1
Jud 7:1-8.
英語原文
Jud 7:1-8.
GIDEON'S ARMY.
1. Jerubbaal--This had now become Gideon's honorable surname, "the enemy of Baal."
well--rather "spring of Harod," that is, "fear, trembling"; probably the same as the fountain in Jezreel
(1Sa 29:1).
It was situated not far from Gilboa, on the confines of Manasseh, and the name "Harod" was bestowed on it with evident reference to the panic which seized the majority of Gideon's troops. The host of the Midianites were on the northern side of the valley, seemingly deeper down in the descent towards the Jordan, near a little eminence.
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2. 耶和华对基甸说，跟随你的人……太多——尽管以色列军队只集结了三万二千人（约为米甸大军的六分之一），这数目仍然过多，因为耶和华的旨意是要教导以色列人一个难忘的功课——全心仰赖祂。
英語原文
2. the Lord said unto Gideon, The people . . . are too many--Although the Israelitish army mustered only thirty-two thousand (or one-sixth of the Midianitish host), the number was too great, for it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.
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3. 现在你要……向百姓宣告说，凡惧怕……的，可以回去——这宣告是按照既定律法
（申20:8）而发。
英語原文
3. Now therefore . . ., proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful . . . let him return--This proclamation was in terms of an established law
(De 20:8).
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4. 太多——神下令两次裁减，最后一次是用一种只让基甸一人知道的考验来进行的。
英語原文
4. too many--Two reductions were ordered, the last by the application of a test which was made known to Gideon alone.
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5. 领他们下到水旁——亚洲人行路或赶路的人到了水边，并不从容跪下俯身取水，而是只把身子尽量前弯，使手够着溪流，便急速把水扬起；手法如此灵巧，一滴也不洒落。看来以色列人对此做法并不陌生；这次采用这做法的人就被选为适合担任需迅速敏捷的任务。其余的便按神的吩咐被打发走了。
英語原文
5. bring them down unto the water--When the wandering people in Asia, on a journey or in haste, come to water, they do not stoop down with deliberation on their knees, but only bend forward as much as is necessary to bring their hand in contact with the stream, and throw it up with rapidity, and at the same time such address, that they do not drop a particle. The Israelites, it seems, were acquainted with the practice; and those who adopted it on this occasion were selected as fit for a work that required expedition. The rest were dismissed according to the divine direction.
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7. 耶和华说，我要用这舔水的三百人拯救你们——再难想到比这更严峻的考验：要带领如此稀少的一小群人，去攻击压倒性的敌军。但基甸对神所赐得胜的保证坚信不移；正因如此，他得了高度的称赞
（来11:32）。
英語原文
7. the Lord said, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you--It is scarcely possible to conceive a more severe trial than the command to attack the overwhelming forces of the enemy with such a handful of followers. But Gideon's faith in the divine assurance of victory was steadfast, and it is for this he is so highly commended
(Heb 11:32).
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8. 米甸的大军在下面的谷中——注意双方相对的位置，对于理解下文至为重要。
英語原文
8. the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley--Attention to the relative position of the parties is of the greatest importance to an understanding of what follows.
9
Jud 7:9-15.
Jud 7:9-15.
他因一个梦和那圆麦饼的解释得着鼓励。
9、10. 起来，下到营里去……但你若怕下去，就带你的仆人普拉同去——古时，地位崇高、品格高尚的人去作探子窥探敌营，并不算有损身份；基甸这次也是如此。但这秘密的差事是由神所引导，神要他听见一些能激励他和他军队士气的话。
英語原文
Jud 7:9-15.
HE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE DREAM AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BARLEY CAKE.
9, 10. Arise, get thee down unto the host . . . But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant--In ancient times it was reckoned no degradation for persons of the highest rank and character to act as spies on an enemy's camp; and so Gideon did on this occasion. But the secret errand was directed by God, who intended that he should hear something which might animate his own valor and that of his troops.
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11. 营外带兵器的军兵——「带兵器」指按扎营的常规法令与习俗、编在五个官长之下的队伍。这营地似乎没有任何壁垒防护，因为基甸毫无困难地走到了能听见谈话的地方，而这谈话对他至为重要。
英語原文
11. the outside of the armed men that were in the host--"Armed," means embodied under the five officers established by the ordinary laws and usages of encampments. The camp seems to have been unprotected by any rampart, since Gideon had no difficulty in reaching and overhearing a conversation, so important to him.
12
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12. 米甸人、亚玛力人……在谷中如蝗虫那样多；他们的骆驼无数——这是对阿拉伯营地最生动的描述。他们或裹衣酣睡，或在白日劫掠后歇息，无数的骆驼在他们四周伏卧。
英語原文
12. the Midianites and the Amalekites . . . lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number--a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.
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13. 我做了一梦，梦见一个圆麦饼滚入米甸营中——对一个身处此境的阿拉伯人来说，这是典型而极富意味的梦。麦饼从山上滚下，撞击帐棚，将其倾覆，自然地与以色列统帅所居之位及其筹谋的攻击联系起来。麦饼这一情节也很有意义：大麦本是穷人和牲畜的食物；但因入侵者对庄稼的大肆毁坏，无数人大概已被迫过起穷困匮乏的日子。
英語原文
13. I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian--This was a characteristic and very expressive dream for an Arab in the circumstances. The rolling down the hill, striking against the tents, and overturning them, naturally enough connected it in his mind with the position and meditated attack of the Israelitish leader. The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitudes must have been reduced to poor and scanty fare.
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15. 基甸听见这梦和梦的讲解……就敬拜神——这事起于神暗中掌管的护理；基甸从他敬虔感恩的反应来看，也视之为如此。这事在他和他部下的心中，产生了预期的效果——为他们的爱国之情注入了新的活力与动力。
英語原文
15. when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation . . . he worshipped--The incident originated in the secret overruling providence of God, and Gideon, from his expression of pious gratitude, regarded it as such. On his mind, as well as that of his followers, it produced the intended effect--that of imparting new animation and impulse to their patriotism.
16
Jud 7:16-24.
Jud 7:16-24.
他对付米甸的计策。
16-22. 他把三百人分作三队——分兵的目的是要造成包围敌军的假象。瓶子是空的，为要藏住火把，且是陶土所制，便于打碎；高举的灯火骤然发出亮光——号筒大声回响，加上以色列人一贯可怖的呼喊
（民23:21），
如今更因这些震撼的话语而格外可怕——划破了午夜的寂静。沉睡的人从梦中惊起；以色列人未发一箭；但敌人却混乱地奔逃，发出阿拉伯种族特有的狂野杂乱的叫喊。他们不分敌我地乱杀一气。恐慌既遍及全军，他们不久便仓皇溃逃，沿以法莲山脚奔向约旦河，逃到称为「金合欢之家」〔伯示他〕和「舞蹈之草场」〔亚伯米何拉〕的地方。
英語原文
Jud 7:16-24.
HIS STRATAGEM AGAINST MIDIAN.
16-22. he divided the three hundred men into three companies--The object of dividing his forces was, that they might seem to be surrounding the enemy. The pitchers were empty to conceal the torches, and made of earthenware, so as to be easily broken; and the sudden blaze of the held-up lights--the loud echo of the trumpets, and the shouts of Israel, always terrifying
(Nu 23:21),
and now more terrible than ever by the use of such striking words, broke through the stillness of the midnight air. The sleepers started from their rest; not a blow was dealt by the Israelites; but the enemy ran tumultuously, uttering the wild, discordant cries peculiar to the Arab race. They fought indiscriminately, not knowing friend from foe. The panic being universal, they soon precipitately fled, directing their flight down to the Jordan, by the foot of the mountains of Ephraim, to places known as the "house of the acacia" [Beth-shittah], and "the meadow of the dance" [Abel-meholah].
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23. 以色列人聚集——这些人显然是先前被打发走的，他们一直停留在离战场不远处，如今急切地加入向西南穿过山谷的追击。
英語原文
23. the men of Israel gathered themselves together--These were evidently the parties dismissed, who having lingered at a little distance from the scene of contest, now eagerly joined in the pursuit southwestward through the valley.
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24、25. 基甸打发人走遍以法莲山地——以法莲人在南面，可以及时相助。
下来……在伯巴拉的前面截断水道——（参见
士3:28的注释）。
这些是约旦河的北面渡口，在马里干河的东北东。
以法莲人聚集……直到伯巴拉——一场新的交锋随之而起，两名副首领被擒，并分别在所擒之处被杀。两地按这两位首领而得名：俄立，即「乌鸦」；西伊伯，即「狼」——这些名称正合阿拉伯领袖的身份。
英語原文
24, 25. Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim--The Ephraimites lay on the south and could render seasonable aid.
Come . . . take before them the waters unto Beth-barah--(See on
Jud 3:28).
These were the northern fords of the Jordan, to the east-northeast of wady Maleh.
the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together . . . unto Beth-barah--A new conflict ensued, in which two secondary chiefs were seized and slain on the spots where they were respectively taken. The spots were named after these chiefs, Oreb, "the Raven," and Zeeb, "the Wolf"--appropriate designations of Arab leaders.
Jud 7:1-8.
基甸的军队。
1. 耶路巴力——这如今已成了基甸的尊号，意为「巴力的仇敌」。
泉——更准确说是「哈律泉」，即「战兢、颤抖」之意；大概就是耶斯列的那股泉源
（撒上29:1）。
它位于离基列波不远、玛拿西边界之处，「哈律」一名显然是因基甸大军中多数兵丁所生恐慌而得名。米甸大军在谷的北面，似乎更深入约旦河下坡处，靠近一个小高地。