E. THE PURSUIT AND THE VICTORY
And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against Midian and take the Jordan before them." So they came down.
And Gideon came to the Jordan, and pa.s.sed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
Now the two kings of Midian had with them about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the host. And Gideon smote the host. And the two kings of Midian fled. And Gideon pursued after them and took them. And he slew them, and took the crescents that were on their camels" necks.
=--47. The Result of the Victory= (Judg. 8:22-27)
Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, "Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son"s son also: for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian."
And Gideon said unto them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you."
And Gideon said unto them, "I would desire and request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his spoil."
And they answered, "We will willingly give them."
And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels" necks. And Gideon made an idol thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went after it there: and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
THE MEANING OF THE STORY
153. After the death of Joshua, the Hebrews had a hard time from their many enemies. Just as our forefathers were constantly in danger from the Indians, so the Hebrew settlers were often attacked and their goods taken from them. But in their case it was worse, because their enemies often came against them in great armies and conquered them. Israel had no king or governor, but from time to time some hero rose up to deliver them. These men were called "judges," because in addition to leading the people in war they decided matters of dispute. Their stories are told in the Book of Judges. Gideon was one of these military heroes.
154 (--45A). The Midianites were a wandering people of the desert. They wandered on the borders of Edom and Moab. Find these places on the map, southeast of Canaan. As they raised no crops themselves they delighted to attack the agricultural people after the crops were harvested and steal all the result of the year"s work. That is the meaning of the fear of the Hebrews that is described. Where did the Hebrews hide? How many were there of the enemy?
155 (--45B). Notice that Gideon was afraid to thresh his wheat in the open place, so he was beating out a few sheaves in the hollow where they pressed the grapes. What did the angel say to him when he saw his powerful frame and how vigorously he was beating his wheat? Tell the conversation, showing how the angel encouraged Gideon. He was a brave man, but like everyone else he had lost heart. What sign was given to Gideon? It was such a solemn thing to be called by G.o.d to deliver the people that Gideon was afraid, but G.o.d encouraged him. What did Gideon build there? What did that mean?
156 (--45C). What further sign was given to Gideon to make him sure that the Lord was with him?
157 (--46A). There were twelve tribes in Israel and each tribe consisted of a number of clans. Gideon was of the clan of Abiezer, which was part of the tribe of Mana.s.seh. Look at the map of Canaan and note the names of the Twelve Tribes. In the tribe of Issachar is the Plain of Esdraelon. That was the great plain where many of the battles of Israel were fought. If you can look at a relief map you will see how this great plain lay. The enemy had crossed the Jordan and camped on this plain.
When Gideon heard it, he was stirred to the heart. What did he do? First his own clan followed him. Then he called his own tribe to follow him.
Then he sent to three of the northern tribes. Find all these on the map.
Try to imagine the Israelites all gathering together at the call of the hero.
158 (--46B). Here we have a strange story. It would seem as if the army ought to be as large as possible, but the Lord told Gideon that he did not want the people to boast of the victory. Who were told to go home?
How large was the army? How many went home? How many remained? But still the numbers were too large: what was the second plan to reduce them? How many at last were left?
159 (--46C). What did Gideon do in order to find out about the enemy?
Tell the dream that he heard explained.
160 (--46D). Read carefully and explain what Gideon told his men. He had a stratagem in mind to frighten the enemy. It is to be noted that the men who went home left their provisions and their trumpets, so Gideon had as many trumpets in his little army as in the big army. What would the Midianites think when they heard three hundred trumpets blowing? The night was divided into three watches. The sentries had just been set for the second watch when the attack was made. Describe the actions of the Israelites. What did they shout? The Midianites killed one another in the confusion.
161 (--46E). Gideon wanted the great tribe of Ephraim to help in the fight, so he asked them to go down to the river Jordan to cut off the flying enemy. What did Gideon do himself? What happened to the kings of Midian and the host?
162 (--47). What did the grateful people offer Gideon? Why did he refuse?
What great American refused to be a king? The story closes in disappointment. Is it not strange that after the great victory Gideon should forget G.o.d? Tell the story of making the idol.
WRITTEN REVIEW
Make a search during the next week for an example of some brave person standing up like Gideon for a good cause when others hold back. There is sure to be someone if you are keen enough to find him. It may be at school or in the city, or you may hear of someone in the newspapers.
Talk it over with your companions until you have found the best example.
Write about it in your notebook.
XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN
THE STORY
=--48. The Birth of Samson= (Judg. 13:2-6, 24)
There was a certain man of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife bare no child. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, "Behold now, thou shalt bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for, lo, thou shalt bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head: for the child shall be a n.a.z.irite unto G.o.d from his birth: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
Then the woman came and told her husband.
And the woman bare a son and called his name Samson: and the child grew and the Lord blessed him.
=--49. The Riddle at the Wedding Feast= (Judg. 14)
And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife."
Then his father and his mother said unto him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the Philistines?"
And Samson said unto his father, "Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well."
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
And after a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went, and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion. And his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it came to pa.s.s, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
And Samson said unto them, "Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment: but if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment."
And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it."
And he said unto them,
"Out of the eater came forth meat, And out of the strong came forth sweetness."
And they could not in three days declare the riddle.
And it came to pa.s.s on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson"s wife, "Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father"s house with fire: have ye called us to impoverish us? is it not so?"