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Text -- Judges 8:1-12 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
8:1 The Ephraimites said to him, “Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites !” They argued vehemently with him.
8:2 He said to them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim’s leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest !
8:3 It was to you that God handed over the Midianite generals , Oreb and Zeeb ! What did I accomplish to rival that?” When he said this , they calmed down .
Gideon Tracks Down the Midianite Kings
8:4 Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River , and even though they were exhausted , they were still chasing the Midianites.
8:5 He said to the men of Succoth , “Give some loaves of bread to the men who are following me, because they are exhausted . I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna , the kings of Midian .”
8:6 The officials of Succoth said , “You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna . So why should we give bread to your army ?”
8:7 Gideon said , “Since you will not help , after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers .”
8:8 He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request . The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had.
8:9 He also threatened the men of Penuel , warning , “When I return victoriously , I will tear down this tower .”
8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies . There were about fifteen thousand survivors from the army of the eastern peoples ; a hundred and twenty thousand sword-wielding soldiers had been killed .
8:11 Gideon went up the road of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army .
8:12 When Zebah and Zalmunna ran away , Gideon chased them and captured the two Midianite kings , Zebah and Zalmunna . He had surprised their entire army .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Zebah |
Gideon |
Penuel |
Judge |
Midianites |
Israel |
Oppression |
God |
ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA |
Patriotism |
Zalmua |
PALESTINE, 2 |
Zalmunna |
Succoth |
Karkor |
Flattery |
NOBAH |
JUDGES, PERIOD OF |
Tact |
Tower |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:2 Ephraim’s leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest. Gideon employs an agricultural metaphor. He argues that Ephraim’...
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:4 Heb “And Gideon arrived at the Jordan, crossing over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, exhausted and chasing.” The English ...
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:6 The officials of Succoth are hesitant to give (or sell) food to Gideon’s forces because they are not sure of the outcome of the battle. Perhaps ...
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:7 This is apparently a rare instrumental use of the Hebrew preposition אֵת (’et, note the use of ב [bet] in v. 16). Some, ...
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:10 Heb “About fifteen thousand [in number] were all the ones remaining from the army of the sons of the east. The fallen ones were a hundred and tw...
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NET Notes: Jdg 8:11 Heb “and attacked the army, while the army was secure.” The Hebrew term בֶטַח (vetakh, “secure”)...
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