Keraia
Judges 8

Judges 8:11

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

Translations

Modern
And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise.
Traditional
And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
Literal
And Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked the camp, and the camp was in security.
Latin
Ascendensque Gedeon per viam eorum, qui in tabernaculis morabantur, ad orientalem partem Nobe et Jegbaa, percussit castra hostium, qui securi erant, et nihil adversi suspicabantur.

Original

Hebrew
English
And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise.

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

Gideon: Judge of Israel; defeated Midianites; tested and reassured by God

Places

Jogbehah: A town in Gilead, fortified by the Gadites Kenath: A city in Gilead, captured by Nobah and renamed

Glossary

Jogbehah Judges, Book of Karkor Midian, Midianite Nobah (Place) Nophah Penuel (Place)

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 Jogbehah: A Place in Gad Midianites: Miraculously Defeated and Destroyed by Gideon Patriotism: Lacking in The Inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel The Ishmaelites: Overcome by Gideon Zalmunna: King of Midian Zebah: King of Midian