Shuphatym (Judges) — 7

Gydaun Defeats the Midianites

1 So Yarub-baal (that is, Gydaun) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harud. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Murah. 

2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Gydaun, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Yasharalym will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 

3 Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So twenty two thousand of them went home, leaving only ten thousand who were willing to fight.

4 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Gydaun, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” 

5 When Gydaun took his warriors down to the water, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” 

6 Only three hundred of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.

7 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Gydaun, “With these three hundred men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” 

8 So Gydaun collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the three hundred men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gydaun. 

9 That night 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! 

10 But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. 

11 Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gydaun took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp. 

12 The armies of Midian, Amalak, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore, too many to count! 

13 Gydaun crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream, the man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”

14 His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH has given Gydaun son of Yuash, the Yasharalym, victory over Midian and all its allies!”

15 When Gydaun heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. Then he returned to the Yasharalym camp and shouted, “Get up! For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH 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 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and for Gydaun!’”

19 It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gydaun and the one hundred 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 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and for Gydaun!”

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 three hundred Yasharalym blew their rams’ horns, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH 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 Bath-shittah near Zararah and to the border of Abal-mahulah near Tabbath.

23 Then Gydaun sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Ashar, and Manassah, who joined in chasing the army of Midian. 

24 Gydaun also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Aphraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Yurdan River at Bath-barah.” So all the men of Aphraim did as they were told. 

25 They captured Urab and Zaab, the two Midianite commanders, killing Urab at the rock of Urab, and Zaab at the winepress of Zaab. And they continued to chase the Midianites. Afterward the Yasharalym brought the heads of Urab and Zaab to Gydaun, who was by the Yurdan River.