Judges 7:1

Gideon’s story continues in Judges 7:1, where Scripture says, *“Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley”* (v.1). Here, Gideon is called by his alternate name “Jerubbaal,” a title he received after destroying an altar of the Canaanite god Baal (Judges 6:32). Gideon lived during the era of the judges, which spanned from roughly the late 14th to the mid-11th century BC. At this point in his life, the LORD was preparing him to confront the Midianites, an oppressive people who repeatedly raided Israel (Judges 6:3). The location of the *spring of Harod* lies near the foothills in the Jezreel Valley, just south of the *hill of Moreh,* setting the stage for one of the most remarkable displays of God’s deliverance.

The fact that Gideon and his men *rose early* to camp shows their obedience to God’s instruction, despite the formidable enemy ahead. The Midianites, who were on the *north side* by *the hill of Moreh in the valley,* commanded territory that looked advantageous from a military standpoint, but the LORD intended to showcase His power through Gideon’s small, divinely chosen force (Judges 7:7). This moment echoes the recurring theme throughout the period of the judges: when Israel trusted and obeyed God, He acted mightily on their behalf. Gideon himself is later commemorated as a triumphant judge who overcame the Midianite host through faith (Hebrews 11:32). His actions reflect God’s ability to use even ordinary people to achieve extraordinary victories, emphasizing that the true power belongs to the LORD rather than to human strength citeturn0file1.

Through this single verse, we see God guiding Gideon into a position where the odds appear stacked in the Midianites’ favor. However, the LORD’s plan to reduce Gideon’s army to a mere three hundred men underscores the truth that victory rests on God’s will. Just as He called Gideon to rise early and trust Him for the deliverance of His people, the Lord calls believers to place their confidence in His power rather than in mere numbers or human might. This foreshadows the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus, who defeated sin and death through divine power rather than human strength (Romans 5:6-8).

Gideon sets up camp beside the spring of Harod while his foes, the Midianites, occupy the strategic ground near the hill of Moreh, foreshadowing the mighty triumph God will soon accomplish through the judge’s faithful obedience.