As the Lord realizes that Gideon is not very courageous nor the strongest in his faith, so he charitably awakens Gideon that night and tells him to take his manservant Purah (pronounced Pooh-rah and meaning branch) and go into the heart of the Midianite camp to listen and observe. The Lord promises Gideon that he will be well rewarded.
Gideon does and listens to one of the soldiers recounting his dream. The other soldier scoffs it off, but true to the Lord’s word Gideon is inspired, as he believes the soldier’s dream.
13 Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. (KJV)
Gideon heartened and goes back to camp eagerly, blows his trumpet and tells them to “Arise” for the battle is at hand. He divides his 300 into 3 companies each man with a trumpet and a pitcher to hide the torch within, so they could not be seen, and then gives battle cry “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon”.
In short order, Gideon and his men win the battle but need replacements, so he calls the tribes of Naphtali, Asher (this tribe is considered one that was revered to Ashtoreth hence the similiarity in name) , Manasseh and finally Ephraim to help and pushes the enemy all the way to Tabbath (pronounced ta-beull and means”celebrated”. This is thought to be today’s Ras Abu Tabatha, Jordan.)
The chapter ends on a high note: the Ephraimites, though last to be called, capture the two princes of the Midianite army: Oreb (the Raven) and Zeeb (the Wolf).
In my anguish... 