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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 6:5 For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/6-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/07_Jdg_06_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 6:5 - Midian Oppresses Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. 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It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. <a href="/nlt/judges/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. <a href="/esv/judges/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. <a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it. <a href="/kjv/judges/6.htm">King James Bible</a> For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. <a href="/nkjv/judges/6.htm">New King James Version</a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. <a href="/nasb_/judges/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts in number, and both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to ruin it. <a href="/nasb/judges/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. <a href="/nasb77/judges/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. <a href="/lsb/judges/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For they would go up with their livestock and their tents; they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to make it a ruin. <a href="/amp/judges/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, and they would come in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were innumerable. So they came into the land to devastate it. <a href="/csb/judges/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it. <a href="/hcsb/judges/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to waste it. <a href="/asv/judges/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. <a href="/erv/judges/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> For they came up with their cattle and their tents, they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. <a href="/gwt/judges/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it. <a href="/gnt/judges/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> They would come with their livestock and tents, as thick as locusts. They and their camels were too many to count. They came and devastated the land, <a href="/isv/judges/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> They would invade with their livestock and tents, swooping in as numerous as locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels—and they came into the land to destroy it. <a href="/msb/judges/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it. <a href="/net/judges/6.htm">NET Bible</a> When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land. <a href="/nheb/judges/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For they came up with their livestock and their tents and their camels. They would come in like locusts in number, and they were innumerable. And they came into the land to ravage it. <a href="/wbt/judges/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For they came up with their cattle, and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. <a href="/web/judges/6.htm">World English Bible</a> For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> for they and their livestock come up, with their tents; they come in as the fullness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their livestock there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it. <a href="/ylt/judges/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> for they and their cattle come up, with their tents; they come in as the fulness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their cattle there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it. <a href="/slt/judges/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For they and their cattle will come up, and their tents will come, as an abundance of locusts for multitude; and to them and to their camels no number: and they will come into the land to destroy it.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For they and all their flocks came with their tents, and like locusts filled all places, an innumerable multitude of men, and of camels, wasting whatsoever they touched. <a href="/cpdv/judges/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For they and all their flocks arrived with their tents, and they filled all places like locusts, an innumerable multitude of men and camels, devastating whatever they touched. <a href="/nabre/judges/6.htm">New American Bible</a> For they would come up with their livestock, and their tents would appear as thick as locusts. They would be too many to count when they came into the land to lay it waste. <a href="/nrsvce/judges/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For they and their livestock would come up, and they would even bring their tents, as thick as locusts; neither they nor their camels could be counted; so they wasted the land as they came in.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came like locusts in multitude; for both they and their camels were without number; and they entered into the land to destroy it. <a href="/hpbt/judges/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Because they and their cattle and their tents were coming like many locusts, and there was no number to them and to their camels, and they entered the land for its destruction<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it. <a href="/sep/judges/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> For they and their stock came up, and their tents were with them, as the locust in multitude, and there was no number to them and their camels; and they came to the land of Israel, and laid it waste. <a href="/parallel/judges/6-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=1514" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm">Midian Oppresses Israel</a> …4encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys. 5<a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">the Midianites</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yå̄·ḇō·ʾū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/4735.htm" title="4735: ū·miq·nê·hem (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Cattle. From qanah; something bought, i.e. Property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition.">with their livestock</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ya·‘ă·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative."></a> <a href="/hebrew/168.htm" title="168: wə·’ā·ho·lê·hem (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A tent. From 'ahal; a tent.">and their tents</a> <a href="/hebrew/7230.htm" title="7230: lā·rōḇ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Multitude, abundance, greatness. From rabab; abundance.">like a great</a> <a href="/hebrew/1767.htm" title="1767: ḵə·ḏê- (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- Sufficiency, enough. Of uncertain derivation; enough, used chiefly with preposition in phrases.">swarm</a> <a href="/hebrew/697.htm" title="697: ’ar·beh (N-ms) -- (a kind of) locust. From rabah; a locust.">of locusts.</a> <a href="/hebrew/wə·lā·hem (Conj-w:: Prep:: 3mp) -- ">They</a> <a href="/hebrew/1581.htm" title="1581: wə·liḡ·mal·lê·hem (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A camel. Apparently from gamal; a camel.">and their camels</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">were innumerable,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4557.htm" title="4557: mis·pār (N-ms) -- Number, tally. From caphar; a number, definite or indefinite; also narration."></a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and they entered</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ḇā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/7843.htm" title="7843: lə·ša·ḥă·ṯāh (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf:: 3fs) -- Perhaps to go to ruin. A primitive root; to decay, i.e. ruin.">to ravage it.</a> 6Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6</a> For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/jeremiah/46-23.htm">Jeremiah 46:23</a> They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD, dense though it may be, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted. <a href="/isaiah/7-23.htm">Isaiah 7:23</a> And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found. <a href="/isaiah/7-25.htm">Isaiah 7:25</a> For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample. <a href="/jeremiah/49-29.htm">Jeremiah 49:29</a> They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’ <a href="/jeremiah/49-32.htm">Jeremiah 49:32</a> Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoil. I will scatter to the wind in every direction those who shave their temples; I will bring calamity on them from all sides,” declares the LORD. <a href="/isaiah/17-5.htm">Isaiah 17:5</a> as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. <a href="/isaiah/10-18.htm">Isaiah 10:18</a> The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. <a href="/isaiah/10-19.htm">Isaiah 10:19</a> The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them. <a href="/isaiah/10-33.htm">Isaiah 10:33-34</a> Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One. <a href="/1_samuel/13-5.htm">1 Samuel 13:5</a> Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. <a href="/1_kings/20-27.htm">1 Kings 20:27</a> The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside. <a href="/2_chronicles/14-9.htm">2 Chronicles 14:9</a> Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. <a href="/psalms/83-4.htm">Psalm 83:4-5</a> saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.” / For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You— <a href="/psalms/83-12.htm">Psalm 83:12</a> who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.tents<a href="/songs/1-5.htm">Song of Solomon 1:5</a> I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.<a href="/isaiah/13-20.htm">Isaiah 13:20</a> It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.as grasshoppers<a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Judges 7:12</a> And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.<a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Judges 8:10</a> Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.<a href="/jeremiah/46-23.htm">Jeremiah 46:23</a> They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.their camels<a href="/judges/8-21.htm">Judges 8:21</a> Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.<a href="/1_samuel/30-17.htm">1 Samuel 30:17</a> And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.<a href="/isaiah/60-6.htm">Isaiah 60:6</a> The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.to destroy<a href="/psalms/83-4.htm">Psalm 83:4-12</a> They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/9-3.htm">Camels</a> <a href="/judges/6-4.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/16-9.htm">Count</a> <a href="/joshua/13-3.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/judges/6-4.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/judges/5-31.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/joshua/22-33.htm">Devastate</a> <a href="/judges/4-22.htm">Entered</a> <a href="/genesis/11-6.htm">Impossible</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-22.htm">Innumerable</a> <a href="/judges/6-3.htm">Invaded</a> <a href="/joshua/22-8.htm">Livestock</a> <a href="/judges/4-7.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/judges/6-4.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/genesis/41-30.htm">Ravage</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-8.htm">Regularly</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-42.htm">Swarms</a> <a href="/judges/5-24.htm">Tents</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-24.htm">Wasted</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Camels</a> <a href="/judges/18-21.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-16.htm">Count</a> <a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/judges/20-25.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/judges/9-20.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/job/12-15.htm">Devastate</a> <a href="/judges/9-46.htm">Entered</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-2.htm">Impossible</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/22-4.htm">Innumerable</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-27.htm">Invaded</a> <a href="/judges/20-48.htm">Livestock</a> <a href="/judges/7-12.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/judges/18-21.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Ravage</a> <a href="/2_samuel/9-7.htm">Regularly</a> <a href="/psalms/78-45.htm">Swarms</a> <a href="/judges/6-33.htm">Tents</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-5.htm">Wasted</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 6</div>1. <a href="/judges/6-1.htm">The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian</a> 8. <a href="/judges/6-8.htm">A prophet rebukes them</a> 11. <a href="/judges/6-11.htm">An angel sends Gideon for their deliverance</a> 17. <a href="/judges/6-17.htm">Gideon's present is consumed with fire</a> 24. <a href="/judges/6-24.htm">Gideon destroys Baal's altar; offers a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom</a> 28. <a href="/judges/6-28.htm">Joash defends his son, and calls him Jerubbaal</a> 33. <a href="/judges/6-33.htm">Gideon's army</a> 36. <a href="/judges/6-36.htm">Gideon's signs</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah, indicating a distant kinship with the Israelites. Historically, they were nomadic people, often moving with their livestock and tents, which is consistent with their lifestyle as described in this passage. This nomadic lifestyle allowed them to be mobile and opportunistic, often raiding settled communities. The presence of livestock and tents suggests a large, organized group capable of sustaining themselves during prolonged campaigns.like a great swarm of locusts The comparison to locusts is significant in the biblical context, as locusts were known for their destructive power, consuming everything in their path. This imagery conveys the overwhelming number and the devastating impact of the Midianite invasion. In the Bible, locusts are often associated with divine judgment (e.g., <a href="/exodus/10-12.htm">Exodus 10:12-15</a>), highlighting the severity of the situation faced by the Israelites. The metaphor underscores the sense of helplessness and the need for divine intervention.They and their camels were innumerable The mention of camels is noteworthy, as it indicates the Midianites' advanced capabilities in warfare and trade. Camels were a relatively new addition to military campaigns in this period, providing a strategic advantage due to their speed and endurance. The term "innumerable" emphasizes the vastness of the Midianite forces, creating a sense of intimidation and despair among the Israelites. This overwhelming force serves as a backdrop for God's deliverance through Gideon, highlighting the contrast between human weakness and divine strength.and they entered the land to ravage it The purpose of the Midianite invasion was not just to conquer but to plunder and destroy. This aligns with the cyclical pattern in the Book of Judges, where Israel's disobedience leads to oppression by foreign powers, followed by cries for deliverance. The term "ravage" indicates the complete devastation of the land, affecting the Israelites' ability to sustain themselves. This destruction sets the stage for God's intervention, as He raises up Gideon to deliver His people, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who rescues humanity from spiritual oppression.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/midianites.htm">Midianites</a> A nomadic people who oppressed Israel during the time of the Judges. They are descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham by Keturah. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> The people of God who were suffering under the oppression of the Midianites due to their disobedience to God. 3. <a href="/topical/g/gideon.htm">Gideon</a> Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Gideon is the central figure in the surrounding account, called by God to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression. 4. <a href="/topical/l/land_of_israel.htm">Land of Israel</a> The geographical setting where the events take place, specifically in the time of the Judges when Israel was a loose confederation of tribes. 5. <a href="/topical/c/camels.htm">Camels</a> Notable for their use by the Midianites, symbolizing the overwhelming and swift nature of the Midianite invasion.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> The oppression by the Midianites was a direct result of Israel's disobedience to God. This serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty in Judgment</a> The overwhelming nature of the Midianite invasion illustrates God's control over nations and events, using them to bring His people back to Himself. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_repentance.htm">The Power of Repentance</a> The account of Gideon that follows shows that God is ready to deliver His people when they turn back to Him in repentance. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> Just as the Israelites faced physical oppression, Christians today face spiritual battles. We must rely on God's strength and guidance to overcome. <a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_deliverance.htm">Trust in God's Deliverance</a> Despite overwhelming odds, God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel, teaching us to trust in God's power to save us from our own "Midianites."<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 6</a> <a href="/q/why_did_god_cut_gideon's_army_to_300.htm">In Judges 7:2, why would God deliberately reduce Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300, defying common military sense? </a> <a href="/q/is_30,000_chariots_in_1_sam_13_5_plausible.htm">Is the figure of thirty thousand chariots in 1 Samuel 13:5 historically plausible for the Philistines at that time?</a> <a href="/q/what_evidence_supports_biblical_judges.htm">Judges 2:16-19 speaks of God raising up judges to deliver Israel, but what historical or archaeological data support the existence of these specific judges?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_for_midianites'_vast_numbers.htm">If the Midianites were as numerous 'as locusts,' as described in Judges 7:12, where is the historical or archaeological evidence for such a massive force?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) As grasshoppers.--See <a href="/judges/7-12.htm" title="And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.">Judges 7:12</a>. Rather, as locusts. The magnificent imagery of <a href="/context/joel/2-2.htm" title="A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread on the mountains: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.">Joel 2:2-11</a> enables us to realise the force of the metaphor, and <a href="/context/exodus/10-4.htm" title="Else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into your coast:">Exodus 10:4-6</a> the number of locusts, which are a common metaphor for countless hordes. Aristophanes (Ach. 150) speaks of an army so numerous that the Athenians will cry out, "What a mass of locusts is coming!" The Bedouin call the locusts Gurrud Allah, "Host of God" (Wetzstein, Hauran, p. 138).Their camels.--These were very uncommon in Palestine, and were brought by the invaders from the Eastern deserts.Without number.--This is Oriental hyperbole. "When Burckhardt asked a Bedouin, who belonged to a tribe of 300 tents, how many brothers he had, he flung a handful of sand into the air, and replied, 'Equally numberless'" (Cassel).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - As grasshoppers. See the striking description of the destruction caused by locusts in <a href="/joel/3.htm">Joel 3</a>. I have heard travellers in India describe the sudden darkening of the sky by a flight of locusts. <a href="/commentaries/judges/6-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>For כִּ֡י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction the Midianites הֵם֩ (hêm) Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They came וּבָ֤אוּ (ū·ḇā·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go with their livestock וּמִקְנֵיהֶ֨ם (ū·miq·nê·hem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4735.htm">Strong's 4735: </a> Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition and their tents וְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם (wə·’ā·ho·lê·hem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_168.htm">Strong's 168: </a> A tent like a great לָרֹ֔ב (lā·rōḇ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7230.htm">Strong's 7230: </a> Multitude, abundance, greatness swarm כְדֵֽי־ (ḵə·ḏê-) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1767.htm">Strong's 1767: </a> Sufficiency, enough of locusts. אַרְבֶּה֙ (’ar·beh) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_697.htm">Strong's 697: </a> (a kind of) locust They and their camels וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶ֖ם (wə·liḡ·mal·lê·hem) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1581.htm">Strong's 1581: </a> A camel were innumerable, אֵ֣ין (’ên) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> A non-entity, a negative particle and they entered וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go the land בָאָ֖רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land to ravage it. לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ׃ (lə·ša·ḥă·ṯāh) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7843.htm">Strong's 7843: </a> Perhaps to go to ruin <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/6-5.htm">OT History: Judges 6:5 For they came up with their livestock (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/6-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 6:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 6:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/6-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 6:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 6:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>