Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Judges 7:24
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, etc.] To raise the inhabitants of it, who lay nearer Jordan, to which the Midianites would make, in order to intercept them in their flight; or however get possession of the fords of Jordan before them, and hinder their passage over it: saying, come down against the Midianites; for though he had routed them, and they were fled before him, yet he had not men enough with him to destroy them; and besides, as they had their camels to ride on, and he and his men only on foot, they could not come up with them: and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan; namely, all the fords and passages over Jordan, reaching from the lake of Gennesaret to Bethbarah, the same with Bethabara, (<430128>John 1:28) which was a passage over Jordan; or these waters were, as Kimchi thinks, distinct from those of Jordan; and were waters that lay in the way of the flight of the Midianites, before they came to Bethbarah, their passage over Jordan; and Jarchi thinks they were waters, which divided between Syria and the land of Canaan, which is not likely; others think the waters are the same with Jordan, and render the words, “take the waters” --even Jordan f164; gain the passes over that before them, and so prevent their escape to their own land: then all the men of Ephraim; that is, great numbers of them, whose hearts were inclined to, and whose situation lay best for this service: gathered themselves together; in a body, at some place of rendezvous appointed: and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan; took possession of all the passes, and guarded them, as Gideon directed.
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