The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 139
SECT. CXXXIX.
THen Gideon, and all the people that were with him, roſe early and pitched beſides the well Harod, or the Well of Terror in the Tribe of Manaſſeh, (ſo called either from the fear that ſeiz'd on the twenty two thouſand of the Iſraelites, verſ. 3. or on the Midianites, verſ. 21.) and the Midianites encamped at the Hill Moreh, on the North-ſide of them, and in the Valley. The whole Army that Gideon had gathered together were in all but thirty two thouſand, and the Midianites were a hundred thirty and five thouſand, *For there were an hundred and twenty thouſand of them ſlain in their firſt overthrow, and the remainder that were left with Zeba and Zalmunna, were fifteen thouſand. Ch. 8.10.ſo that they were above four times as many as the Iſraelites; and had the Iſraelites vanquiſhed the Midianites with theſe thirty two thouſand, that were now come to Gideon, one would think they ſhould never have gone about to attribute the Victory to themſelves, or to rob God of the Glory of it. But the Lord who foreſaw how prone men would be to vaunt themſelves upon any great Succeſs, told Gideon they were too many for him to Conquer the Midianites by, leſt Iſrael ſhould ſay, Mine own hand hath ſaved me. Therefore He orders Gideon to make Proclamation, That all that were afraid (according as was injoyn'd, Deut. 20.8.) might depart from Mount Gilead, (a)The Mount Gilead here ſpoken of, muſt needs be not the famous Mountain of that Name without Jordan, but another Mount of the ſame name within Jordan. For a great many of this half-Tribe of Manaſſeh within Jordan being deſcended from Gilead, the Son of Machir, the Son of Manaſſeh, they might alſo call this Mountain Gilead in remembrance of their Father.(in the Tribe of Manaſſeh within Jordan) where they now were gathered together. Hereupon twenty two thouſand of them, ſeeing the power and ſtrength of the Enemy, their hearts failed them, and ſo they embraced the liberty given them to depart. But their Trumpets (it ſeems) they left behind them by Gideon's order; ſo there remained only ten thouſand with Gideon. The Lord tells him, They were too many yet. He bids him therefore bring thoſe ten thouſand down unto the water, and there he would try them for him, and diſcover who among them were fit for this Service, and who not. And accordingly thoſe whom he approved for this Service ſhould go along with him, the others ſhould depart. When they were come to the water, the Lord tells him, That every one who coming to the water, bended his body only a little, and ſnatched up a little water in the palm of his hand, and ſo lapped it up for his preſent refreſhment (as Dogs lap a little water, and make haſt preſently away) every ſuch one ſhould go with him; but thoſe that kneeling down on their knees, bowed their heads down to the River, and ſo putting their mouths into the water drank, and ſucked up their fill, thoſe ſhould be diſmiſſed. For this kind of drinking argued ſloth and a greedy deſire of filling themſelves, and impatience of thirſt, whereas the other argued ſtrength and ability of body, and that they were content with a little refreſhing, being more intent upon the buſineſs they had in hand than on filling themſelves. This Experiment being made, the number of thoſe Lappers were found to be but 300, the reſt were diſmiſſed. The Lord tells Gideon, He would ſave them by this ſmall number, and by them vanquiſh the Midianites, though for every Souldier Gideon had left there were four hundred and fifty of the Enemy. The ſame night after Gideon had diſmiſſed all his Army but theſe 300, the Lord ſpake to him in a Viſion or Dream, and ſaid to him, If thou feareſt to go down and ſet upon the Enemy, becauſe of the ſmallneſs of thy number, go down firſt privately in the night with thy Servant only, and get as near to their Hoſt as thou canſt, and there thou ſhalt hear ſomething that ſhall further ſtrengthen thy Faith. Gideon accordingly crept down with his Servant to the firſt Sentinels of the Hoſt, and the Midianites and Amalekites lay along in the Valley like Graſhoppers for multitude, and their Camels were innumerable. Gideon being got near to the Sentinels, he heard one of them tell his Dream unto his Fellow; ſays he, Behold I dreamed that a Cake of Barley-bread tumbled into the Hoſt of Midian, and came into a Tent, and ſmote it that it fell, and ſo over-turned the Tent, that it lay along. His Fellow anſwered, This is nothing elſe ſave the Sword of Gideon the Son of Joaſh, for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all the Hoſt. When Gideon heard this Interpretation of the Dream, he bowed himſelf by way of thankfulneſs to the Lord, for bringing him to hear this comfortable News, for the ſtrengthening of his Faith, and hereby he perceived that God had alreadly ſtricken the Enemy with a fear of Him. So returning to his little Army, he acquaints them with what had paſſed, and told them, God had delivered their Enemies into their hands. Then he gave to every one of his Souldiers a Trumpet and a Torch, which being lighted, he was to carry, holding an empty Pitcher over it, that no light might be ſeen till they had occaſion to diſcover it. Then dividing his 300 into three Companies (that ſo they might encompaſs the Camp of their Enemies in ſeveral places, and appear as if they were a great Army,) He bids them to look on him, and to do as He did; ſays He, When we are come to the out-ſide of the Camp of our Enemies, and you ſee me break my Pitcher, and diſcover my Light, and blow with my Trumpet, do you likewiſe the ſame, and with a great ſhout cry out, The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon. He would have them own God as the chief Agent, but yet to name Him as an Inſtrument, becauſe he perceived (by the Interpretation of the Dream which he had heard) that his Name was terrible among them. So Gideon and the three hundred men that were with him approached the Enemies Camp about Midnight (when they had newly ſet the Watch) and ſpreading themſelves round the Camp (as far as their number could extend) and breaking their Pitchers, and diſcovering their Lights, and blowing their Trumpets, cried out, The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon. The Enemy in the dead of the night, being terrified at the ſight of ſo many Lights on a ſuddain burning about them, and hearing ſo many Trumpets ſounding, and ſo many men crying out, The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, could not but apprehend they were encompaſſed with a mighty Army, and thereupon all the Hoſt made an hideous Out-cry, and ran, and fled, and ſhifted for themſelves as well as they could. In this great Conſternation the Lord, by his Providence, ordered it ſo, that they fell one upon another, and ſlew their Friends inſtead of their Enemies. See the like 1 Sam. 14.15, 20. 2 Chron. 20.23. And ſome of the Midianites fled to one place, and ſome to another in the Tribe of Manaſſeh, where the Over-throw was given. The men of Iſrael hearing of this great Defeat, and routing of the Midianitiſh-Army, gathered themſelves preſently together out of Naphtali, Aſher and Manaſſeh, to aſſiſt Gideon in the purſuit. And Gideon ſent Meſſengers through all Mount Ephraim, to deſire them to come in to his Aſſiſtance, and eſpecially to take care to ſtop the Midianites at all the Fords and Paſſages of the River Jordan that reached down as far as Bethbarah. The Ephraimites did as He deſired them, and accordingly took at the Fords of Jordan, Oreb and Zeeb, two of their Princes, with many others, ſo that there were no leſs than an hundred and twenty thouſand of the Midianites and their Confederates deſtroyed within Jordan. And they ſlew Oreb on the Rock Oreb, and Zeeb at the Wine-preſs of Zeeb, places ſo called in after-times upon this occaſion, and lying at the Eaſt-end of Mount Ephraim near Jordan. Gideon underſtanding that many of the Midianites, to the number of fifteen thouſand, together with their Princes Zeba and Zalmunna had eſcaped over Jordan (before the Paſſages could be ſecured) He with his three hundren men went in purſuit after them; and coming near to Succoth (a City in the Tribe of Gad) and his Souldiers being faint, he deſired the men of that City to give them ſome Loaves of bread for their preſent refreſhment; for they were very weary and faint, and ſo it would be an act of mercy to relieve them, and they were in purſuit of the Common Enemy, and ſo it would be but an act of Juſtice to ſtrengthen their hands in ſo good a Deſign. But the men of Succoth *Which had its name from Booths which Jacob made there at his return from Meſopotaemia, Gen. 33.17.anſwered him Churliſhly. What (ſay they) are Zeba and Zalmunna thy Priſoners? Are they in thy Power that ſhould reſpect thee as Victor over them; or rather have we not cauſe to fear they will recruit their Army, and return and revenge it upon us, if we ſhew thee any kindneſs. Thus they incenſed Gideon, by refuſing him Succour, and that with contemptuous Scorn, and in favour of their Tyrannical Enemies, [ſee the like 1 Sam. 25.10.] Whereupon he told them, That when the Lord had delivered Zeba and Zalmunna into his hands, he would for this tear their Fleſh with the Thornes and Briers of the Wilderneſs. Then he marched up to Penuel, a City alſo in the ſame Tribe, and deſired ſome Relief of them for his Souldiers in this their extremity, and they anſwered him with the like ſcorn and contempt that the men of Succoth had done. He told them, That when he returned in peace; that is, ſafe and victorious, he would for this barbarous Uſage deſtroy them, and break down their ſtrong Tower or Fort in which they had ſo much confidence. Zeba and Zalmunna with thoſe fifteen thouſand that had eſcaped were got to Karkor, a City on the other ſide of Jordan towards the Eaſt. Gideon fearing he ſhould be diſcovered if he followed right on towards them, He fetched a compaſs about by the way of the Arabians that dwelt in Tents, and ſo came upon them on the Eaſt-ſide, (viz. on the Eaſt of Nobah and Jogbehah) from whence they feared no Enemy, and ſo were very ſecure, not imagining that they had been purſued by the Iſraelites. Gideon being thus come up to them, he fell upon them on the ſudden (probably in the night) diſcomfited all their Hoſt, and in the purſuit took Zeba and Zalmunna. After this Victory, carrying theſe two Kings along with him, he marched in the night towards Succoth that he might ſurprize them; And coming near the City before the Sun was up, he took a young man that was come out of the City, and examining him ſtrictly concerning the Elders of the City, he gave him their Names in writing, which were 77 in all, and poſſibly told him where they dwelt, and how they might be known. For Gideon knowing the Magiſtrates only to be in fault that he was ſo ſcornfully denied a little refreſhing for his Souldiers, therefore he was the more careful to inquire after their Names, that none might ſuffer but thoſe that were guilty. Gideon having got this Intelligence, entred the City of Succoth, and then told them, They might now behold Zeba and Zalmunna, with whom they did before upbraid him, and asked him in ſcorn, Whether they were his Priſoners? He ſhould now teach them what it was to uſe their Brethren that were fighting for them ſo ſcornfully and unworthily. So he took the Elders of Succoth, and with the Briars and Thornes of the Wilderneſs (which lay between Succoth and Penuel) he cauſed them to be ſcourged to death, *For being equal in guilt with the men of Penuel, in reaſon we cannot ſuppoſe that their puniſhment was leſs than theirs, ſee verſ. 17.and by this ſevere Puniſhment inflicted on them, he taught the reſt of the people to take heed for time to come of committing any ſuch hainous Treſpaſs againſt God and their Brethren, or ſlighting thoſe whom God imploys. Then he went to Penuel, and ſlew the Magiſtrates of that City alſo, as he had done before at Succoth, and threw down their Tower or Fort. Theſe Executions being over, Gideon now calls Zeba and Zalmunna to account for what they had done. He tells them, He had heard that in their laſt Invaſion they had put many of thoſe Iſraelites to death, who had hid themſelves in thoſe ſtrong Holds and Caves of Mount Tabor; and (fearing leſt his own Brethren were of the number of thoſe whom they had thus ſlain, becauſe they had not been heard of ſince,) He asks them, What manner of men they were that they had ſlain at Tabor? They anſwered, As thou art, ſo were they; that is, they were of a goodly and comely Perſonage as thou art, and ſuch as might well beſeem men of a Princely and Royal Stock. He then perceived they were his Brethren. He tells them, If they had been merciful to his Brethren, he would have ſpared their lives, which he might lawfully have done, they being not Canaanites, though they were Enemies. But now he could not do it, ſeeing by the Law of God he was bound, being next of blood, and alſo a Magiſtrate, to puniſh them with death, that had murdered his Brethren, ſee Numb. 35.19, 31. Whereupon he bad his young Son Jether to riſe up and ſlay them. And he impoſes this work on him rather than another, that he might train him up from a Youth to draw his Sword againſt the Enemies of Iſrael, and that he might avenge the death of his Ʋncles, and that it might add, if not to the pain, yet to the diſhonour of their death to die by ſo young an hand. But this young Boy had ſcarce courage enough to look them in the face, ſo far was he from drawing his Sword againſt them. Zeba and Zalmu…na ſeeing this, ſaid to Gideon, Riſe thou up and fall upon us thy ſelf. For as the man is; ſo is his ſtrength. Do thou ſlay us with thy own hand, and diſpatch us quickly, and let us not fall ignobly by the hand of a Child. So Gideon ſlew them with his own hand; and took away the Ornaments that were on their Camels necks (which were very rich, being adorned with Gold-Chains and Jewels,) as Enſigns and Memorials of his Victory. Now the Ephramites came over Jordan, and brought the Heads of Orch and Zeeb, and preſented them to Gideon. But then they highly expoſtulated†Thus they proudly quarrelled with Jephta, Ch. 12. and upon the ſame account, ſee the like, 2 Sam. 19.41, 42, 43. with him, that they were not called out as well as other Tribes, when he firſt raiſed Forces to go againſt the Midianites. They looked upon this as a great neglect and contempt of them, that other Tribes that were not ſo nearly allied to him and the Manaſſites as they were, (being both of them of Joſeph's Poſterity) ſhould be called to the firſt On-ſet, and they left only to ſnatch up here and there ſome of the flying Midianites. So that he and his Souldiers had gathered in the main Vintage, and they were called in only to gather up the Gleanings. Gideon mildly anſwered, That they had no cauſe to complain; For what have I done (ſays he) in compariſon of you? Are not the Gleanings of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abiezer?*Gideon was of that Family. Conſider what vaſt multitudes of them you have had the killing and pillaging of, at the Fords of Jordan, whilſt we went in purſuit of only fifteen thouſand of them that fled with Zeba and Salmunna. Conſider you have had the Honour to take and kill Oreb and Zeeb, and therefore what cauſe have you to murmur or repine? This mild Anſwer of his abated their anger, and ſo they reſted ſatisfied.
Judg. Ch. 7. whole Chapter, and Ch. 8. from 1. to 22.