Verse 1:[1] Then (Judg. 6:32) Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
[Near the spring of Harod] It is certain that it was not far from mount Gilboa. It has its name from the present history, from חָרַד/harad, to tremble in fear, either, because from there the fearful withdrew (Bonfrerius, Piscator, Junius); or, from the fear of the Midianites routed there: or, from the fear of Saul. This appears to be the spring of which Scripture makes mention in 1 Samuel 29:1, because it was situated in Jezreel (Junius, Piscator, Malvenda).
[On the north side of the high hill] That is, of Mount Gilboa: For this valley was situated between mount Gilboa on the South, and mount Hermon on the North (Bonfrerius).
[מִגִּבְעַ֥ת הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה[2]] By the hill Hammoreh, or Moreh (Montanus, Tigurinus); by the rock from which a watch was accessible (Munster out of Jonathan). On this side of the hill of Moreh (Junius and Tremellius, Pagnine), that is, of the Javelin-thrower, or Informant. The name appears to be had from the archers that pursued Saul when he was fleeing, 1 Samuel 31:3; for they think that this was one of the mountains of Gilboa. But I think rather that it was named from the seasonal/early rains with which that hill bathed (Piscator out of Junius). יוֹרֶה is seasonal/early rain (Malvenda).
[In the valley] Namely, of Jezreel (Bonfrerius).
[1] Hebrew: וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֙ם יְרֻבַּ֜עַל ה֣וּא גִדְע֗וֹן וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ עַל־עֵ֣ין חֲרֹ֑ד וּמַחֲנֵ֤ה מִדְיָן֙ הָיָה־ל֣וֹ מִצָּפ֔וֹן מִגִּבְעַ֥ת הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה בָּעֵֽמֶק׃
[2] מוֹרֶה is related to the verbal root יָרָה, to shoot or hurl, or to point out.