New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Judges

7

:

25

They captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
They captured to capture, seize, take Verb H3920 וַֽיִּלְכְּד֡וּ vai·yil·ke·du
the two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנֵֽי־ she·nei-
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

leaders chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince Noun H8269 שָׂרֵ֨י sa·rei
of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. and the region where they settled Noun H4080 מִדְיָ֜ן mid·yan
Analysis:
Read more about: Midian
Oreb a Midianite Noun H6159 עֹרֵ֣ב o·rev
Analysis:
Read more about: Oreb
and Zeeb, "wolf," a leader in Midian Noun H2062 זְאֵ֗ב ze·'ev
Analysis:
Read more about: Zeeb
and they killed to kill, slay Verb H2026 וַיַּהַרְג֨וּ vai·ya·har·gu
Oreb a Midianite Noun H6159 עֹורֵ֤ב o·v·rev
Analysis:
Read more about: Oreb
at the rock rock, cliff Noun H6697 בְּצוּר־ be·tzur-
of Oreb, a Midianite Noun H6159 עֹורֵב֙ o·v·rev
Analysis:
Read more about: Oreb
and they killed to kill, slay Verb H2026 הָרְג֣וּ ha·re·gu
Zeeb "wolf," a leader in Midian Noun H2062 זְאֵב֙ ze·'ev
Analysis:
Read more about: Zeeb
at the wine press wine vat Noun H3342 בְיֶֽקֶב־ ve·ye·kev-
of Zeeb, "wolf," a leader in Midian Noun H2062 זְאֵ֔ב ze·'ev,
Analysis:
Read more about: Zeeb
while they pursued to pursue, chase, persecute Verb H7291 וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ vai·yir·de·fu
Midian; a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. and the region where they settled Noun H4080 מִדְיָ֑ן mid·yan;
Analysis:
Read more about: Midian
and they brought to come in, come, go in, go Verb H935 הֵבִ֙יאוּ֙ he·vi·'u
the heads head Noun H7218 וְרֹאשׁ־ ve·rosh-
of Oreb a Midianite Noun H6159 עֹרֵ֣ב o·rev
Analysis:
Read more about: Oreb
and Zeeb "wolf," a leader in Midian Noun H2062 וּזְאֵ֔ב u·ze·'ev,
Analysis:
Read more about: Zeeb
to Gideon a judge of Isr. Noun H1439 גִּדְעֹ֔ון gid·'o·vn,
from across region across or beyond, side Noun H5676 מֵעֵ֖בֶר me·'e·ver
the Jordan. the principal river of Pal. Noun H3383 לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ lai·yar·den.

Locations

Midian

MIDIAN; MIDIANITESmid'-i-an, mid'-i-an-its (midhyan, midhyanim; Madiam, Madienaioi):1. The See d of Abraham to the Time of the Judges:Midian was a son of Abraham by his concubine Keturah. To him were born 5 sons, Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah (Genesis 25:2, 4 1 Chronicles 1:32 f). Bearing gifts from Abraham, he and his brothers, each with his own ho... View Details

People

Zeeb

|wolf,| a leader in Midian

Oreb

a Midianite

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 They captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan.
King James Bible They captured And they took two princes of the two leaders of Midian, Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across on the other side Jordan.
Hebrew Greek English They captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan.