The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL. LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 30
Subject: Gideon md the Three Hundreos
Judges vii.. Is, 16-2l-0oiden Tezs'
Psa. lis, s-Memory Verses, Q, 3-com-
yo.usapv tho navsa LAanOD.

Judges vii.. Is, 1e-2i-0olden TEXT
Psa. lis, 8-Memory Verses, Q, 3-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson.
Gideon the deliverer Gideon was man
Of an honorable birth and good character.
ter Gideon satisfied himself that it Was
together and prepared for the battle.
/. well Of Harold Or fountain Of
trembling. Probably the large fountain et
the northern base OF Mount GiIboa. 1t 10
q large pool forty or fifty feet in diameters
and from it flows. down the valley, east
min. Hill Of Moreh." Nothing is known
Of the hill OF Moreh beyond the fact that II
could not be the place mentioned In Gen.
u: and Deut. II: 30: go. =.
2. TOO many" The object Of this do
liverance from God w.s not chiefly 70 save
the farms and crops from the Midianitees
but to save the people from their SINS and
to teach them to trust and obey God. ~
the manner in which this whole transac::
ton was conducted both the lsrselites and
Midianites must see that the thing was Of
God. This would inspire the Israehtee
with confidence and fill their enemies with
fear.
8. Fearful and afraid" The army was
subjected to two tests. The first test was
the permission for all who were afraid 70
20 home. This bidding the cowarliy dc.
part lest they should intimidate the rest
was commanded even in the law. Deut..
20: g. From Mount Gilead." A difficulty
arises here. as the Israelites were now at
Noun, Gilboa on the west OF the Jordan
and Noun, Gilead Is on the east Of the
Jordan. It 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. 3: That possibly the text
should read. Whosoever from Mount Gil
cad Is fearful and afraid, let him return
home.
1. 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 10 test by fire,
IS the refner tests silver.
5. 'Iappeth-as q 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 little
into their mouth as they stood. Thus it
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 tho
enemy.
s. Upon their knees" Thus they would
be in an exposed position before an enemy.
These were sent home.
7. "By the 300" Why 90 small q mum,
ber chosen? !. That the Israelites might
know that the victory was from God. Q.
To show them that the God Of their faith.
ers was unchanged and still able to do
great things for them. 8. To shame nd
humble His people because Of their past
sins. 4. To lead the people TO love and
worship God.
8. "yictuals-trlmpcts." The 800 men
took what victuals were necessary, TO.
gether with the trumpets.
OILS. There was danger that even tho
stout hearts Of Gideon and his 800 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 60 down to the Midianitish
host. He did 80, and heard dream told
OF a barley cake ovcrturnine Midianitish
tent. which was interpreted to mean that
the Midianites were TO be delivered into
Gideon's hand.
l6. Unto 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 Midisnites had long been
. terror to Israel. and now they were to be
overcome by terror.
j.. "And do likewise" Gideon became
the example 20 all his army. AS he was
faithful, 90 would they be in following him.
He made his descent in the night, when
his enemies would least expect il. His
army, being small, would not be observed.
Here is seen the wisdom Of having no more
tina. are calculated to make success.
10. Middle watch" At midnight. An.
GENTLY the Israeiites 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 concer. IN their attack. Brake
the pitchers the; could pass unobserved
until they reached the guard Of the Midian.
i,ish camp, and by breaking them all at
once. ard letting the light from 800 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
20 know that they went out under the di-
rection OF the great God, and With such Q
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: (!) He. with his men, made great
noise blowing trumpets and breaking the
carthen pitcher. ~ By the sudden glare
of light. which would be as streak OF
lightning. l3l Besides the noise OF trum-
pets he added shouting. calling attention
10 God and His chosen instrument az lead
or in this attack. By this sudden surprise
a, midnight the people would be terribly
alarmed. and naturally conclude them.
selves surrounded by great army.
q. Every man in his place" Seeing
the company with lights and blowing trum.
nets keep in place the Midianites would
conclude they were n 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. Ran, and cried, and
fed" The Midianites were 80 perfectly
confused that there was no order preserved
and every one acted according to his feel
incs Of terror Thus the battle went on
among Midiani:es. and Israel stood BY and
watched their own victory without using
sword. The terrified people ran in tu-
mu.t and fought each other madly, not
knowing friend from foe. God directed the
battle and used His own way TO deliver
His people from their enemies. The vic
tory was complete.