Midianite Soldier's Barley Loaf Dream
On the eve of battle, Gideon crept into the enemy camp and overheard a soldier describing a dream: a barley loaf tumbled into camp and flattened a tent. His companion said, This is Gideon - God has given us into his hands.
In the Book of Judges, Gideon overheard two Midianite soldiers discussing a dream in which a barley loaf rolled into their camp, struck a tent, and overturned it completely. One soldier interpreted the barley loaf as representing Gideon and the tent as symbolizing Midianite power, concluding that God had delivered their army into Israelite hands. This vision occurred on the eve of battle as Gideon prepared a small force of 300 men against a much larger Midianite coalition. The account reassured Gideon of divine support, prompting his nighttime attack that routed the enemy without conventional weapons.
Details
- Category
- Judges & Early Kingdom
- Dreamer
- Midianite soldier
- Interpretation
- The dream foretells Gideon's victory over Midian, showing how God delivers the enemy into his hands through humble means.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
The Dream
Judges 7:13-15
This vision assures us that God uses the humble and unexpected to bring victory, encouraging our faith in His plans.
13nd when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
Did You Know?
Gideon overheard this dream while spying on the enemy camp at night.
A barley loaf was the bread of the poor - representing Israel's unlikely army.
The dream confirmed God's promise and gave Gideon courage to attack with just 300 men.