Judges 7:21
in Judges 7Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight.
KJV
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
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This verse in Judges 7
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The effect to the Midianites would be, that they were surrounded by a mighty host. Their own camp being in darkness, as soon as the confusion of flight began they would mistake friends for foes, and fleers for pursuers.
This site's exposition
the beginning of the middle
on Judges 7:19-21
The middle watch begins near midnight, just after the guard changed, so the sentries were the least settled and the camp was asleep. Israel divided the night into three watches, which is why Exodus 14:24 can speak of the morning watch. The three hundred break their jars, then "Each Israelite took his position around the camp" while Midian fled, the posture Moses called for at Exodus 14:13.
This site's exposition
Each Israelite took his position
Albert Barnes explains why standing still was enough. The ring of torches suggested a great host all around, and in their own dark camp the Midianites took friends for enemies and fleeing men for pursuers. Verse 22 records the result.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
2 And the L ORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:97%@v2-3
), sounding his trumpet to excite them to fight one another, and holding out his torch to light them to their ruin. They did not rush into the host of Midian, as greedy either of blood or spoil, but patiently stood still to see the salvation of the Lord, a salvation purely of his own working.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And they stood every man in his place around the camp,....
But there was more of a supernatural power impressing this terror upon them. God himself gave it the setting on, to show how that promise should have been fulfilled if they had not forfeited it, One of you shall chase a thousand. See the power of imagination, and how much it may become a terror at some times, as at other times it is a pleasure.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They stood every man in his place - Each of the three companies kept its station, and continued to sound their trumpets. The Midianites seeing this, and believing that they were the trumpets of a numerous army which had then penetrated their camp, were thrown instantly into confusion; and supposing that their enemies were in the midst of them, they turned their swords against every man they met, while at the same time they endeavored to escape for their lives. No stratagem was ever better imagined, better executed, or more completely successful.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ | vaiyaamdu | and they stood | H5975 → | 521 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| תַּחְתָּ֔יו | tachtav | in place his | H8478 → | 505 times |
| סָבִ֖יב | saviv | round about | H5439 → | 336 times |
| לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה | lamachaneh | <to> the camp | H4264 → | 215 times |
| וַיָּ֧רָץ | vaiyarotz | and it ran | H7323 → | |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה | hamachaneh | the army | H4264 → | 215 times |
| וַיָּרִ֖יעוּ | vaiyariu | and they shouted in distress | H7321 → | |
| וַיָּנֽוּסוּ׃ | vaiyanisu | and they fled | H5127 → | 159 times |
וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙and they stood
vaiyaamduH5975 →521 times
אִ֣ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
תַּחְתָּ֔יוin place his
tachtavH8478 →505 times
סָבִ֖יבround about
savivH5439 →336 times
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה<to> the camp
lamachanehH4264 →215 times
וַיָּ֧רָץand it ran
vaiyarotzH7323 →
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הthe army
hamachanehH4264 →215 times
וַיָּרִ֖יעוּand they shouted in distress
vaiyariuH7321 →
וַיָּנֽוּסוּ׃and they fled
vaiyanisuH5127 →159 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 28:7
The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.
- Psalms 53:5
There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.
- Isaiah 26:3–4
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Psalms 27:1–2
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Psalms 112:7
He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 28:7
Through
2 Chronicles 20:17You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out…
it leads to
- Exodus 14:13–14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never…
- 2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him,…
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Exodus 14:13–14
Where this verse is studied
About Judges
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.