Reading Judges 7:1-4, 9, 16-25; 8:10-12, 21
Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the troops that were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The Lord said to Gideon, ‘The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, “My own hand has delivered me.” Now therefore proclaim this in the hearing of the troops, “Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home.”’ Thus Gideon sifted them out; twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The troops are still too many; take them down to the water and I will sift them out for you there. When I say, “This one shall go with you”, he shall go with you; and when I say, “This one shall not go with you”, he shall not go.’…That same night the Lord said to him, ‘Get up, attack the camp; for I have given it into your hand…After he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, he said to them, ‘Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!”’ So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled. When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah towards Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites. Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, ‘Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.’ So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. They captured the two captains of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the wine press of Zeeb, as they pursued the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan…Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the east; for one hundred and twenty thousand men bearing arms had fallen. So Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the army; for the army was off its guard. Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw all the army into a panic…Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, ‘You come and kill us; for as the man is, so is his strength.’ So Gideon proceeded to kill Zebah and Zalmunna; and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels.
Reflection
None of this material is edifying! It begins with the focus on Jerubbaal but immediately switches to his alter ego Gideon. God’s words in v.2 point out human tendency to take the credit for any success achieved, when it should always be given to God. The omitted verses tell how God reduces Gideon’s troop numbers and ensures the stupidest ones remain.
The account of the ‘attack’ against the Midianites depicts a bizarre scene. Gideon and his men each hold a trumpet in one hand and a torch in the other. They cry out ‘A sword…’ but cannot be wielding one themselves. Mayhem ensues. The text suggests that the Midianites used their swords against one another, in their panic and then fled.
So the ‘victory’ was won without Gideon’s side actually shedding any blood. Then Gideon sets off in hot pursuit enlisting other tribes along the way; it is as though he’s spurred on by blood lust. Note that God’s words end in v.9 and God’s final action is in v.22. None of the subsequent slaughter by Israelites was initiated by God, or condoned by God; but several times in the full story Gideon speaks as though he is doing God’s will (8:3, 7, 19).
The text doesn’t support this claim. I think it challenges us to be very wary of claiming righteousness if our behaviour is actually vindictive, vengeful, or downright cruel. In 8:21 Gideon lives up to his name – which means ‘Hacker’ – as he kills the captured Midianite kings in response to their taunting.
Is this whole section attributed to Jerubbaal to illustrate the evil God’s people are capable of, when they (we) turn away from God’s commands? Does it illustrate how easily the oppressed can turn into oppressors themselves? Does it resonate with horrific events in the world today?
I read it as a strong warning to keep my eyes, ears, will, firmly focused on God; and to pray that my baser instincts will be kept in check.
Prayer
God of love,
save us from our baser selves
if we desire vengeance and not justice;
if we revel in violence
when a different kind of strength could resolve a situation,
if we take your name in vain as we pursue our own goals.
Remind us of your ways, revealed in Jesus,
and guide us to follow in his footsteps
as we strive towards your realm of peace. Amen