34. Came upon. Literally, “clothed.” Gideon did not begin the campaign “clothed” only in the armor of soldiers, but “clothed” with God’s power. Whom God calls to do His work He also qualifies for it.
Blew a trumpet. Since destroying the altar of Baal, Gideon had, no doubt, been pondering the instructions of the angel to smite the Midianites. Now that the enemies of Israel had entered the country, the Spirit of the Lord moved upon Gideon’s heart to begin the struggle to deliver his people. Taking a shophar, or ram’s horn, he sounded the battle signal, and sent messengers throughout his tribe of Manasseh and three other tribes, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, urging them all to join him in the fight against the common enemy. Strong forces from all of these tribes assembled; and Gideon’s own clan, the Abiezerites, backed him to the full.