Bread Knocking Over a Tent in the Bible
The Biblical Account of Bread Knocking Over a Tent
The incident of bread knocking over a tent is recorded in Judges 7:13, where a Midianite soldier recounts a dream to his fellow soldier. In the dream, "a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat" [1]. This event is part of the narrative surrounding Gideon's battle against the Midianites.
Barley bread was a staple food in ancient Israel, often associated with the poor or used as animal feed [5]. The use of barley bread in this dream is significant, as it symbolizes the Israelites, who were considered inferior to the Midianites. The fact that the bread "tumbled" into the Midianite camp suggests an unexpected and uncontrollable event [8].
The tent that was knocked over represents the Midianite camp, which was a nomadic encampment. Tents were a common dwelling place for ancient nomadic tribes, including the Israelites before they settled in Canaan [3, 4]. The Hebrew word for "tent" (ohel) is used to describe a dwelling or habitation, and is also associated with the tabernacle, the portable worship place of the Israelites [3].
The dream is interpreted by Gideon as a sign that the Midianite camp would be defeated by the Israelites. The image of the barley bread knocking over the tent is a powerful symbol of the unexpected and decisive victory that the Israelites would achieve [8]. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the Israelites were vastly outnumbered by the Midianites, making their victory all the more surprising [7].
The use of bread as a symbol in this narrative is also significant. Bread was a staple food in ancient Israel, and its preparation and consumption were deeply ingrained in the culture [5]. The fact that the bread is made of barley, rather than wheat, adds to its symbolic significance, as barley was considered inferior to wheat [2].
The interpretation of the dream is also linked to the Jewish tradition, where Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) connects the barley bread to the Omer offering, which was made of barley [9]. This interpretation highlights the significance of the dream as a sign of God's favor towards the Israelites.
The incident of the bread knocking over the tent has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. Some commentators have seen it as a symbol of the power of the weak and the poor, while others have interpreted it as a sign of God's intervention on behalf of his people [8, 10]. Regardless of the interpretation, the narrative remains a powerful example of the unexpected ways in which God can work in the world.
The historical context of the narrative is also important. The Israelites were a nomadic people who lived in tents before they settled in Canaan [4]. The Midianites were also a nomadic tribe, and their encampment would have been similar to that of the Israelites [6]. The use of tents as a dwelling place was common among ancient nomadic tribes, and the narrative reflects this cultural context.
Sources
- Judges “When Gideon had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” -- Judges 7:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Bread — Given by God -- Ru 1:6; Mt 6:11. Yielded by the earth -- Job 28:5; Isa 55:10. Made of Wheat. -- Ex 29:2; Ps 81:16. Barley. -- Jdj 7:13; Joh 6:9. Beans, millet, &c. -- Eze 4:9. Manna (in the wilderness). -- Nu 11:8. Corn ground for making -- Isa 28:28. Was kneaded -- Ge 18:6; Jer 7:18; Ho 7:4. Troughs used for kneading -- Ex 12:34. Usually leavened -- Le 23:17; Mt 13:33. Sometimes unleavened -- Ex 12:18; 1Co 5:8. Was formed into Loaves. -- 1Sa 10:3,4; Mt 14:17. Cakes. -- 2Sa 6:19; 1Ki 17:13. Wafers. -- Ex 16:31; 29:23. Was baked On hearths. -- Ge 18:6. On coal”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tent — (1.) Heb. ohel (Gen. 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isa. 16:5; Jer. 4:20), and of the temple (Ezek. 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings 1:39, it denotes the covering of goat's hair which was placed over the mishcan. (2.) Heb. mishcan (Cant. 1:8), used also of a dwelling (Job 18:21; Ps. 87:2), the grave (Isa. 22:16; comp. 14:18), the temple (Ps. 46:4; 84:2; 132:5), and of the tabernacle (Ex. 25:9; 26:1; 40:9; Num. 1:50, 53; 10:11). When distinguished from 'ohel, it denotes the twelve interior curtains ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Tent — Among the leading characteristics of the nomad races, those two have always been numbered whose origin has been ascribed to Jabal the son of Lameth, (Genesis 4:20) viz., to be tent-dwellers and keepers of cattle. The same may be said of the forefathers of the Hebrew race; nor was it until the return into Canaan from Egypt that the Hebrews became inhabitants of cities. An Arab tent is called beit, "house;" its covering consists of stuff, about three quarters of a yard broad, made of black goat's-hair, (Song of Solomon 1:5) laid parallel with the tent's length. T”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Bread — The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6) The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but "barley" and spelt were also used. (John 6:9,13; Isaiah 28:25) The process of making bread was as follows: the flour was first mixed with water or milk; it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the feet also) in a small wooden bowl or "kneading-trough" until it became dough. (Exodus 12:34,39; 2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18) When the kneading was completed, leaven was generall”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tents — Origin and antiquity of -- Ge 4:20. Called Tabernacles. -- Nu 24:5; Job 12:6; Heb 11:9. Curtains. -- Isa 54:2; Heb 3:7. Were spread out -- Isa 40:22. Fastened by cords to stakes or nails -- Isa 54:2; Jer 10:20; Jdj 4:21. Were used by Patriarchs. -- Ge 13:5; 25:27; Heb 11:9. Israel in the desert. -- Ex 33:8; Nu 24:2. The people of Israel in all their wars. -- 1Sa 4:3,10; 29:1; 1Ki 16:16. The Rechabites. -- Jer 35:7,10. The Arabs. -- Isa 13:20. Shepherds while tending their flocks. -- Song 1:8; Isa 38:12. All eastern nations. -- Jdj 6:5; 1Sa 17:4; 2Ki 7:7; 1Ch ”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 6, section 2: fighting. But God stood by Gideon in his sleep, and told him that mankind were too fond of themselves, and were enemies to such as excelled in virtue. Now that they might not pass God over, but ascribe the victory to him, and might not fancy it obtained by their own power, because they were a great many, and able of themselves to fight their enemies, but might confess that it was owing to his assistance, he advised him to bring his army about noon, in the violence of the heat, to the river, and to esteem those that bent down on t”
- Judges (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Judges 7:13: I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian--This was a characteristic and very expressive dream for an Arab in the circumstances. The rolling down the hill, striking against the tents, and overturning them, naturally enough connected it in his mind with the position and meditated attack of the Israelitish leader. The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitude”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Judges 6:19: Matzos containing flour. We learn that it was Pesach, the day the Omer offering was waved. 12 On the second day of Pesach. (Vayikra, 23:11) This is why it is said, 13 Below, 7:13. "Behold, a toasted barley bread was careening, 14 “… into the camp of Midyon. It reached the tent and struck it down.” This was in the merit of the Omer offering (Rashi, there, Yalkut, 62), which was made of barley. etc."”
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 7:13: 7:13-14 Dreams and their interpretations were often discussed in Egypt and Babylonia. The Old Testament teaches that dreams are inspired by God and are best interpreted by his revelation (see Gen 41:15-16, 25; Dan 2:28). The point of this dream is clear: Gideon’s band, represented as a rounded loaf of barley bread, would come tumbling down and overturn the Midianite camp.”