MPV Commentary

He Is Encouraged by the Dream and the Interpretation of the

Gideon is instructed to go down to the enemy camp with Phurah as his servant (Jud 7:9-10). This was a common practice in ancient times for people of high rank to act as spies, and Gideon's mission was directed by God. The Lord intended for him to overhear something that would boost his courage and that of his troops.

The enemy camp was not fortified with walls or ramparts, allowing Gideon to easily reach and eavesdrop on a conversation crucial to his plans (Jud 7:11). He observed the Midianites and Amalekites lying in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude, their camels stretching out as far as the eye could see (Jud 7:12).

One of the enemy soldiers reported a dream he had, where a cake of barley bread rolled into the camp of Midian, striking against the tents and overturning them. This was a vivid and meaningful dream for an Arab in Gideon's situation, connecting the rolling down of the hill with the Israelites' planned attack (Jud 7:13). The fact that the cake was made from barley, typically eaten by the poor and beasts, added significance to the dream.

When Gideon heard the story of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God in gratitude. This incident was a demonstration of God's secret providence at work, and it had the desired effect on Gideon and his followers – it gave them new energy and motivation for their patriotism (Jud 7:15).