Judges 6:33

“Then all the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, etc.] The Arabians, (<070603>Judges 6:3) were gathered together; not as being alarmed with this fact of Gideon in destroying the altar of Baal, and so came to avenge it; but it was their usual time of gathering together to come into Canaan, being harvest time, as appears by Gideon being employed in threshing, to fetch away the increase of the earth, as they had done for some years past: and went over; the river Jordan, which lay between the Midianites and the Israelites: and pitched in the valley of Jezreel; a very large, delightful, and fruitful plain; of which (see Gill on “<280105>Hosea 1:5”); a very proper place…”

“THE SIGNS. (Jdg 6:33-39) all the Midianites . . . pitched in Jezreel--The confederated troops of Midian, Amalek, and their neighbors, crossing the Jordan to make a fresh inroad on Canaan, encamped in the plains of Esdraelon (anciently Jezreel). The southern part of the Ghor lies in a very low level, so that there is a steep and difficult descent into Canaan by the southern wadies. Keeping this in view, we see the reason why the Midianite army, from the east of Jordan, entered Canaan by the northern wadies of the Ghor, opposite Jezreel.”

“A fresh invasion, and the last, of Midianites Amalekites, and Arabs (see Judges 6:3). But the Israelites, instead of hiding in dens and caves, and tamely leaving all their substance as pIunder to the invaders, now rally around their leader. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Of Jezreel - Not Jezreel in Judah, but another in the borders of Manasseh and Issachar, which was not far distant from Ophrah, where Gideon dwelt. Judges 6:34”

“Then all: Psa 3:1, Psa 27:2, Psa 27:3, Psa 118:10-12; Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10; Rom 8:35-39 children: Jdg 6:3, Jdg 8:10, Jdg 8:11; Ch1 5:19; Job 1:3 went over: Jdg 7:24; Jos 3:16 the valley: Jos 17:16, Jos 19:18; Kg1 18:45, Kg1 21:1 Judges 6:34”

“Equipment of Gideon for the Battle. - When the Midianites and their allies once more invaded the land of Israel, Gideon was seized by the Spirit of God, so that he gathered together an army from the northern tribes of Israel ( Jdg 6:33-35), and entreated God to assure him by a sign of gaining the victory over the enemy ( Jdg 6:36-40). Jdg 6:33-35 The enemy gathered together again, went over (viz., across) the Jordan in the neighbourhood of Beisan (see at Jdg 7:24 and Jdg 8:4), and encamped in the valley of Jezreel (see at Jos 17:16). "And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon" (לבשׁה, clothed, i.e., descended upon him, and laid itself around him as it were like a coat of mail, or a strong…”