16 Dividing the three hundred menm into three companies,n he placed trumpetso and empty jarsp in the hands of all of them, with torchesq inside.

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets,r then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’ ”

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jarss that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torchest in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A swordu for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.v

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded,w the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each otherx with their swords.y The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholahz near Tabbath.