Gideon's 300

Illustration of Gideon's 300
Era
Judges Period
Date
c. 1162 BC โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
Judges 7:15-25

During a period of oppression by the Midianites, God raised up Gideon as a judge to deliver Israel after the people cried out for help. Though Gideon assembled an army of over 30,000 men, God repeatedly reduced the force to just 300 to demonstrate that victory depended on divine power rather than numerical strength or military strategy. Using torches, trumpets, and clay jars in a nighttime raid, the small band created confusion that led the Midianites to turn on one another and flee. This account in the Book of Judges illustrates the recurring scriptural principle that God achieves His purposes through human weakness to foster faith and prevent boasting in human achievement.

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Did You Know?

1

Though Gideon assembled an army of over 30,000 men, God repeatedly reduced the force to just 300 to demonstrate that victory depended on divine power rather than numerical strength or military strategy.

2

Using torches, trumpets, and clay jars in a nighttime raid, the small band created confusion that led the Midianites to turn on one another and flee.

3

This event is dated to approximately c. 1162 BC in biblical chronology.

4

This took place at or near Jezreel.

Key Passage

Gideon's 300

Judges 7:15-25

A15nd it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every manโ€™s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every manโ€™s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 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. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Read full chapter: Judges 7 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

The Late Bronze Age collapse devastates the Mediterranean (c. 1200 BC). The Hittite Empire falls. Egypt declines. The Sea Peoples invade. Greece enters its Dark Age. The Iron Age begins. This chaotic period sees the rise of small city-states and the decline of great empires.

When: c. 1375 - 1050 BC

Key Civilizations: Sea Peoples, Early Israel, Philistines

Biblical Parallels: Judges 1-21 , Ruth 1-4 , 1 Samuel 1-7

Explore Related

Characters 1

Gideon Gideon was a judge raised up by God during a time when the Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites dueโ€ฆ

Places 1

Jezreel Jezreel was an ancient Israelite city in a fertile valley north of Samaria that served as the site of Kingโ€ฆ

Battles 1

Gideon's 300 God told Gideon his army of 32,000 was too large. He whittled it down to 300 men with torches and trumpetsโ€ฆ