שופטים, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״ג

Gideon's return from the battlefield after the campaign against Zebah and Zalmunna is marked by a specific detail regarding the circumstances of his journey home. The primary approach among commentators is that this detail relates to the sun [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ], leading to different interpretations about whether the account describes the time of day or the physical route he traveled.

One perspective suggests that the description marks the time of his return, specifically indicating that Gideon made his way back while the sun was still high in the sky, well before sunset [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. An opposing view interprets the timing as sunrise. According to this reading, Gideon conducted his military campaign and struck the enemy camp throughout the night. As morning broke and the sun began to rise, he concluded his mission and returned [רלב״ג, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This morning return carries an underlying tactical reality. Gideon commanded a very small force that relied on the cover of darkness to fight effectively. Therefore, he was forced to end the battle and withdraw precisely because the sun was coming up, which would have exposed his limited numbers to the enemy [מלבי״ם].

Alternatively, the description may not be about time at all, but rather geography. In this view, it identifies a specific eastern path, known as the way of the sun, which Gideon chose as his route home after the fighting ended [ביאור שטיינזלץ].