Gideon's army carried trumpets and concealed torches in clay pots

Question

HiI was reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon%27s_Trumpet Wikipedia article. I have a problem understanding one essential detail in the paragraph quoted below. Is "they" an antecedent for "torches in clay pots"? How could 'torches' make noise when the trumpet was blown? Please help me it. Thank you.The name is a play on words, using the defendant's last name and invoking the biblical story in which Gideon ordered his small force to attack a much larger enemy camp. Gideon's army carried trumpets and concealed torches in clay pots. When the call to attack came, the noise and light they made tricked their enemies into thinking that a much larger army was attacking them. Thus, Gideon won the battle with little actual fighting (Judges 7:16-22).RegardsJackson

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

'They' refers to both the trumpets (noise) and torches (light).

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr. Micawber.

Sorry, I still don't understand it. So, please help me with it.

The name is a play on words, using the defendant's last name and invoking the biblical story in which Gideon ordered his small force to attack a much larger enemy camp. Gideon's army carried trumpets and concealed torches in clay pots. When the call to attack came, the noise and light they made tricked their enemies into thinking that a much larger army was attacking them. Thus, Gideon won the battle with little actual fighting (Judges 7:16-22).

How could "noise and light" trick the enemies into believing that a large army is approaching them? And what's the point of concealing torches in clay pots? I can't picture it. Could you please help me with it? Many thanks.

Regards
Jackson

Mister Micawber · Answer

C'mon, Jackson.  This is not a language problem.  Trumpets and torches: that's an ancient army approaching.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber.

I'm sorry I didn't know that. But why did they put torches in empty jars, why didn't they hold them in their hands instead? This link has some detail about Gideon's story. Was it *** who made it appear to the enemy that a large army is approaching them, or was it because of those trumpets and torches?I hope you don't mind all these follow-on queries. Thank you.

Regards
Jackson

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I've always understood that this is what happened.

They approached at night, and got close to the enemy without being seem.
Then they suddenly blew the trumpets and took the torches out of the pots (or broke the pots to reveal the torches).
The sudden noise and light confused and frightened the enemy.

Clive

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Clive. I understand it now.

Best wishes
Jackson

Anonymous · Answer

The army took out their torches and broke their clay pots, the noise scared the enemy along with the blowing of all the shofars.  I am sure *** amplified the sounds, there were only 300 who Carried out ***'s instructions that destroyed the other army of 10,000.  They ran over each other trying to get out of the way.

Fivejedjon · Answer

15And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 16And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers. 17And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18When I blow the trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For the LORD and for Gideon.
19So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands. 20And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD and of Gideon. 21And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put them to flight. 22And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, and against all the host: and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23And the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.

http://biblehub.com/erv/judges/7.htm

Anonymous · Answer

This is the way I understand the attack as you said.  in the dark of night ... silence and then suddenly an army appears with lights and the noise of breaking pots.  it would surely scare me if this enemy approached in such a manner .. pj

Anonymous · Answer

I realize that this is an old post. But, in the event that someone may run across it and have the same question, it is important to understand that it wouldn't have been customary for the whole of an army to be carrying trumpets and/or lamps. So, when the opposing army saw all of the lamps and heard all of the horns they would have believed that this noise and light would have represented a FAR larger army than was actually approaching.

Gideon's army carried trumpets and concealed torches in clay pots

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