[222]
When Gideon had heard this dream, good hope and courage came upon
him; and he commanded his soldiers to arm themselves, and told them of
this vision of their enemies. They also took courage at what was told them,
and were ready to perform what he should enjoin them. So Gideon divided
his army into three parts, and brought it out about the fourth watch of
the night, each part containing a hundred men: they all bare empty pitchers
and lighted lamps in their hands, that their onset might not be discovered
by their enemies. They had also each of them a ram's horn in his right
hand, which he used instead of a trumpet. The enemy's camp took up a large
space of ground, for it happened that they had a great many camels; and
as they were divided into different nations, so they were all contained
in one circle. Now when the Hebrews did as they were ordered beforehand,
upon their approach to their enemies, and, on the signal given, sounded
with their rams' horns, and brake their pitchers, and set upon their enemies
with their lamps, and a great shout, and cried, "Victory to Gideon,
by God's assistance," a disorder and a fright seized upon the other
men while they were half asleep, for it was night-time, as God would have
it; so that a few of them were slain by their enemies, but the greatest
part by their own soldiers, on account of the diversity of their language;
and when they were once put into disorder, they killed all that they met
with, as thinking them to be enemies also. Thus there was a great slaughter
made. And as the report of Gideon's victory came to the Israelites, they
took their weapons and pursued their enemies, and overtook them in a certain
valley encompassed with torrents, a place which these could not get over;
so they encompassed them, and slew them all, with their kings, Oreb and
Zeeb. But the remaining captains led those soldiers that were left, which
were about eighteen thousand, and pitched their camp a great way off the
Israelites. However, Gideon did not grudge his pains, but pursued them
with all his army, and joining battle with them, cut off the whole enemies'
army, and took the other leaders, Zeba and Zalmuna, and made them captives.
Now there were slain in this battle of the Midianites, and of their auxiliaries
the Arabians, about a hundred and twenty thousand; and the Hebrews took
a great prey, gold, and silver, and garments, and camels, and asses. And
when Gideon was come to his own country of Ophrah, he slew the kings of
the Midianites.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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