Bible Strands
Judges 7:19
Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Gideon and a hundred men arrive at the edge of the enemy camp at the beginning of the middle watch, immediately after the guard change, to execute the ambush.
The words — וַיָּבֹא (va-yavo) means "and he went" or arrival, and בִּקְצֵה הַמַּחֲנֶה (bi-k'tseh ha-machaneh) translates literally to "at the edge of the camp."
The thread — The watch timing corresponds to Exodus 14:24, while the shattered jars echo the breaking imagery of Psalms 2:9 and the sudden judgment motif in Revelation 16:15.
Why it lands — The text records a precise military maneuver executed at a specific hour, requiring the reader to note how obedience to timing and action triggers the described outcome.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
Cross-references
- Exodus 14:24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.
- Psalms 2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
- Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch.
- Jeremiah 13:13 then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 19:1 This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,
- Matthew 25:6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.