The sleeping army was suddenly aroused. Upon every side was seen the light of the flaming torches. In every direction was heard the sound of trumpets, with the cry of the assailants. 553 Believing themselves at the mercy of an overwhelming force, the Midianites were panic-stricken. With wild cries of alarm they fled for life, and, mistaking their own companions for enemies, they slew one another. As news of the victory spread, thousands of the men of Israel who had been dismissed to their homes returned and joined in pursuit of their fleeing enemies. The Midianites were making their way toward the Jordan, hoping to reach their own territory, beyond the river. Gideon sent messengers to the tribe of Ephraim, rousing them to intercept the fugitives at the southern fords. Meanwhile, with his three hundred, "faint, yet pursuing," Gideon crossed the stream hard after those who had already gained the farther side. The two princes, Zebah and Zalmunna, who had been over the entire host, and who had escaped with an army of fifteen thousand men, were overtaken by Gideon, their force completely scattered, and the leaders captured and slain.

Gud foreslog ham nu en taktik, som han øjeblikkelig benyttede. De 300 mand blev delt i tre afdelinger. Hver mand fik et horn samt en fakkel, som han skulle skjule i en lerkrukke. Mændene tog opstilling på en sådan måde, at de nærmede sig lejren fra forskellige retninger. Da Gideon gav signal med sit krigshorn, stødte de tre afdelinger i deres horn midt om natten. Derpå knuste de krukkerne, så at de flammende fakler blev synlige, og løb hen imod fjenden med det frygtelige krigsråb: "Herrens sværd og Gideons!"