Judges 6 2

Judges 6:2 kjv

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.

Judges 6:2 nkjv

and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.

Judges 6:2 niv

Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

Judges 6:2 esv

And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.

Judges 6:2 nlt

The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 2 Meaning

The overwhelming power and military might of Midian subjugated Israel, causing severe distress and insecurity. This relentless oppression forced the Israelites to abandon open settlement and security in their land, compelling them to construct or seek refuge in hidden underground passages, natural caves within the mountains, and fortified defensive positions as their only means of survival. This condition reflects their extreme vulnerability and desperate flight from the Midianite threat.

Judges 6 2 Context

Judges 6:2 describes the devastating impact of the Midianite oppression on Israel, setting the stage for the story of Gideon. The previous verse (Judg 6:1) explicitly states that the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the LORD," leading to God giving them "into the hand of Midian for seven years." This oppression was not merely military skirmishes; as subsequent verses explain (Judg 6:3-5), it involved an annual invasion by the Midianites and their allies, like a locust swarm, destroying all agricultural produce and livestock, leaving no sustenance. This sustained economic devastation, coupled with their sheer numbers, forced Israel into an utterly desperate state. Their usual towns and fields became untenable, and survival depended on retreating to natural hideouts and fortifications in the mountains, out of sight from the invaders. This verse portrays a complete loss of sovereignty, economic stability, and psychological security for the Israelites.

Judges 6 2 Word analysis

• And the hand (וַתִּכְבַּד יַד Midian): Yad (יַד) signifies power, dominion, or authority. "And the hand" conveys Midian's overwhelming force and control, emphasizing their complete ascendancy. It implies that God allowed Midian to exercise such heavy power as a judgment against Israel.

• of Midian (מִדְיָן - Midyan): Refers to the nomadic people, descendants of Abraham through Keturah. They often acted as raiders and traders in the ancient Near East, here serving as God's instrument of discipline.

• prevailed (חָזְקָה - chazaqah): From the root chazaq, meaning to be strong, hard, or mighty. It suggests Midian's power became firmly established and held a dominant, crushing grip over Israel. This signifies persistent and oppressive superiority, not a temporary advantage.

• against Israel (עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל): Directed specifically at God's chosen people, indicating their profound reversal of fortune. Due to their covenant disloyalty, Israel was experiencing the consequences of turning away from divine protection.

• because of the Midianites (מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן - mi-p’ney Midyan): Literally "from the face of Midian" or "on account of Midian." This phrase emphasizes the direct and immediate causal relationship between the Midianite presence and Israel's desperate actions. They were compelled to hide due to Midian's direct threat.

• the children of Israel made them (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשׂוּ לָהֶם - b’nei Yisrael `asu lahem): "Made for themselves." This highlights the Israelites' forced self-reliance and the extreme measures taken for mere survival. It underscores their helplessness and the absence of divine protection until they turned back to God.

• the dens (אֶת-הַמִּנְהָרוֹת - minharot): These were likely burrows, tunnels, or small underground passages. They imply secret, cramped hiding places, often used for storing grain or concealing people.

• which are in the mountains (אֲשֶׁר בֶּהָרִים - asher b’harim): Specifies the location of these refuges. Mountains naturally offer difficult terrain for invaders and provide hidden spots, reflecting Israel's flight from open, fertile areas into defensible highlands.

• and caves (וְאֶת-הַמְּעָרוֹת - me'arot): Refers to natural hollows or caverns, typically larger than minharot, providing more extensive natural shelter for families or supplies.

• and strongholds (וְאֶת-הַמְּצָדוֹת - metsadot): Fortresses, strong places, or fortified positions. These could be naturally defensible sites, often improved for greater security, possibly for larger groups or for protecting valuable items. They denote an organized, albeit desperate, effort at defense.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel": This phrase succinctly portrays the absolute military and political dominance of Midian over Israel. It indicates a shift from Israel's promised dominion over the land to their subjugation by a foreign power. It's a theological statement: Israel's strength, derived from God, had failed because of their disobedience, leading to Midian's victory.
  • "because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens": This establishes a direct cause-and-effect. The unrelenting pressure and threat from Midian directly drove Israel to create or seek these extreme hiding places. It reveals the severity of the threat and Israel's profound fear and desperation, indicating they could no longer live freely and securely on their own land.
  • "the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds": This list illustrates the comprehensive and widespread nature of Israel's retreat and fear. They resorted to every type of hidden or fortified place available – from simple burrows to natural caverns and even improved fortresses – emphasizing their complete vulnerability and their inability to live openly, work their land, or stand against their oppressors. Their dwelling shifted from towns and villages to secret, isolated refuges.

Judges 6 2 Bonus section

This verse not only describes the oppression but deeply sets the stage for Gideon's character and the nature of God's chosen deliverer. The fact that the Israelites, including Gideon and his family (Judg 6:11), were reduced to living or operating from such hidden, vulnerable places underscores the immense fear and desolation in the land. This makes Gideon's initial fear and hesitation even more understandable, as he was a product of this pervasive oppression. The depth of Israel's hiding also highlights the greatness of God's subsequent deliverance, as He raises up an unlikely individual from such a suppressed state to openly defeat the powerful oppressor, demonstrating that the victory comes solely from God's hand, not from Israel's strength or self-made fortifications.

Judges 6 2 Commentary

Judges 6:2 concisely encapsulates the dire consequences of Israel's disobedience described in verse 1. The phrase "the hand of Midian prevailed" denotes a forceful, total domination, highlighting that God had allowed a severe judgment to fall upon His people. This wasn't a minor skirmish but a pervasive control that dictated every aspect of Israelite life, culminating in extreme fear and desperation. Their traditional way of life was completely disrupted, leading them to abandon their settled areas. The forced retreat to "dens... caves, and strongholds" in the mountains reveals the extent of their degradation and insecurity. Israel, God's chosen nation meant to be a light and a leader among nations, was reduced to hiding in holes like animals, an incredibly humiliating and dire state. This verse vividly portrays their complete vulnerability and inability to protect themselves when divine protection was withdrawn due to their unfaithfulness. It sets a stark picture of the need for divine intervention, as Israel was utterly incapable of delivering itself.