Judges 7:4 - Yahweh said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”
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What does "Judges 7:4" mean?
This verse from Judges 7:4 is part of a larger narrative where God is drastically reducing the size of Gideon's army. He's doing this for a specific reason: to make it clear that the victory over the Midianites will be due to God's power, not the strength of Israel's army.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"Yahweh said to Gideon, 'There are still too many people.'": Even after previous reductions, God deems the army too large. He wants to make it undeniably clear that the upcoming victory will be a result of divine intervention, not military might. The size of the army could lead to Israelites taking pride in themselves rather than attributing the victory to God.
"Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there.": God is going to use a specific method at the water to further reduce the number of soldiers. This "test" is not about physical strength or military skills. It's about a particular behavior and attitude displayed while drinking water.
"It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.'": God is making it clear that Gideon should only select those who pass God's specified test. God will provide specific instructions, and Gideon is to follow them precisely.
In essence, the verse means:
God is about to use a specific and somewhat unusual test at the water to further reduce Gideon's army. Gideon is to follow God's instructions and only select those who pass the test. This is all part of God's plan to ensure that the victory over the Midianites is attributed to God alone, not to the size or skill of the Israelite army.
The subsequent verses describe the test: those who lap the water like a dog, keeping their eyes alert and ready, are selected. Those who kneel to drink are dismissed. This test is often interpreted as a measure of alertness, discipline, and trust in God. Those who lap the water are considered more alert and less concerned with their own comfort, while those who kneel are seen as prioritizing their immediate needs over potential danger.
The result is that Gideon ends up with only 300 soldiers, a tiny fraction of the original army. This drastically reduced force makes it all the more obvious that their victory is a miracle orchestrated by God.
Judges 7:4 - Yahweh said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”
What does "Judges 7:4" mean?
This verse from Judges 7:4 is part of a larger narrative where God is drastically reducing the size of Gideon's army. He's doing this for a specific reason: to make it clear that the victory over the Midianites will be due to God's power, not the strength of Israel's army.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"Yahweh said to Gideon, 'There are still too many people.'": Even after previous reductions, God deems the army too large. He wants to make it undeniably clear that the upcoming victory will be a result of divine intervention, not military might. The size of the army could lead to Israelites taking pride in themselves rather than attributing the victory to God.
"Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there.": God is going to use a specific method at the water to further reduce the number of soldiers. This "test" is not about physical strength or military skills. It's about a particular behavior and attitude displayed while drinking water.
"It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.'": God is making it clear that Gideon should only select those who pass God's specified test. God will provide specific instructions, and Gideon is to follow them precisely.
In essence, the verse means:
God is about to use a specific and somewhat unusual test at the water to further reduce Gideon's army. Gideon is to follow God's instructions and only select those who pass the test. This is all part of God's plan to ensure that the victory over the Midianites is attributed to God alone, not to the size or skill of the Israelite army.
The subsequent verses describe the test: those who lap the water like a dog, keeping their eyes alert and ready, are selected. Those who kneel to drink are dismissed. This test is often interpreted as a measure of alertness, discipline, and trust in God. Those who lap the water are considered more alert and less concerned with their own comfort, while those who kneel are seen as prioritizing their immediate needs over potential danger.
The result is that Gideon ends up with only 300 soldiers, a tiny fraction of the original army. This drastically reduced force makes it all the more obvious that their victory is a miracle orchestrated by God.