Keraia
Judges 8

Judges 8:12

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna · Judges 8:1–21
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Translations

Modern
When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.
Traditional
And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
Literal
And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them, and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he made tremble.
Latin
Fugeruntque Zebee et Salmana, quos persequens Gedeon comprehendit, turbato omni exercitu eorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.

Notes

Judges 8:10–12

The Midianite remnant, along with its two kings, felt safe after reaching the Transjordan plateau on their way to the desert. This location was far from typical Israelite territory. As before (Judges 7:19–22), Gideon surprised the Midianite army. He captured the two kings and defeated the army, removing the threat of Midianite revenge feared by the leaders of Succoth and Peniel.

Judges 8:4–12

  • At this point, Gideon seemed as focused on revenge as on victory. His earlier conversations with the Lord suddenly stopped. The group of 300 men made a final attack on the Midianites.

  • Gideon chased the fleeing Midianite kings through the Jabbok gorge and then south toward Rabbah, following the caravan route onto the Transjordan plateau.

  • Succoth and Peniel were Israelite cities, but their loyalty to Gideon, a new general, was weak. The tribes east of the Jordan were often under Midianite pressure and seemed to fear them.

Judges 6:1–8:35

Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Social Chaos in Judges

Events

People

Zalmunna: Midianite king defeated by Gideon Zebah: Midianite king defeated by Gideon

Places

Midian: A nation descended from Abraham; oppressed Israel in the time of the judges

Glossary

Judges, Book of Midian, Midianite Penuel (Place) Zebah and Zalmunna

Topics

Gideon: Leads an Army Against and Defeats the Midianites God: Preserver: Under Gideon Israel: Under the Judges: Seven Years of Bondage to the Midianites; Delivered by Gideon Midianites: Princes of, Slain Patriotism: Lacking in The Inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel The Ishmaelites: Overcome by Gideon Zalmunna: King of Midian Zebah: King of Midian