John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon , etc.] That being the name his father had lately given him, ( Judges 6:32) and all the people that were with him, rose up early ; encouraged by the signs and miracles wrought, by which he was assured of success; he was eager to be about his work, and therefore rose early in the morning, and got his army together, and marched to engage the enemy: and pitched beside the well of Harod ; which he might choose for the refreshment of his army on occasion; or, however, so he was directed in Providence here, where a trial was to be made of them by water: this well, or fountain, seems to be the same with that in ( 1 Samuel 29:1) it signifies fear and trembling, and might have its name either from the fear and trembling of the 22,000 Israelites, whose hearts were dismayed at the Midianites, and they were ordered to return home; or from the fear and trembling of the Midianites, who were discomfited here; the former seems to be the true reason, (see Judges 7:3) so that the Midianites were on the north side of them; which Gideon, no doubt, judged to be an advantageous post to him: by the hill of Moreh, in the valley ; the valley of Jezreel, one of the mountains of Gilboa, as is supposed; the Targum is, “by the hill which looks to the plain;” from whence he could have a view of the Midianitish army, and the disposition of it. Some think this hill had its name from the Midianitish archers; but, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, from there being a watch here to direct the ways, or to give notice to the inhabitants of the valley when an army came against them; though some take it to be a school of some eminent teacher in those days f143 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - God provides that the praise of victory may be wholly to himself, by appointing only three hundred men to be employed. Activity and prudenc go with dependence upon God for help in our lawful undertakings. When the Lord sees that men would overlook him, and through unbelief, woul shrink from perilous services, or that through pride they would vaun themselves against him, he will set them aside, and do his work by other instruments. Pretences will be found by many, for deserting the cause and escaping the cross. But though a religious society may thu be made fewer in numbers, yet it will gain as to purity, and may expec an increased blessing from the Lord. God chooses to employ such as ar not only well affected, but zealously affected in a good thing. The grudged not at the liberty of the others who were dismissed. In doin the duties required by God, we must not regard the forwardness of backwardness of others, nor what they do, but what God looks for at ou hands. He is a rare person who can endure that others should excel him in gifts or blessings, or in liberty; so that we may say, it is by the special grace of God that we regard what God says to us, and not loo to men what they do.
Original Hebrew וישׁכם7925 ירבעל3378 הוא1931 גדעון1439 וכל3605 העם5971 אשׁר834 אתו854 ויחנו2583 על5921 עין חרד5878 ומחנה4264 מדין4080 היה1961 לו מצפון6828 מגבעת1389 המורה4176 בעמק׃6010
