9:4 For their oppressive yoke
and the club that strikes their shoulders,
the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, 1
you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat. 2
83:11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, 3
and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna, 4
1 tn Heb “for the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the scepter of the oppressor against him.” The singular pronouns are collective, referring to the people. The oppressed nation is compared to an ox weighed down by a heavy yoke and an animal that is prodded and beaten.
2 sn This alludes to Gideon’s victory over Midian (Judg 7-8), when the Lord delivered Israel from an oppressive foreign invader.
3 sn Oreb and Zeeb were the generals of the Midianite army that was defeated by Gideon. The Ephraimites captured and executed both of them and sent their heads to Gideon (Judg 7:24-25).
4 sn Zebah and Zalmunna were the Midianite kings. Gideon captured them and executed them (Judg 8:1-21).