three companies: This small number of men, thus divided, would be able to encompass the whole camp of the Midianites. Concealing the lamps in the pitchers, they would pass unobserved to their appointed stations; then, in the dead of the night, when most of the enemy were fast asleep, all at once breaking their pitchers one against another, with as much noise as they could, and blowing the trumpets and shouting; they would occasion an exceedingly great alarm. The obedience of faith alone could have induced such an expedient, which no doubt God directed Gideon to employ. - Scott. a trumpet: Heb. trumpets in the hand of all of them empty: 2Co 4:7 lamps: or, fire-brands, or torches Reciprocal: Num 10:9 - oppresseth Jdg 7:19 - brake Jdg 15:15 - slew 1Sa 11:11 - in three 1Sa 17:40 - staff 2Sa 18:2 - a third part 1Ki 20:14 - young men 1Ki 20:15 - two hundred 1Co 14:8 - General