Judges 6 began with the calling of Gideon, but before it begins with the deliverance of Israel, there is a pause, described in verses 25-32. In the following verses, we read about the enemy setting up camp and Gideon gathering his forces.
Judges 6
33 All Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east were gathered together, and they crossed over together and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.
34 The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew the trumpet. Abiezer was summoned after him.
35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they were also summoned after him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.
The Valley of Jezreel
The enemy armies are gathering in the Valley of Jezreel. Revelation 16:14-16 describes the kings of the entire world being gathered at Armageddon for the great war. In Hebrew, this is Har-Megiddo. Har means mountain. Megiddo is a city on the edge of the Jezreel Valley. Megiddo is situated on a mountain ridge overlooking the Valley of Jezreel. The battle described later in Judges 7 depicts this final battle in the future.
The Spirit Draws Gideon
Some translations render the beginning of verse 34 as: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon” (see NKJV). But literally, it says: “Then the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon” (see NKJV). Clothed, like a coat. It is not Gideon who is enveloped by God’s spirit, but God’s spirit who envelops Gideon. It is the Lord himself (1 Cor. 15:45) who acts as Gideon!
Second Coming
Gideon blows the ram’s horn (shofar). The ram’s horn or trumpet is a symbol of the Second Coming. There are many Scriptures where a trumpet or blast of trumpets is mentioned in connection with the coming of the Lord (Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; Revelation 8-11). These texts do not all refer to the same moment, but they do refer to the period of the parousia (presence) of Christ. When He comes to establish His Kingdom and subdue all enemies, several events during this period will be accompanied by the sound of the trumpet.