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1 Samuel 14:28,29,31,32
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursedbe the man that eatethany food this day. And the people were faint…

1 Samuel 30:10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

2 Corinthians 4:8,9,16
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;we are perplexed, but not in despair; …

came to the Jordan
The Jordan River is a significant geographical and spiritual landmark in the Bible. It served as a boundary for the Promised Land and was the site of many important events, such as the crossing by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 3) and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). Crossing the Jordan often symbolizes a transition or a new phase in God's plan.

and crossed it
Crossing the Jordan River signifies a decisive action in pursuit of God's mission. It reflects the determination and faith of Gideon and his men, reminiscent of the Israelites' earlier crossing into the Promised Land. This act of crossing can also be seen as a type of baptism, symbolizing a passage from one state to another, from oppression to deliverance.

exhausted yet still in pursuit
The phrase highlights the perseverance and commitment of Gideon and his men despite their physical exhaustion. It underscores the theme of endurance in the face of overwhelming odds, a common biblical motif (Hebrews 12:1-3). This determination can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's perseverance in His mission, enduring suffering for the sake of redemption (Hebrews 12:2). The pursuit of the Midianites also reflects the relentless pursuit of God's purposes, regardless of personal cost.

• The verse opens with Gideon, freshly victorious after God routed the Midianite camp (Judges 7:19–22).

• His name reminds readers that the Lord uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes (Hebrews 11:32).

• The word “Then” ties the action to God’s unfolding plan—Gideon is simply moving to the next assignment, not acting on impulse (Proverbs 16:9).

• These are the same men sifted down at the water to guarantee that victory could only be credited to the Lord (Judges 7:6–7).

• Their small number echoes other “few against many” moments—Jonathan and his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14:6) and the post-exilic reminder, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

• The verse underscores unity: they stay with Gideon even when strength is nearly gone (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

• The Jordan often marks a threshold where faith is tested—Israel crossing under Joshua (Joshua 3:17) and David’s hurried passage during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 17:22).

• Reaching the river signals that Gideon’s pursuit has carried him to a natural barrier, the sort that tempts weary soldiers to stop.

• Yet the text shows no hesitation; God’s people keep moving when He leads (Psalm 114:3–5).

• Crossing implies determination and divine enablement; tired men do not ford rivers in their own strength.

• The Lord who parted these waters generations earlier is still making a way (Isaiah 43:2).

• Physical movement mirrors spiritual obedience: when God opens a path, His servants step through (Exodus 14:15).

• “Exhausted” is honest: God does not deny human weakness (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).

• “Still in pursuit” reveals resolve empowered by faith. Gideon refuses to settle for partial victory; he presses on until the enemy is fully subdued (Philippians 3:13–14).

• Scripture calls believers to similar perseverance—“Let us not grow weary in well-doing” (Galatians 6:9) and “run with endurance the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1–3).

• The verse therefore illustrates that fatigue is not failure; quitting would be.

Judges 8:4 captures a snapshot of faithful stamina. Gideon’s tiny band, divinely chosen, reaches the Jordan, crosses without pause, and hunts the fleeing Midianites though spent. The line teaches that God’s deliverance often requires ongoing obedience after the initial victory. Trust moves forward, not retreating at natural barriers or personal limits, confident that the same God who starts the battle equips His people to finish it.

And passed over.--Literally,passing over;but the English Version is correct as to the meaning, and it may be regarded as certain that Succoth was to the east of Jordan.

Faint, yet pursuing.--It may be doubted whether the usual application of these words is accurate. The LXX. render them, "fainting and hungry," and the Vulg., "and for weariness they could not overtake the fugitives." Literally it is,faintandpursuing,where theandis explanatory. "Exhausted and pursuing,"1e., exhausted with pursuing (Keil). "In 1815 Mehemet All pursued the Arabs with such haste as to find himself without provisions, and had to be content with a few dates; but the result was a great success" (Ritter xii. 932).