Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 8:12

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.

12. discomfited ] Marg. terrified; the combination of careless security and terror occurs again in Eze 30:9. The LXX. A and Lucian suggests a stronger word, such as destroyed, cf. Jos., Ant. Jdg 8:6; Jdg 8:5; but it is hardly necessary to alter the text. The two kings were the first to fly; Gideon contented himself with capturing them, and letting the rest break away in panic. He did not kill the kings at once; he had promised to shew them to Succoth and Penuel.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, hepursued after themA third conflict took place. His arrival attheir last quarters, which was by an unwonted path, took thefugitives by surprise, and the conquest of the Midianite horde wasthere completed.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled,…. Their host being smitten and thrown into confusion by the sudden approach of Gideon’s army; and who probably attacked them in somewhat like manner as before, blowing their trumpets, and calling out the sword of the Lord and of Gideon; which were such terrifying sounds to them, that they fled at once:

he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host; or terrified them, so that they fled some one way and some another, and the kings being left alone were easily taken.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(12) When Zebah and Zalmunna fled.In Psa. 83:13-14, we, perhaps, find a reminiscence of the precipitancy of their flight, like a wheel, i.e., like a winged, rolling seed, and like stubble before a hurricane, and like a conflagration leaping through a mountain forest. (Dict. of Bible, s. v. Oreb; Stanley, i. 347.)

Discomfited.Rather, as in the margin, terrified. It was the infliction of a second panic which enabled him to seize the two principal Emrs.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

‘ And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited with terror all the host.’

The name Zebah means ‘slaughter, sacrifice’. It was intended to indicate his fearsomeness as a warrior, but here indicates his destiny. Before the servant of Yahweh he could do nothing. He himself became the slaughter and sacrifice. Zalmunna probably means ‘shelter withheld’. The two kings fled the battlefield and were captured, and their terrified men scattered and fled. (As often with names they were possibly adapted when turned into Hebrew to convey a message).

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jdg 8:12 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.

Ver. 12. He pursued after them. ] Now was his time, and he took it, to complete his victory: –

“ Nil actum credens dum quid superesset agendum. ” – Lucan. a

a De J. Caes.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)