1
Jud 7:1-8.
繁體中文
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.
2
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繁體中文
2. 耶和華對基甸說，跟隨你的人……太多——儘管以色列軍隊只集結了三萬二千人（約為米甸大軍的六分之一），這數目仍然過多，因為耶和華的旨意是要教導以色列人一個難忘的功課——全心仰賴祂。
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.
3
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繁體中文
3. 現在你要……向百姓宣告說，凡懼怕……的，可以回去——這宣告是按照既定律法
（申20:8）而發。
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).
4
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繁體中文
4. 太多——神下令兩次裁減，最後一次是用一種只讓基甸一人知道的考驗來進行的。
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.
5
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繁體中文
5. 領他們下到水旁——亞洲人行路或趕路的人到了水邊，並不從容跪下俯身取水，而是只把身子盡量前彎，使手夠著溪流，便急速把水揚起；手法如此靈巧，一滴也不灑落。看來以色列人對此做法並不陌生；這次採用這做法的人就被選為適合擔任需迅速敏捷的任務。其餘的便按神的吩咐被打發走了。
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.
7
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繁體中文
7. 耶和華說，我要用這舔水的三百人拯救你們——再難想到比這更嚴峻的考驗：要帶領如此稀少的一小群人，去攻擊壓倒性的敵軍。但基甸對神所賜得勝的保證堅信不移；正因如此，他得了高度的稱讚
（來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).
8
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繁體中文
8. 米甸的大軍在下面的谷中——注意雙方相對的位置，對於理解下文至為重要。
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.
繁體中文
Jud 7:9-15.
他因一個夢和那圓麥餅的解釋得著鼓勵。
9、10. 起來，下到營裏去……但你若怕下去，就帶你的僕人普拉同去——古時，地位崇高、品格高尚的人去作探子窺探敵營，並不算有損身分；基甸這次也是如此。但這秘密的差事是由神所引導，神要他聽見一些能激勵他和他軍隊士氣的話。
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.
11
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繁體中文
11. 營外帶兵器的軍兵——「帶兵器」指按紮營的常規法令與習俗、編在五個官長之下的隊伍。這營地似乎沒有任何壁壘防護，因為基甸毫無困難地走到了能聽見談話的地方，而這談話對他至為重要。
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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繁體中文
12. 米甸人、亞瑪力人……在谷中如蝗蟲那樣多；他們的駱駝無數——這是對阿拉伯營地最生動的描述。他們或裹衣酣睡，或在白日劫掠後歇息，無數的駱駝在他們四周伏臥。
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.
13
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繁體中文
13. 我做了一夢，夢見一個圓麥餅滾入米甸營中——對一個身處此境的阿拉伯人來說，這是典型而極富意味的夢。麥餅從山上滾下，撞擊帳棚，將其傾覆，自然地與以色列統帥所居之位及其籌謀的攻擊聯繫起來。麥餅這一情節也很有意義：大麥本是窮人和牲畜的食物；但因入侵者對莊稼的大肆毀壞，無數人大概已被迫過起窮困匱乏的日子。
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.
15
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繁體中文
15. 基甸聽見了這夢的講述和講解……就敬拜——這事件始於神隱密的護理之工，基甸以敬虔感恩的心，也將之視為如此。這事在他心中，以及在他眾隨從心中，都產生了預期的效果——為他們的愛國之心注入了新的活力與動力。
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.
繁體中文
Jud 7:16-24.
他用計謀抵禦米甸。
16-22. 他把三百人分作三隊——分兵的目的，是要看起來像是包圍了敵軍。瓶子是空的，為要藏住火把，並且是瓦器，易於打碎；高舉的火把突然發出耀光——號角宏亮的回聲，以及以色列人的呐喊，本就令人驚懼
(Nu 23:21)，
如今因使用了這樣驚心動魄的話語，更加可怕——這一切劃破了午夜空氣的寂靜。沉睡的人從床上驚起；以色列人一擊也未曾發出；敵軍卻混亂奔跑，發出阿拉伯民族特有的狂亂而刺耳的喊叫。他們胡亂廝殺，不分敵友。驚恐普遍蔓延，他們很快便倉皇逃遁，沿著以法蓮山腳向約旦河而下，逃到稱為「亞舍木之家」[Beth-shittah] 與「舞蹈之草場」[Abel-meholah] 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].
23
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繁體中文
23. 以色列人就聚集——這顯然是先前被遣散的各隊，他們在戰場不遠處逗留，如今踴躍加入追趕，向西南穿過山谷推進。
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.
24
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繁體中文
24, 25. 基甸打發人走遍以法蓮山地——以法蓮人位於南方，能提供及時的援助。
說：你們……在伯巴拉前方截斷水源——（參
Jud 3:28)。
這些是約旦河的北部渡口，在馬勒幹河的東北偏東方向。
以法蓮人就聚集……直到伯巴拉——接著又發生了一場新的衝突，在這場衝突中，兩名副將被擒獲，並在各自被擒之處被殺。那些地點以這兩位首領的名字命名：俄立，意為「烏鴉」；西伊伯，意為「狼」——對阿拉伯首領恰當不過的稱呼。
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.
基甸的軍隊。
1. 耶路巴力——這如今已成了基甸的尊號，意為「巴力的仇敵」。
泉——更準確說是「哈律泉」，即「戰兢、顫抖」之意；大概就是耶斯列的那股泉源
（撒上29:1）。
它位於離基列波不遠、瑪拿西邊界之處，「哈律」一名顯然是因基甸大軍中多數兵丁所生恐慌而得名。米甸大軍在谷的北面，似乎更深入約旦河下坡處，靠近一個小高地。