TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now all Midyan, 'Amalek and the others from the east joined forces, crossed the Yarden, and set up camp in the Yizre'el Valley.
Berean Standard Bible
Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
American Standard Version
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
World English Bible Messianic
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and they of ye East, were gathered together, aud went and pitched in the valley of Izreel.
Young's Literal Translation
And all Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east have been gathered together, and pass over, and encamp in the valley of Jezreel,
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In the KJVVerse 6,688 of 31,102
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Commentary on Judges 6 verses 33–40
33 ¶ Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Here we have, I. The descent which the enemies of Israel made upon them, Jdg 6:33. A vast number of Midianites, Amalekites, and Arabians, got together, and came over Jordan, none either caring or daring to guard that important and advantageous pass against them, and they made their headquarters in the valley of Jezreel, in the heart of Manasseh's tribe, not far from Gideon's city. Some think that the notice they had of Gideon's destroying Baal's altar brought them over, and that they came to plead for Baal and to make that a pretence for quarrelling with Israel; but it is more likely that it was now harvest-time, when they had been wont each year to make such a visit as this (Jdg 6:3), and that they were expected when Gideon was threshing, Jdg 6:11. God raised up Gideon to be ready against this terrible blow came. Their success so many years in these incursions, the little opposition they had met with and the great booty they had carried off, made them now both very eager and very confident. But it proved that the measure of their iniquity was full and the year of recompence had come; they must now make an end to spoil and must be spoiled, and they are gathered as sheaves to the floor (Mic 4:12, Mic 4:13), for Gideon to thresh.
II. The preparation which Gideon makes to attack them in their camp, Jdg 6:34, Jdg 6:35. 1. God by his Spirit put life into Gideon: The Spirit of the Lord clothes Gideon (so the word is), clothed him as a robe, to put honour upon him, clothed him as a coat of mail, to put defence upon him. Those are well clad that are thus clothed. A spirit of fortitude from before the Lord clothed Gideon; so the Chaldee. He was of himself a mighty man of valour; yet personal strength and courage, though vigorously exerted, would not suffice for this great action; he must have the armour of God upon him, and this is what he must depend upon: The Spirit of the Lord clothed him in an extraordinary manner. Whom God calls to his work he will qualify and animate for it. 2. Gideon with his trumpet put life into his neighbours, God working with him; he blew a trumpet, to call in volunteers, and more came in than perhaps he expected. (1.) The men of Abiezer, though lately enraged against him for throwing down the altar of Baal, and though they had condemned him to death as a criminal, were now convinced of their error, bravely came in to his assistance, and submitted to him as their general: Abiezer was gathered after him, Jdg 6:34. So suddenly can God turn the hearts even of idolaters and persecutors. (2.) Distant tribes, even Asher and Naphtali, which lay most remote, though strangers to him, obeyed his summons, and sent him in the best of their forces, Jdg 6:35. Though they lay furthest from the danger, yet, considering that if their neighbours were over-run by the Midianites their own turn would be next, they were forward to join against a common enemy.
III. The signs which God gratified him with, for the confirming both of his own faith and that of his followers; and perhaps it was more for their sakes than for his own that he desired them. Or, perhaps, he desired by these to be satisfied whether this was the time of his conquering the Midianites, or whether he was to wait for some other opportunity. Observe, 1. His request for a sign (Jdg 6:36, Jdg 6:37): "Let me by this know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, let a fleece of wool, spread in the open air, be wet with the dew, and let the ground about it be dry." The purport of this is, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. He found his own faith weak and wavering, and therefore begged of God by this sign to perfect what was lacking in it. We may suppose that God, who intended to give him these signs, for the glorifying of his own power and goodness, put it into his heart to ask them. Yet, when he repeated his request for a second sign, the reverse of the former, he did it with a very humble apology, deprecating God's displeasure, because it looked so like a peevish humoursome distrust of God and dissatisfaction with the many assurances he had already given him (Jdg 6:39): Let not thy anger be hot against me. Though he took the boldness to ask another sign, yet he did it with such fear and trembling as showed that the familiarity God had graciously admitted him to did not breed any contempt of God's glory, nor presumption on God's goodness. Abraham had given him an example of this, when God gave him leave to be very free with him (Gen 18:30, Gen 18:32), O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. God's favour must be sought with great reverence, a due sense of our distance, and a religious fear of his wrath. 2. God's gracious grant of his request. See how tender God is of true believers though they be weak, and how ready to condescend to their infirmities, that the bruised reed may not be broken nor the smoking flax quenched. Gideon would have the fleece wet and the ground dry; but then, lest any should object, "It is natural for wool, if ever so little moisture fall, to drink it in and retain it, and therefore there was nothing extraordinary in this," though the quantity wrung out was sufficient to obviate such an objection, yet he desires that next night the ground might be wet and the fleece dry, and it is done, so willing is God to give to the heirs of promise strong consolation (Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18), even by two immutable things. He suffers himself, not only to be prevailed with by their importunities, but even to be prescribed to by their doubts and dissatisfactions. These signs were, (1.) Truly miraculous, and therefore abundantly serving to confirm his commission. It is said of the dew that it is from the Lord, and tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men (Mic 5:7); and yet God here in this matter hearkened to the voice of a man; as to Joshua, in directing the course of the sun, so to Gideon in directing that of the dew, by which it appears that it falls not by chance, but by providence. The latter sign inverted the former, and, to please Gideon, it was wrought backward and forward, whence Dr. Fuller observes that heaven's real miracles will endure turning, being inside and outside both alike. (2.) Very significant. He and his men were going to engage the Midianites; could God distinguish between a small fleece of Israel and the vast floor of Midian? Yes, by this he is made to know that he can. Is Gideon desirous that the dew of divine grace might descend upon himself in particular? He sees the fleece wet with dew to assure him of it. Does he desire that God will be as the dew to all Israel? Behold, all the ground is wet. Some make this fleece an emblem of the Jewish nation, which, when time was, was wet with the dew of God's word and ordinances, while the rest of the world was dry; but since the rejection of Christ and his gospel they are dry as the heath in the wilderness, while the nations about are as a watered garden.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 33–40. Public domain.
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SUMMARY
Judges 6:33 vividly portrays the formidable assembly of Israel's oppressors—the Midianites, Amalekites, and various "children of the east"—as they converge in the strategically vital Valley of Jezreel. This verse dramatically escalates the tension, setting the stage for the impending confrontation by highlighting the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy forces. It underscores the immense challenge confronting Gideon and the Israelites, thereby serving as a crucial prelude to God's miraculous intervention and His demonstration of power through seemingly impossible circumstances.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 6:33 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to heighten the narrative's tension and underscore its profound theological message. Hyperbole is subtly present in the phrase "all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east," which, while indicating a genuinely vast force, emphasizes the perceived overwhelming nature of the enemy from Israel's perspective, making God's subsequent, miraculous victory all the more dramatic and undeniable. Foreshadowing is a primary device, as the massing of these formidable forces directly sets the stage for the divinely orchestrated battle in Judges 7, building intense anticipation for God's powerful intervention. The specific mention of the Valley of Jezreel serves as a form of Geographical Symbolism, as this location was a recurring battleground throughout Israelite history, evoking a sense of historical significance and impending, decisive conflict. The sheer vastness and combined strength of the enemy forces, juxtaposed against Israel's weakness and despair, creates a stark Contrast, preparing the reader for a demonstration of divine power rather than reliance on human might.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 6:33 serves as a powerful theological statement about God's sovereignty and His unique method of deliverance. By presenting an overwhelmingly superior enemy, the text magnifies the glory of God's subsequent victory. It teaches a foundational biblical principle: human strength, numerical advantage, or strategic prowess are utterly irrelevant when God chooses to act. This principle is central to understanding God's work throughout Scripture, where He consistently uses the weak, the few, or the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His mighty purposes, ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone. This dramatic setup prepares the reader for the subsequent narrative of Gideon's army being drastically reduced, making it undeniably clear that the victory is entirely God's, not a result of Israel's strength or military might.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene depicted in Judges 6:33, with an overwhelming enemy force arrayed against a vulnerable Israel, resonates deeply with the challenges believers face in every generation. We often encounter "giants" in our lives—be they spiritual battles, seemingly insurmountable personal struggles, pervasive societal pressures, or even the sheer weight of our own perceived inadequacies. This verse serves as a profound reminder that the size and apparent strength of our opposition do not dictate the outcome when the omnipotent God is involved. It calls us to shift our gaze from the formidable enemy to the all-powerful God who delights in demonstrating His strength in our weakness. Just as God deliberately allowed the Midianite-Amalekite coalition to gather in full force to demonstrate His power through Gideon, He often allows us to face seemingly impossible situations so that His strength might be perfected in our weakness. Our response should not be despair or self-reliance, but a renewed trust in the God who delights in delivering His people against all odds, reminding us that the victory is ultimately His, not ours.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who were "the children of the east" mentioned alongside the Midianites and Amalekites?
Answer: "The children of the east" (Hebrew: bene qedem) was a general term used in ancient Israel to refer to various nomadic tribes and peoples inhabiting the desert regions to the east of the Jordan River, primarily in what is modern-day Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. These groups were typically pastoralists and raiders, known for their swift and destructive incursions into settled agricultural lands. In the context of Judges 6:33, their inclusion signifies a vast and diverse confederation of hostile forces, emphasizing the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy arrayed against Israel. They were often allied with or comprised similar groups to the Midianites and Amalekites, all of whom posed a significant threat to Israel's agricultural economy and national security through their devastating raids, as graphically described earlier in Judges 6:3-6.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 6:33, depicting the massing of an overwhelming enemy force against a vulnerable Israel, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the spiritual battle waged by Jesus Christ on behalf of humanity. Just as the Midianites, Amalekites, and children of the east represented a formidable, seemingly insurmountable physical threat to Israel, humanity faced an even greater, spiritual enemy in the combined forces of sin, death, and the devil. This spiritual foe had enslaved humanity, plundering lives and leaving a wake of devastation, much like the Midianites impoverished Israel. However, the true Deliverer, Jesus Christ, entered the "valley" of human existence, not to gather an army, but to confront these spiritual adversaries head-on through His own sacrificial life and death. His crucifixion, though appearing as a defeat to human eyes, was the decisive battle where He "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15). Through His glorious resurrection, Christ utterly vanquished death and sin, ensuring that the victory was not by human might or numbers, but by divine power, echoing the principle established in Gideon's narrative where God alone secures the triumph. Believers, united with Christ, now share in this victory, no longer slaves to the overwhelming spiritual forces that once held them captive, as promised in Romans 8:37-39, for in Him, we are more than conquerors.