TRV
Translation
King James Version
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
Complete Jewish Bible
They set up camp by them and destroyed the produce of the country all the way to 'Azah; they left nothing for people to live on, no sheep, no oxen, no donkeys.
Berean Standard Bible
encamping 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.
American Standard Version
and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
World English Bible Messianic
and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And camped by them, and destroyed the fruite of the earth, euen til thou come vnto Azzah, and left no foode for Israel, neither sheepe, nor oxe, nor asse.
Young's Literal Translation
and encamp against them, and destroy the increase of the land till thine entering Gaza; and they leave no sustenance in Israel, either sheep, or ox, or ass;
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In the KJVVerse 6,659 of 31,102
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Commentary on Judges 6 verses 1–6
1 ¶ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 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.
6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
We have here, I. Israel's sin renewed: They did evil in the sight of the Lord, Jdg 6:1. The burnt child dreads the fire; yet this perverse unthinking people, that had so often smarted sorely for their idolatry, upon a little respite of God's judgments return to it again. This people hath a revolting rebellious heart, not kept in awe by the terror of God's judgments, nor engaged in honour and gratitude by the great things he had done for them to keep themselves in his love. The providence of God will not change the hearts and lives of sinners.
II. Israel's troubles repeated. This would follow of course; let all that sin expect to suffer; let all that return to folly expect to return to misery. With the froward God will show himself froward (Psa 18:26), and will walk contrary to those that walk contrary to him, Lev 26:21, Lev 26:24. Now as to this trouble, 1. It arose from a very despicable enemy. God delivered them into the hand of Midian (Jdg 6:1), not Midian in the south where Jethro lived, but Midian in the east that joined to Moab (Num 22:4), a people that all men despised as uncultivated and unintelligent; hence we read not here of any king, lord, or general, that they had, but the force with which they destroyed Israel was an undisciplined mob; and, which made it the more grievous, they were a people that Israel had formerly subdued, and in a manner destroyed (see Num 31:7), and yet by this time (nearly 200 years after) the poor remains of them were so multiplied, and so magnified, that they were capable of being made a very severe scourge to Israel. Thus God moved them to jealousy with those who were not a people, even a foolish nation, Deu 32:21. The meanest creature will serve to chastise those that have made the great Creator their enemy. And, when those we are authorized to rule prove rebellious and disobedient to us, it concerns us to enquire whether we have not been so to our sovereign Ruler. 2. It arose to a very formidable height (Jdg 6:2): The hand of Midian prevailed, purely by their multitude. God had promised to increase Israel as the sand on the sea shore; but their sin stopped their growth and diminished them, and then their enemies, though otherwise every way inferior to them, overpowered them with numbers. They came upon them as grasshoppers for multitude (Jdg 6:5), not in a regular army to engage them in the field, but in a confused swarm to plunder the country, quarter themselves upon it, and enrich themselves with its spoils - bands of robbers, and no better. And sinful Israel, being separated by sin from God, had not spirit to make head against them. Observe the wretched havoc that these Midianites made with their bands of plunderers in Israel. Here we have, (1.) The Israelites imprisoned, or rather imprisoning themselves, in dens and caves, Jdg 6:2. This was owing purely to their own timorousness and faint-heartedness, that they would rather fly than fight; it was the effect of a guilty conscience, which made them tremble at the shaking of a leaf, and the just punishment of their apostasy from God, who thus fought against them with those very terrors with which he would otherwise have fought for them. Had it not been for this, we cannot but think Israel a match for the Midianites, and able enough to make head against them; but the heart that departs from God is lost, not only to that which is good, but to that which is great. Sin dispirits men, and makes them sneak into dens and caves. The day will come when chief captains and mighty men will call in vain to rocks and mountains to hide them. (2.) The Israelites impoverished, greatly impoverished, Jdg 6:6. The Midianites and the other children of the east that joined with them to live by spoil and rapine (as long before the Sabeans and Chaldeans did that plundered Job, free-booters) made frequent incursions into the land of Canaan. This fruitful land was a great temptation to them; and the sloth and luxury into which the Israelites had sunk by forty years' rest made them and their substance an easy prey to them. They came up against them (Jdg 6:3), pitched their camps among them (Jdg 6:4), and brought their cattle with them, particularly camels innumerable (Jdg 6:5), not a flying party to make a sally upon them and be gone presently, but they resolved to force their way, and penetrated through the heart of the country as far as Gaza on the western side, Jdg 6:4. They let the Israelites alone to sow their ground, but towards harvest they came and seized all, and ate up and destroyed it, both grass and corn, and when they went away took with them the sheep and oxen, so that in short they left no sustenance for Israel, except what was privately taken by the rightful owners into the dens and caves. Now here we may see, [1.] The justice of God in the punishment of their sin. They had neglected to honour God with their substance in tithes and offerings, and had prepared that for Baal with which God should have been served, and now God justly sends an enemy to take it away in the season thereof, Hos 2:8, Hos 2:9. [2.] The consequence of God's departure from a people; when he goes all good goes and all mischiefs break in. When Israel kept in with God, they reaped what others sowed (Jos 24:13; Psa 105:44); but now that God had forsaken them others reaped what they sowed. Let us take occasion from this to bless God for our national peace and tranquillity, that we eat the labour of our hands.
III. Israel's sense of God's hand revived at last. Seven years, year after year, did the Midianites make these inroads upon them, each we may suppose worse than the other (Jdg 6:1), until at last, all other succours failing, Israel cried unto the Lord (Jdg 6:6), for crying to Baal ruined them, and would not help them. When God judges he will overcome; and sinners shall be made either to bend or break before him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–6. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Judges 6:4 vividly depicts the catastrophic economic and agricultural devastation inflicted upon Israel by the Midianites, Amalekites, and "children of the east." This verse underscores the severe consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience, illustrating how God's disciplinary hand allowed external enemies to strip His people of their vital resources, leaving them in a state of extreme destitution, famine, and vulnerability, extending from their heartland all the way to the Philistine border, thereby setting the stage for their desperate cry for deliverance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 6:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of Israel's suffering and the severity of the Midianite oppression. Hyperbole is powerfully evident in the phrase "left no sustenance for Israel," which, while perhaps not implying literally zero provisions, vividly conveys the near-total obliteration of their resources and the extreme hardship they faced. This exaggeration serves to emphasize the profound severity of their plight. Vivid Imagery is masterfully used to paint a stark picture of desolation: the "destroyed increase of the earth" conjures images of barren fields and ruined harvests, while the specific enumeration of "neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass" evokes empty pastures, silent homesteads, and a complete absence of the vital components of an agrarian economy. The use of Merism in "neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass" functions as a comprehensive list, representing all categories of essential livestock, thereby underscoring the absolute and complete nature of the plunder. Finally, the Geographical Marker "till thou come unto Gaza" serves as a powerful rhetorical device, highlighting the vast and pervasive extent of the Midianite oppression, demonstrating that the entire land, from its eastern agricultural heartland to its western coastal boundary, was under siege and devastated.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 6:4 serves as a stark reminder of the covenantal consequences of disobedience, echoing the solemn warnings given to Israel in the Mosaic Law. The systematic destruction of their agricultural produce and livestock directly fulfills the curses promised for apostasy, where God warned that He would send enemies to consume their land's yield and livestock, leaving them destitute. This divine discipline was not arbitrary but purposeful, designed to humble Israel, expose the futility of their idolatry, and ultimately drive them back to a faithful relationship with their God. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and natural resources, demonstrating His ability to use even pagan invaders as instruments of His righteous judgment and redemptive plan for His people. It highlights the profound biblical principle that spiritual health directly impacts material well-being, and a departure from God's commands can lead to profound societal and economic breakdown, serving as a powerful call to repentance and reliance on Yahweh alone.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 6:4 offers a profound spiritual lesson for believers today, reminding us that while God's covenant with His New Testament people is one of grace and not law, the principle of consequences for spiritual drifting remains. Just as Israel's idolatry led to a "famine" of physical sustenance, our spiritual apathy, neglect of God's Word, and pursuit of worldly idols can lead to a "famine" in our souls—a loss of joy, peace, purpose, and spiritual vitality. This verse calls us to examine areas where we might be neglecting our relationship with God, allowing spiritual "Midianites" (distractions, unconfessed sin, worldly pursuits, or even spiritual complacency) to "destroy the increase" of our spiritual lives. It compels us to recognize that true sustenance and flourishing come from abiding in God, not from earthly possessions or perceived security. When we find ourselves in a state of spiritual barrenness, this passage encourages us to cry out to the Lord, just as Israel eventually did, trusting that He is a God who hears, delivers, and restores. Our greatest security is not in our material abundance, but in our unwavering dependence on His provision and faithfulness, which alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our souls.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the primary purpose of the Midianite raids described in Judges 6:4?
Answer: The primary purpose of the Midianite raids was not permanent territorial conquest but systematic economic devastation. They aimed to strip Israel of its agricultural produce and livestock, effectively destroying their means of livelihood and reducing them to a state of extreme poverty and famine. This annual plundering, meticulously timed after the harvest, served to prevent Israel from accumulating wealth or resources, keeping them in a state of weakness and dependence. In the biblical narrative, this severe oppression was a direct consequence of Israel's disobedience to God, intended by Him to humble them and drive them back to Him in repentance, as indicated in Judges 6:1 and Judges 6:7.
How does Judges 6:4 relate to the broader cycle of sin and deliverance in the Book of Judges?
Answer: Judges 6:4 is a crucial and vivid depiction within the "sin-suffering-supplication-salvation" cycle that defines the narrative structure of the Book of Judges. It represents the intense "suffering" phase, detailing the severe consequences of Israel's "sin" (their idolatry and disobedience, as explicitly stated in Judges 6:1). The extreme economic devastation and famine described in this verse ultimately lead to Israel's desperate "supplication" or cry to the Lord (Judges 6:7), which then prompts God to raise up a "savior" or deliverer, in this case, Gideon (Judges 6:11), thus completing the cycle with "salvation" or deliverance. The severity of the suffering in verse 4 underscores the depth of their repentance and the urgency of God's miraculous intervention.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 6:4, with its stark depiction of Israel's utter destitution and lack of sustenance, powerfully foreshadows humanity's spiritual condition apart from Christ. Just as the Midianites stripped Israel of all physical provision, leaving them barren and famished, sin has left humanity spiritually bankrupt, unable to produce any "increase" that can truly satisfy or sustain the soul. We are left without "sustenance" for our deepest needs, facing a spiritual famine that no earthly resource or self-effort can alleviate. However, the overarching narrative of Judges, which consistently moves from despair and oppression to the raising of a deliverer, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the ultimate Judge and Deliverer, who rescues us not merely from physical oppression, but from the far greater tyranny of sin, death, and spiritual barrenness. He declares Himself to be the Bread of Life, promising that "Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst," thereby providing the eternal spiritual sustenance that the Midianites could never destroy. In Christ, the devastating famine of sin is overcome by an abundance of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life, fulfilling Israel's desperate need for a deliverer and provision in a way that transcends all earthly understanding and provides ultimate spiritual flourishing.