Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-11-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
International Lesson Comments Fof
November 80.
Subject Gideon and the Three Hundred, Juds'
es viii, 1.S, i6-2l-Golden Text Pisa. no.
3-Memory Verses, 2, 3-Commen'
tary on the Days Lesson.

Gideon the deliverer. Gideon was a man
of an honorable birth and good character
The angel Of the Lord called nm, anu d.
ter Gideon satisfied himself that IL was
really God calling him he called the peopie
together and prepared for the battle. =
l. "Well Of Har0d:" Or fountain ot
trembling. Probably the large fountain az
the northern base of Mount Gllb0a. ~ ID
large pool forty or fifty feet IN :, diameter
and from it flows, down the valley, east,
ward, a stream strong enough to turn
mill. chill of Moreh." Nothing is known
of the hill of Moreh beyond the fact that 1t
could not be the place mentioned IN Ueh'
H. and Deut. H. 80. !,
2. "Too many" The object OF this de-
liverance from God was not chiefly TO save
the farms and crops from the Mldlanites;
but to save the people from their SINS ana
to teach them to trust and obey God. by
the manner in which this whole transac,,
ton was conducted both the lsraeites ana
Midianites must see that the thing was OF
God. This would inspire the lsraehtteis
with confidence and fill their enemies WIN
fear.
8. Fearful and afraid The army was
subjected to two tests. The first test was
the permission for all who were afraid to
20 HOlue. lHlS DluuIuB Ih0 Co""i''
part lest they should intimidate the rest
was commanded even in the law. Deut.
20: s. "From Mount Gilead." A difficulty
arises here, as the Israelites were now at
Mount Gilboa on the west of the Jordan
and Mount Gilead is on the east OF the
Jordan. 1t has been suggested. !. That
the text may be corrupted and that Gilead
should read Gilboa. 2. That there may.
have been another Gilead on the west OF
the Jordan. g. That possibly the text
should read, Whosoever from Mount Gil
cad is fearful and afraid let him return
home.
4. 'Unto the water" That is, the foun;;
tain Harod and the stream that flowed
from it. "Will try them" The word try
which occurs here signifies to test by fire,
as the refner tests silver.
5. "Iappeth-as a dog" The second
test was for the remaining 10000. Three
hundred did not break rank or stop in
their march, but dipped their followed
palm into the stream and tossed a little
into their mouth as they stood. Thus 1t
seems most probable that Gideon was di-
rected to choose those who Tapped as being
men Injured to warfare, who drank while
standing to guard against surprise by the
enemy. :,
6. 'Upon their knees" Thus they would
be in an exposed position before an enemy.
These were sent home.
Z. "By the 3OO." Why so small num-
Der chosen? l. That the Israelites might
know that the victory was from God. 2.
To show them that the God Of their faith
ers was unchanged and still able to do
great things for them. 9. To shame nd
humble His people because of their past
sins. a. To lead the people to love and
worship God.
8. Victuals-trumpets." The 300 men
took what victuals were necessary, to-
gether with the trumpets.
Oils. There was danger that even the
stout hearts of Gideon and his 300 heroes
might quail at their perilous position, there
fore one more encouragement is given
them. Gideon was told to take his servant
by night and go down to the Midianitish
host. He did so, and heard dream told
of barley cake overturning a Midianitish
tent. which was interpreted to mean that
the Midianites were to be delivered into
Gideon's hand
I6. Tnto three companies" Great ar.
mics were generally divided into three
parts, that is, the right wing, the left wing
and the body of the army. This army was
great in faith. Gideon was in command of
one division. The Midianites had long been
terror to Israel, and now they were to be
overcome by terror.
II. "And do likewise" Gideon became
the example to all his army. AS he was
faithful, so would they be in following him.
He made his descent in the night, when
his enemies would least expect it. His
army, being small, would not be observed.
Here is seen the wisdom of having no more
that are calculated to make a success.
10. Middle watch" At midnight. An.
GENTLY the Israelites seem to have divided
the night into three watches evening,
midnight and morning watches. Later they
adopted from the Romans the custom of
four watches.
20. BLEW the trumpets." There was
perfect concert in their attack. "Brake
the pitchers" By concesling the lamps in
the pitchers they could pass unobserved
until they reached the guard of the INDIAN.
itish camp, and by breaking them all at
once, ard letting the light from 300 torches
glare on the sleeping company the enemy
would be greatly terrified. "They cried"
Their loud shouts would add to the terror
already awakened by the sound of trum.
pets and the glaring light. "The sword of
the Lord, and of Gideon" Gideon puts
the Lords name first, for by His power
only could this attack be made. These
words would give courage to the 300 men
to know that they went out under the di-
rection of the great God, and with such
leader as Gideon. God was gaining this
victory, but He used Gideon and his men
as chosen instruments. We see three ways
here used by Gideon to terrify his enc.
mics: (l) He, with his men, made great
noise blowing trumpets and breaking the
earthen pitcher. (2) By the sudden glare
Of light, which would be as a streak Of
lightning (3) Besides the noise of trum-
pets he added shouting, calling attention
to God and His chosen instrument as lead
er in this attack. By this sudden surprise
at midnight the people would be terribly
alarmed, and naturally conclude them
selves surrounded by great army.
81. every man in his place." Seeing
the company with lights and blowing trum.
pets keep in place the Midianites would
conclude they were a great army, whose
men were now already in their camp. The
army of Israel did not come to fight. Their
work was to sound the trumpets, hold the
lights and shout. IRAN, and cried, and
fed" The Midianites were so perfectly
confused that there was no order preserved
and every one acted according to his feel
ings of terror. Thus the battle went on
among Midianites, and Israel stood by and
watched their own victory without using
sword. The terrified people ran in q tu-
multi and fought each other madly, not
knowiag friend from foe. God directed the
battle and used His own way to deliver
His people from their enemies. The vic.
tory was complete.