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15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord.[a] Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!” 16 He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.

17 Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. 18 As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

19 It was just after midnight,[b] after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. 20 Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”

21 Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape. 22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

23 Then Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who joined in chasing the army of Midian. 24 Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told. 25 They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite commanders, killing Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. And they continued to chase the Midianites. Afterward the Israelites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan River.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:15 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads he bowed.
  2. 7:19 Hebrew at the beginning of the second watch.

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped.(A) He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”(B) 16 Dividing the three hundred men(C) into three companies,(D) he placed trumpets(E) and empty jars(F) in the hands of all of them, with torches(G) inside.

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets,(H) then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars(I) that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches(J) in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword(K) for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.(L)

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded,(M) the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other(N) with their swords.(O) The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah(P) near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher(Q) and all Manasseh were called out,(R) and they pursued the Midianites.(S) 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan(T) ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb(U). They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb,(V) and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites(W) and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.(X)

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