Judges — Chapter 7

God reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300, lest Israel boast that it was their own power that saved them. Lapide: \"I chose the weak things of the world to confound the strong\" (1 Cor. 1:27). God's typical method is to work through apparent weakness so that the glory belongs to Him alone. The 300 represent the sign of the Cross (the letter Tau = 300 in Greek), per S. Gregory.

The three hundred who lapped water with the hand to the mouth, not kneeling: Lapide follows Lyranus, Arias, and Serarius in holding these were the more disciplined and watchful soldiers — ever on guard, not prostrating themselves to earthly desires. Tropologically: those chosen by God are those who, even when satisfying bodily needs, keep their eyes fixed on the spiritual combat.

The dream of the barley loaf rolling into the Midianite camp and overthrowing the tent. Allegorically (S. Augustine): \"The barley loaf is a type of the Eucharist\" — the humble bread that descends from heaven (John 6:51) overturns the camp of the enemy and destroys the tents of sin. The adversary recognises in it the sword of Gideon = the Word of God made flesh.

Gideon divides three hundred men into three companies with torches hidden in pitchers, and trumpets. When they break the pitchers the torches blaze forth. Allegorically (S. Ambrose): the earthen pitchers are mortal bodies; the torches within are the light of the Holy Ghost; the preachers of the Gospel break themselves (in mortification) so that the interior light of grace shines forth to confound the enemy.