Judges 6:33-35

Judges 6:33-35

[33] Then all the Midianites  and the Amalekites  and the children  of the east  were gathered  together,  and went over,  and pitched  in the valley  of Jezreel.  [34] But the Spirit  of the LORD  came  upon Gideon,  and he blew  a trumpet;  and Abiezer  was gathered  after  [35] And he sent  messengers  throughout all Manasseh;  who also was gathered  after  him: and he sent  messengers  unto Asher,  and unto Zebulun,  and unto Naphtali;  and they came up  to meet 

What does Judges 6:33-35 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some time later Israel"s enemies from the East again crossed the Jordan and massed their forces in the Valley of Jezreel near Gideon"s home ( Judges 6:33). They numbered135 ,000 , or135 units, depending on the meaning of eleph here ( Judges 8:10). "Thousand" seems preferable (cf. Judges 7:12). This foray appears to have been the Midianites" annual invasion.
Gideon wished to reconfirm the Lord"s promise to be with him and to lead him in victory against the enemy. Perhaps considerable time had elapsed between Gideon"s call ( Judges 6:11-32) and this new threat of attack. The Spirit of the Lord came upon (lit. clothed) Gideon in a special way strengthening and defending him for his great task ( Judges 6:34; cf. Genesis 28:20; Isaiah 59:17). He then sent out a call for men from several of the other tribes to join him and his family to fight the Midianites ( Judges 6:34-35).
"When the "spirit of the LORD" first appears in Judges 3:10, it possesses Othniel, the first judge; and deliverance follows immediately. Here, however, when the spirit possesses Gideon, and despite the auspicious sign that several tribes fall into place when Gideon sounds the trumpet ( Judges 6:34-35), Gideon hesitates ( Judges 6:36-40). Apparently, the spirit is not effective apart from human participation ..." [1]