John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And the Lord said to Gideon, the people are yet too many , etc.] Though they were but just the number that Barak had with him, when he attacked Sisera’s army and got the victory, which yet was ascribed to God, whose hand was manifestly seen in it; but as these might be supposed to be able men of valour that remained, they were too many for God to have that glory he intended to display in this victory: bring them down unto the water ; from the hill on which they were, to a brook that ran at the bottom of it, perhaps a stream from the fountain or well of Harod, ( Judges 7:1) and I will try them for thee there , or “purge them” f144 , as silver is purged from dross, so the word signifies, as Kimchi observes, the righteous from the wicked, as he thinks; who, with others, suppose that by those who bowed on their knees to drink, were such as had been used to bow the knee to Baal, and the rest not, and so one were discerned from the other; but this trial was only for the sake of Gideon, to direct him whom he should take with him, and whom not: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, this shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, this shall not go with thee, the same shall not go ; by the different manner of his men drinking at the water, later related, Gideon knew not who should go with him, and who not, whether they that bowed down to drink, or only lapped the water; this was determined by the mouth of the Lord, as follows but this trial was only for the sake of Gideon, to direct him whom he should take with him, and whom not: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, this shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, this shall not go with thee, the same shall not go ; by the different manner of his men drinking at the water, after related, Gideon knew not who should go with him, and who not, whether they that bowed down to drink, or only lapped the water; this was determined by the mouth of the Lord, as follows.
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 ויאמר559 יהוה3068 אל413 גדעון1439 עוד5750 העם5971 רב7227 הורד3381 אותם853 אל413 המים4325 ואצרפנו6884 לך שׁם8033 והיה1961 אשׁר834 אמר559 אליך413 זה2088 ילך1980 אתך854 הוא1931 ילך1980 אתך854 וכל3605 אשׁר834 אמר559 אליך413 זה2088 לא3808 ילך1980 עמך5973 הוא1931 לא3808 ילך׃1980
