שופטים, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ח

Preparing for a surprise attack, Gideon issues his final instructions to the fighters, blending clever military tactics and psychological warfare with a clear declaration of faith. He places himself at the head of one of the forces, commanding a unit of a hundred men [רש״י]. His first order is a synchronized sounding of shofars. The fighters are instructed to completely encircle the enemy and blow their horns from all sides of the Midianite and Amalekite camp [מצודת דוד]. The goal of this action is not merely to create noise, but to execute a calculated military deception. Since a typical military battalion uses only a single person to blow the shofar, a massive, simultaneous blast from every direction is designed to trick the enemy into believing they are entirely surrounded by a vast and overwhelming army [מלבי״ם].

Alongside the blaring shofars, the fighters are commanded to shout a unified battle cry for God and for Gideon [ביאור שטיינזלץ], which serves as a declaration that the sword belongs to them both [רד״ק]. The primary approach among commentators is that this combined call reflects the dual nature of the battle. The victory and rescue are fundamentally a divine miracle attributed to God, yet they are brought into reality through natural, human effort. The sword that strikes the enemy comes from God, but the practical victory is achieved through Gideon's leadership [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

Furthermore, mentioning Gideon's name in the same breath as God's name serves a distinct psychological purpose. The Midianite camp was already deeply unsettled by an ominous dream about Gideon's sword. Hearing his name suddenly echo through the air is intended to remind the enemy of that terrifying dream, plunging them into panic and completely breaking their spirit [אברבנאל].