Harod

Harod (meaning palpitation or trembling, related to astonishment and fear) was a fountain in the Valley of Jezreel where Gideon assembled his army before the battle against the Midianites (Judges 7:1). The spring of Harod is the site where God reduced Gideon's force from 32,000 to 300 men — first by releasing those who were afraid (22,000 left), then by testing the manner of drinking at the water (only 300 lapped water with their hands to their mouths rather than kneeling to drink). The dramatic reduction of the army was designed to ensure that Israel could not claim the victory as their own achievement but would recognize it as the LORD's deliverance.

The spring of Harod has been identified with 'Ain Jalud at the foot of Mount Gilboa, a powerful spring that still flows today in the Jezreel Valley. The Philistine forces encamped at the same spring in a later period (1 Samuel 29:1), and two of David's mighty men, Shammah and Elika, were described as "Harodites" (2 Samuel 23:25), suggesting they came from a village near this spring.