Mount Gilead

Judges 7:1-3

7 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.

² And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ³ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary – Judges 7:1-3

The reduction of the army of Gideon (7:1–8a).

7:1–2. Gideon … camped at the spring of Harod (probably En Harod at the foot of Mount Gilboa, a spring that winds eastward to the Jordan River through the Harod Valley) with all his men, who numbered 32,000 (v. 3). The Midianite force of 135,000 (cf. 8:10) was camped three or four miles north of them at the foot of the hill of Moreh, the prominent hill rising like a sentinel to guard the eastern entrance to the Jezreel Valley. God, whose strength does not depend on numbers (cf. Ps. 33:16), purposed to deliver Midian to Israel through a few men so Israel would not boast that they had won the battle themselves. Gideon was no doubt perplexed by God’s words, You have too many men.

7:3–6. The means by which the size of Gideon’s force was reduced was twofold: (a) 22,000 fearful recruits were summarily dismissed (in harmony with Deut. 20:8) and allowed to return to their homes; and (b) 9,700 apparently less-watchful men who failed a simple test were also discharged (Jud. 7:4–8; or at least were granted a leave of absence; cf. v. 23).

 

Song of Solomon 7:1-5

4 Behold, you are fair, my love!

Behold, you are fair!

You have dove’s eyes behind your veil.

Your hair is like a flock of goats,

Going down from Mount Gilead.

²Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep

Which have come up from the washing,

Every one of which bears twins,

And none is barren among them.

³Your lips are like a strand of scarlet,

And your mouth is lovely.

Your temples behind your veil

Are like a piece of pomegranate.

⁴Your neck is like the tower of David,

Built for an armory,

On which hang a thousand bucklers,

All shields of mighty men.

⁵Your two breasts are like two fawns,

Twins of a gazelle,

Which feed among the lilies.

 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary – Song of Solomon  7:1-5

the beloved’s charms (7:1–6)

7:1. The beloved’s feet, he said, were beautiful and the shape of her legs reminded him of the exquisite work of a master artisan.

7:2. The comparison of the beloved’s navel to a rounded goblet of wine would be grotesque if taken as a visual comparison. The lover meant that her body was as desirable and as intoxicating as wine (cf. 4:10). Likewise the comparison of her waist to a mound of wheat would be absurd if interpreted visually. Wheat was one of the main food sources in ancient Palestine (Deut. 32:14; 2 Sam. 4:6; 17:28). Thus his wife was both his “food” (wheat) and “drink” (wine) in the sense that her physical expressions of love nourished and satisfied him.

7:3–4. On the comparison of her breasts to fawns see the comments on 4:5. Her neckwas beautiful and valuable like an ivory tower (cf. 4:4). Her eyes were beautiful and their effect on him was as refreshing as the pools of Heshbon, a Moabite city (Num. 21:25) famous for its fertility and water reservoirs. “The soft glance of her eyes reflects the peace and beauty of the Heshbon pools” (Lehrman, “The Song of Songs,” p. 26). Those pools were near the city gate of Bath Rabbim, whose location is unknown. Possibly Bath Rabbim was the name of the gate. Her well-shaped nose was like the tower of Lebanon … toward Damascus. This strong tower helped protect Damascus so her lovely features reflected her strong character.

7:5. By comparing her head to Mount Carmel, he meant that she had a queenly bearing that was majestic and awesome. (On the majesty of Mount Carmel see Isa. 35:2; Jer. 46:18.) The beloved’s hair (cf. Song 4:1; 6:5) was so beautiful that the powerful monarch Solomon was held captive by its beauty.

 

God in all His holiness is only your creator until you accept Him. After you accept Him, He becomes your God, your Father, your creator. He will cleanse you of your sins and accept you into the kingdom of His heaven and hear your prayers.

Love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. Also, love your neighbor as you love yourself.

God is testing us every day and has given us the right to make our own choices. Do you know which ones are the right choices in God’s mind?

Fear God, love God, honor God, and trust God with all your heart, mind and soul and you will receive and experience the joy of the promises of God’s blessings in His time. And always remember to ask the Father for His help and guidance in all things.

 

Prayer:   Father, blessed is your Holy name. We are grateful for Your Son our risen Christ and Your Spirit. We praise You for the opportunity to glorify Your Son and live with Him forever. We also praise you for the opportunity to be able to choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior and to be elect children of Yours. We praise you for the laws You have set down to teach us, to keep our lives in harmony, to learn how to treat others and how to live within your boundaries. Please bless those who have read this article for they too are seeking Your righteous truth, love, wisdom and understanding.

Father, I pray these brothers and sisters have or will come to realize that Your existence is a treasure of grace and love that You have for all Your elect children.

May God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Christianity be our guiding lights for eternity. Let it be Your will Lord not mine. Please come Lord Jesus.

I pray in Jesus sweet name and to His glory through the power of The Holy Spirit,

Amen.