King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun [was up],
Complete Jewish Bible:
When Gid'on the son of Yo'ash returned from the battle by way of the Heres Pass,
Berean Standard Bible:
After this, Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle along the Ascent of Heres.
American Standard Version:
And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Gideon{H1439} the son{H1121} of Joash{H3101} returned{H7725} from battle{H4421} before{H4608} the sun{H2775} was up,
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Judges 8:13
Judges 8:13 is a verse set within the narrative of Gideon, one of the judges of Israel, who is leading the Israelites against the Midianites. The broader context is the period of the Judges, where Israel is characterized by cycles of apostasy, oppression by foreign nations, and deliverance through divinely raised judges.
In this particular verse, Gideon and his 300 men, having pursued the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna, return from a successful night-time engagement. The verse emphasizes the timing of their return, "before the sun was up," highlighting the swift and unexpected nature of their victory. This detail also serves to underscore the miraculous element of Gideon's success, as God had previously instructed him to reduce his army to a mere 300 to ensure that the Israelites would not boast in their own strength (Judges 7:2).
The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, leadership, and the fulfillment of God's promises. Gideon's early return with his men suggests a decisive victory that aligns with God's assurance to Gideon that he would deliver Midian into his hand (Judges 7:9). It also reflects Gideon's growth as a leader, as he trusts in God's guidance and leads his men in a daring night raid, a common tactic in ancient warfare to achieve surprise over the enemy.
Historically, this event would have occurred during the period when the Israelites were settling into the land of Canaan, and it illustrates the challenges they faced in maintaining their identity and faith in the midst of hostile neighbors. Gideon's victory serves as a narrative of hope and divine assistance for the Israelites, reinforcing the idea that their success was contingent upon their faithfulness to God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1439
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּדְעוֹן
Transliteration: Gidʻôwn
Pronunciation: ghid-ohn'
Description: from גָּדַע; feller (i.e. warrior); Gidon, an Israelite; Gideon. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3101
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹאָשׁ
Transliteration: Yôwʼâsh
Pronunciation: yo-awsh'
Description: or יֹאָשׁ; (2 Chronicles 24:1), a form of יְהוֹאָשׁ; Joash, the name of six Israelites; Joash. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H4421
There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: milchâmâh
Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior). - Strong's Number: H4608
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעֲלֶה
Transliteration: maʻăleh
Pronunciation: mah-al-eh'
Description: from עָלָה; an elevation, i.e. (concretely) acclivity or platform; abstractly (the relation or state) a rise or (figuratively) priority; ascent, before, chiefest, cliff, that goeth up, going up, hill, mounting up, stairs. - Strong's Number: H2775
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶס
Transliteration: chereç
Pronunciation: kheh'-res
Description: or (with a directive enclitic) חַרְסָה; from an unused root meaning to scrape; also perhaps from the mediating idea of חַרְסוּת; the itch; the sun; itch, sun.