Judges 7:21-25

7:21 They stood in order ¹  all around the camp. The whole army ran away; they shouted as they scrambled away. ²  7:22 When the three hundred men blew their trumpets, the Lord caused the Midianites to attack one another with their swords ³  throughout ⁴  the camp. The army fled to Beth Shittah on the way to Zererah. They went ⁵  to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 7:23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh answered the call and chased the Midianites. ⁶ 

Gideon Appeases the Ephraimites

7:24 Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, “Go down and head off the Midianites. ⁷  Take control of the fords of the streams ⁸  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.” ⁹  When all the Ephraimites had assembled, ¹⁰  they took control of the fords ¹¹  all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River. 7:25 They captured the two Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb. ¹²  They executed Oreb on the rock of Oreb and Zeeb ¹³  in the winepress of Zeeb. They chased the Midianites ¹⁴  and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now on the other side of the Jordan River. ¹⁵ 

[7:21]  ¹ tn Heb “each in his place.”

[7:21]  ² tn Or “fled.”

[7:22]  ³ tn Heb “the Lord set the sword of each one against his friend.”

[7:22]  ⁴ tc MT has “and throughout the camp,” but the conjunction (“and”) is due to dittography and should be dropped. Compare the ancient versions, which lack the conjunction here.

[7:22]  ⁵ tn The words “they went” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[7:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “Midian.”

[7:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “to meet Midian.”

[7:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “capture before them the waters.”

[7:24]  ⁹ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification (also later in this verse).

[7:24]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “And all the men of Ephraim were summoned.”

[7:24]  ¹¹ tn Heb “they captured the waters.”

[7:25]  ¹² sn The names Oreb and Zeeb, which mean “Raven” and “Wolf” respectively, are appropriate because the Midianites had been like scavengers and predators to Israel.

[7:25]  ¹³ tn The Hebrew text repeats the verb “executed.” This has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[7:25]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Midian.”

[7:25]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “beyond the Jordan.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text but has been supplied in the translation for clarity (also in 8:4).