Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 7:25
And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
25. Oreb and Zeeb ] The Midianite princes bear Hebrew (or Hebraized) names = ‘Raven’ and ‘Wolf.’ The sheikh of the powerful tribe of the Ban ‘Adwn, who range the country S.E. of the Jordan, still receives the hereditary title of Dhi’b, i.e. Zeeb. Animal names of this kind were borne both by clans and individuals, more frequently by the former, as the O.T. shews; they may be explained as survivals from a totem stage of society. See Gray, Hebr. Pr. Names, 112 114. Instead of the two princes Oreb and Zeeb, the other narrative, Jdg 8:4-21, mentions the two kings Zebah and Zalmunna. Cf. Psa 83:11.
the rock of Oreb the winepress of Zeeb ] It is implied that the spots were named after the chiefs who fell there. Possibly the names of two conical hills N. and N.W. of Jericho, ‘U el ghurb (‘raven’s nest’) uwl edh-dhi’b (‘ridge of the wolf’), have preserved a memory of the event; Buhl, Geogr., p. 115. Isa 10:16 interprets this episode in a wider sense; cf. also Isa 9:4.
and pursued Midian beyond Jordan ] The present narrative, Jdg 7:22 to Jdg 8:3, tells how Gideon chased the Midianites down to the Jordan fords and into the arms of the Ephraimites, who brought to him the heads of the two chieftains. Nothing is said of Gideon having crossed the Jordan. These words were probably added by a later editor who wished to bring Jdg 7:22 to Jdg 8:3 into harmony with Jdg 8:4 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 25. They slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb] These two generals had taken shelter, one in the cavern of the rock, the other in the vat of a winepress; both of which places were from this circumstance, afterwards called by their names.
Brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon] OREB signifies a raven and ZEEB a wolf. In all ancient nations we find generals and princes taking their names from both birds and beasts; the Romans had their Gracchi, jackdaws; Corvini, crows; Aquilini, eagles, c. We have the same in our Crows, Wolfs, Lyons, Hawkes, Bulls, Kidds, c. Among barbarous nations the head of the conquered chief was often brought to the conqueror. Pompey’s head was brought to Caesar Cicero’s head, to Mark Antony the heads of Ahab’s children, to Jehu, c. These barbarities are not often practiced now, except among the Mohammedans or the savages of Africa and America and for the credit of human nature it is a pity that such barbarous atrocities had ever been committed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For Gideon in the pursuit had passed over Jordan, as we read, Jdg 8:4, which, though mentioned after this, may seem to have been done before it, such transpositions being frequent in sacred story. Or, on this side Jordan, for the Hebrew word is indifferent to both sides: see Gen 1:10. And so this is opposed to what follows of his passing over Jordan, Jdg 8:4. And then there is no anticipation here.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb,…. The one signifies a “raven”, and the other a “wolf”; which were either nicknames given them because of their voraciousness and cruelty, or which they took themselves, or their ancestors before them, to make themselves terrible to others; so the Romans had the families of the Corvini, c.
and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb perhaps they found him in a cave of the rock, and dragging him out slew him, from whence the rock afterwards had its name. So we read of the rock Corax in Homer p, which was in Ithaca, and another high mountain of the same name in Aetolia, mentioned by Livy q and which signifies the same as Oreb. This is a different rock or mountain from Horeb, the same with Sinai, from whence the law was given; which always ought to be written with an “H” or “Ch”, to distinguish it from this; though that is written Oreb by Lactantius r, and so by Milton s, contrary to the propriety of the language:
and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb; the Targum is, the plain of Zeeb, which, as Kimchi and Ben Gersom suppose, was in the form of a winepress, having high lips or hills around it, and which afterwards took its name from this prince being slain in it:
and pursued Midian; the rest of the Midianites, even beyond Jordan, those that got over it:
and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan; that is, when he had passed over it the next morning, as Jarchi remarks; for after this we read of Gideon’s going over Jordan, Jud 8:4 unless this is said by way of anticipation; though the phrase will bear to be rendered, “on this side Jordan”, for it signifies both. It seems they cut off the heads of those two princes, and presented them to Gideon, as it has been usual to bring the heads of enemies to kings and conquerors; see 1Sa 17:54.
p Odyss. 13. “prope finem”. q Hist. l. 36. c. 30. r De vera Sap. l. 4. c. 17. s Paradise Lost, l. 1. ver. 7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) Oreb and Zeeb.The names mean raven and wolf: but these are common names for warriors among rude tribes, and there is no reason to look on them as names given in scorn by the Israelites. Such names are common among nomads. The capture of these two powerful sheykhs was the result of the second part of the battle, and was not accomplished without a terrible slaughter. See Psa. 73:9-12, where the word rendered houses of God should be pastures of God. It is remarkable that in this passage there seems to be almost an identification of the victories of Barak and Gideon, as though they were the result of one great combined movement. In the phrase became as the dung of the earth we see that tradition preserved a memory of the fertilisation of the ground by the dead bodies (see Note on Jdg. 4:16; Jdg. 5:21). The completeness of the victory is also ailuded to in Isa. 60:4 : Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden . . . as in the day of Midian; and Isa. 10:26. The brief narrative of Judges perhaps hardly enables us to realise the three acts of this great tragedy of Midianite slaughterat Gilboa, the Fords, and Karkor.
Upon the rock Oreb.Rather, at the ravens rock. Only again mentioned in Isa. 10:26 : according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. Reland identifies it with Orbo, near Bethshean.
To Gideon on the other side Jordan.i.e., beyond the Jordan (trans fluenta Jordani, Vulg.). This notice is given by anticipation, for Gideons crossing the Jordan is not mentioned till Jdg. 8:4. The words literally mean from beyond the Jordan, as the LXX. render them (apo peran), but this is idiomatic for from one place to another, as in Jos. 13:22, &c-
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Oreb and Zeeb These names mean respectively the raven and the wolf, and were, perhaps, descriptive of the fierce character of these Midianitish chieftains. They remind us of names common among chiefs of the American Indians.
Rock Oreb winepress of Zeeb These places, now unknown, received their names from the slaughter of these two princes. The historian, writing some time after the places had received these names, very naturally speaks of them in this way.
Pursued Midian After beheading Oreb and Zeeb, the Ephraimites continued their pursuit and followed the Midianites. who had, in spite of them, forced their way to the other side of the Jordan.
Brought the heads to Gideon on the other side Jordan That is, after Gideon had also crossed over to the other, or east, side of Jordan, they brought to him the heads of the slaughtered chiefs. Thus, as Bertheau and Keil show, the writer anticipates Gideon’s crossing of the Jordan in order to say what was done with the heads, and to mention in the same connexion the anger of the Ephraimites. Accordingly, Gideon’s crossing the Jordan, which is mentioned Jdg 8:4, took place before these heads were brought to him, and before that war of words occurred which the writer next proceeds to record. Jdg 8:1-3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they took two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they slew Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian. And they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, beyond Jordan.’
Chronologically this happened after Gideon had crossed the Jordan (compare Jdg 8:4). This method of continuing a story until the end, followed by going back to a parallel story occurs regularly in ancient writings.
Oreb means Raven and Zeeb means Wolf. The Midianites appear to have favoured animal names. Compare how Moses’ Midianite wife was called ‘little bird’ (Zipporah – Exo 2:21). Oreb and Zeeb were princes of Midian. But the ‘kings’ appeared to have escaped. They had the fleetest camels. The rock and winepress were named after these events. The whole situation became a byword in Israel (Isa 9:4; Isa 10:26; Psa 83:11). Out of all the sufferings of the people in Judges this one was most deeply remembered as the most terrible, for their enemy had tried to destroy them through starvation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 7:25. They took two princes of the Midianites Two of their princes or generals, for the Hebrew word may signify either. Oreb, in the Hebrew, signifies a crow, and Zeeb, a wolf. It was anciently the custom for great men to take the names of their families from the animal world. So we find the Gracchi, Corvini, and Aquilini, among the Romans; names, which were either used as fortunate omens, or as monuments of their courage and dexterity in military atchievements. The rock and the vine-press, no doubt, had their names from these princes. Their heads were carried to Gideon, as was usually done in after times. Thus Pompey’s head was brought to Caesar, and Cicero’s to Mark Antony.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The church in after ages records God’s mercies to Israel, respecting those princes; and prays that the like vengeance may be taken of all God’s foes. Psa 83:11 . The names of those princes, Oreb and Zeeb, were significant of the furiousness of their nature, signifying the raven and the wolf. And it is probable that the spots where they were taken, were made memorable to Israel in after ages.
REFLECTIONS
IT is profitable to remark, how the Lord is graciously pleased to work by slender means for his people ‘ s deliverance. Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. In these precious memorandums of the church ‘ s history, may my soul learn how infinite the resources in the salvation of Jesus. Trumpets, and earthern pitchers, are effectual weapons when the Lord commissions them to conquest.
But oh! thou adored Redeemer! may I never lose sight of thy victory over death, hell, and the grave, when contemplating the gracious consequences of it in the triumphs of thy people. It is thine everlasting love, thy grace, thy righteousness, which hath laid the foundation of all thy people’s deliverances, in every period of thy church. All the after-actings, in all the eventful circumstances which mark the church ‘ s history, are but the result of that love and mercy wherewith thou lovedest thy people before the earth was formed, and when thy delights were with the sons of men. Sweet and precious Jesus! how infinitely doth it enhance every blessing, and tend to endear every mercy, thus to trace it to its fountain head, in thee and in thy love to our nature! Oh! for grace in lively exercise, thus to live upon and walk with thee, my ever dear and beloved Saviour! May all my goings forth be in thee, and thy strength, the sword of Jehovah Jesus! And may all my victories be like those of the armies of heaven, through the blood of the Lamb. Even now, in the same faith as Gideon, in the assurance that the issue is not doubtful, may I send back all the strength which might appear ever so promising, and begin that song, as if the war was ended, which was heard in heaven, and which, ere long, I hope to sing in glory; Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; f or the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
Ver. 25. Oreb and Zeeb. ] Oreb signifieth a raven. Zeeb, a wolf.
“ Conveniunb rebus nomina saepe suis. ”
Upon the rock Oreb, at the wine press of Zeeb.] So these places were called, on this occasion: and God was just in it. These princes had forced Israel to hide in the rocks, and had robbed them of their provisions, and therefore fitly became examples of that rule,
“ Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur ipse. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
two princes. Compare Psa 83:11. Isa 10:26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
two princes: Jdg 8:3, Psa 83:11, Psa 83:12
rock: Jos 7:26, Isa 10:26
Oreb: Eusebius and Jerome speak of a small place called Araba, three miles west from Scythopolis, which is supposed by some to have had its name from Oreb.
and brought: Among ancient nations, the head of the conquered chief was usually brought to the conqueror. Thus Pompey’s head was brought to Cesar, Cicero’s head to Mark Anthony, and the heads of Ahab’s children to Jehu. These barbarities are seldom practised now, except among the Mahommedans, or the savages of Africa and America; and for the credit of human nature, it is to be wished that such atrocities had never been committed.
on the other side: The words maiaiver lyyarden, may denote at the passage of Jordan, or from beyond Jordan. Gideon does not appear to have yet passed the Jordan. Jdg 8:4
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 7:25. To Gideon on the other side of Jordan For Gideon, in the pursuit, had passed over Jordan. Oreb and Zeeb had probably taken shelter, the one in a rock, the other by a wine-press. But the places of their shelter were made the places of their slaughter, and the memory of it preserved in the names of the places.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at {n} the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
(n) These places got their names from the acts that were done there.