing." This was a specific, significant ford on the Jordan River, vital for movements between Transjordan and Cisjordan, indicating a critical strategic bottleneck. Its mention points to the specific tactical precision of Gideon's command.
• and also the Jordan: Hebrew: וְאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן (ve'et-hayarden). This refers to the entire river as a barrier and collection of crossing points beyond just Beth-barah, ensuring a complete blockade. The Jordan river served as the natural eastern boundary of Israel.
• So all the men of Ephraim: Highlights the comprehensive and united response of the tribe. This action demonstrates their obedience despite their subsequent complaint in Judges 8.
• were called out: Hebrew: נִצְעֲקוּ (nitz'aku), a Niphal form of the verb "to cry out," implying a public summoning or muster. It denotes an effective general mobilization.
• and they seized the waters: Confirms the successful execution of Gideon's orders, leading to the interception of the Midianite retreat.
• as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan: Reiteration confirming the completion of the command as given.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites...": This phrase highlights Gideon's shrewd military leadership. While God gave the initial victory with 300, Gideon understands the necessity of wider involvement for the complete mop-up and pursuit of the scattered enemy. It also shows Gideon's recognition of Ephraim's military capability and strategic location. The "sent messengers" denotes a deliberate, organized command.
• "...and seize the waters before them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.": This clearly states the objective: to cut off the enemy's escape route at crucial river crossings. "Seize the waters" is a tactical command focusing on geographical choke points rather than direct engagement, effectively trapping the fleeing Midianites between the pursuit from the west and the blockade from the east. Beth-barah is a known, critical ford.
• "So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.": This concluding part confirms the prompt and effective execution of Gideon's command. It demonstrates the willingness of Ephraim to act when called upon for a strategic mopping-up operation, securing the borders and vital crossing points, which was crucial for consolidating the victory. This successful military cooperation contrasts with the tribal jealousies that sometimes plagued Israel.

Judges 7 24 Bonus section

The immediate and positive response from Ephraim in verse 24 is significant because it contrasts sharply with their jealous and prideful reaction found in Judges 8:1, where they later accuse Gideon of not calling them to the initial battle. This highlights a dynamic within Israel where tribes were willing to participate in "mopping-up" operations or actions that would bring them prestige and spoils, but their sense of pride could easily lead to contention if they felt slighted from the primary glory. Gideon's calculated move to include Ephraim post-rout minimized direct jealousy for the divine victory but engaged their martial strength effectively.

Judges 7 24 Commentary

Judges 7:24 reveals a crucial transition in Gideon's campaign. The miraculous, God-powered victory by 300 men has broken the Midianite power; now, Gideon shifts to practical strategy. By immediately summoning the large and influential tribe of Ephraim to secure the Jordan fords, he demonstrates wise military acumen. This act secures the "waters" (strategic river crossings like Beth-barah and the broader Jordan) to cut off the Midianites' retreat, trapping them within Israelite territory for their final defeat. It is a vital follow-through, showcasing human diligence cooperating with divine deliverance, ensuring the complete and decisive eradication of the enemy, and preparing for the next phase of the pursuit described in Judges 8. This ensures that while God brings the miracle, human effort is still integral to completing the work.