In the context of the Bible, the term "lapped" is most notably associated with the account of Gideon and his selection of soldiers in the Book of Judges. The account is found in Judges 7, where God instructs Gideon to reduce the number of his troops to ensure that the victory over the Midianites would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength.

Biblical Account:

In Judges 7:4-7 , the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the Lord said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest knelt to drink. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go home.”

Interpretation and Significance:

The act of lapping water, as opposed to kneeling to drink, has been interpreted in various ways by biblical scholars and commentators. Some suggest that those who lapped the water were more vigilant and ready for battle, as they brought the water to their mouths with their hands, allowing them to remain alert and aware of their surroundings. This characteristic would be advantageous in a military context, where readiness and awareness are crucial.

Others propose that the selection of the 300 men who lapped was a demonstration of God's sovereignty and ability to deliver His people through seemingly inadequate means. By choosing a small, unconventional group of soldiers, God emphasized that the victory was His doing, not the result of human might or strategy.

Theological Implications:

The account of Gideon's 300 men serves as a powerful reminder of God's power and the importance of faith and obedience. It illustrates that God often works through unexpected and humble means to accomplish His purposes. This narrative encourages believers to trust in God's wisdom and provision, even when circumstances appear daunting or when His methods seem unconventional.

The account also highlights the theme of divine selection and the idea that God chooses individuals based on His purposes and plans, rather than human criteria. This is consistent with other biblical narratives where God selects unlikely individuals to fulfill His will, underscoring the principle that God's ways are higher than human ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the act of drinking water was a routine but essential activity, especially for soldiers who needed to stay hydrated during military campaigns. The method of drinking could reflect a person's state of readiness and discipline. The distinction between those who lapped and those who knelt may have been a practical test devised by God to reveal the character and alertness of the soldiers.

Overall, the account of those who lapped water in Gideon's army is a testament to God's ability to use the ordinary and the unexpected to achieve His divine purposes, encouraging believers to remain faithful and attentive to His guidance.(imp. & p. p.) of Lap.3952. laqaq -- to lap, lick
... 3951, 3952. laqaq. 3953 . to lap, lick. Transliteration: laqaq Phonetic Spelling:
(law-kak') Short Definition: lapped. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3952.htm - 5k

'Fit, Though Few'
... a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down
upon his knees to drink.6. And the number of them that lapped, putting their ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/fit though few.htm

Gideon's Brave Band
... who lap the water with their tongues, as a dog laps, and all who kneel down on their
knees to drink by themselves." The number of those who lapped with their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

A Great victory
... And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three
hundred men; but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/a great victory.htm

Yet Speaking.
... up; or Capernaum, in which He had wrought so many of his mighty works, might have
provided Him a palace, whose white marble steps would have been lapped by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xvi yet speaking.htm

The Folded Flock
... This is the loftiest employment of the spirits who are perfected and lapped in
'pleasures for evermore' by their union with the glorified Jesus. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the folded flock.htm

Editor's Preface
... woman sitting over her peat fire, the shepherd upon the lonely hills, the workman
breaking stones by the roadside, even the "great divine lapped in infinite ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/editors preface.htm

That a Very Contemplative List not Meddle Him with Active Life ...
... But to the sovereignest wisdom of His Godhead lapped in the dark words of His
manhood, thither beheld she with all the love of her heart. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the seventeenth chapter.htm

How a Man Shall have Him in this Work against all Thoughts, and ...
... And if thee list have this intent lapped and folden in one word, for thou shouldest
have better hold thereupon, take thee but a little word of one syllable ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the seventh chapter.htm

Prologue of Richard Rolle
... Wherefore I offer this book to be seen: not to philosophers nor wise men of this
world, nor to great divines lapped in infinite questions, but unto the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/prologue of richard rolle.htm

Youthful Confessors
... Most men would yield to the influences, and be so lapped in the comforts of their
new position as to become pliable as wax in the conqueror's hands; but here ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/youthful confessors.htm

Lapped (2 Occurrences)
...Lapped (2 Occurrences). ... Judges 7:7 Yahweh said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men
who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. ...
/l/lapped.htm - 7k

Knelt (20 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:6 And the number of those that lapped, putting their hands to their mouths,
was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink ...
/k/knelt.htm - 12k

Kneeled (12 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth,
was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their ...
/k/kneeled.htm - 10k

Lappeth (1 Occurrence)

/l/lappeth.htm - 6k

Lapping (2 Occurrences)
... The three hundred men that went with Gideon thus employed their hands and lapped
the water out of their hands (Judges 7:7). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/l/lapping.htm - 7k

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)
... The open bowl was gradually closed in, first at the spout, where the rim of one
side was lapped over the other, and finally the whole surface was closed with ...
/l/lampstand.htm - 24k

Lapis (3 Occurrences)

/l/lapis.htm - 7k

Lap (12 Occurrences)
... together one partly over another; as, to lap weather-boards; also, to be partly
over, or by the side of (something); as, the hinder boat lapped the foremost one ...
/l/lap.htm - 15k

Mid'ianites (12 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:7 And the LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped
I will deliver you, and give the Mid'ianites into your hand; and let all the ...
/m/mid'ianites.htm - 9k

Mouths (86 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:6 And the number of those that lapped, putting their hands to their mouths,
was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink ...
/m/mouths.htm - 32k

Lapped: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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