Judges 6 5

Judges 6:5 kjv

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.

Judges 6:5 nkjv

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.

Judges 6:5 niv

They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

Judges 6:5 esv

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.

Judges 6:5 nlt

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.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 5 Meaning

Judges 6:5 graphically describes the overwhelming and destructive nature of the Midianite invasions that plagued Israel. The verse paints a vivid picture of the sheer multitude of the invaders—not just their warriors but their entire encampment, including countless livestock and camels. This host is likened to a locust plague, emphasizing their countless numbers, rapid movement, and the complete desolation they brought upon the land and its resources. Their singular purpose was to devastate the land, leaving nothing for the Israelites, thereby driving them into severe destitution and despair as a divine judgment for their apostasy.

Judges 6 5 Context

Judges 6:5 appears within the period of the Judges, a cyclic pattern of Israelite apostasy, divine judgment through foreign oppression, the cries of Israel to Yahweh, and God's raising up a deliverer. Specifically, this verse sets the stage for the narrative of Gideon. Israel had once again "done what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judg 6:1), leading God to hand them over to Midian for seven years. The Midianites, nomadic tribes from the desert regions east of Canaan, were annual invaders, sweeping through the land during harvest season (Judg 6:3-4). This verse graphically explains why Israel was so severely impoverished and living in caves and strongholds—the enemy's overwhelming force, vast resources (camels and tents), and their singular, destructive aim: to plunder and devastate everything. Their method was not to settle, but to economically strangle Israel by consuming and destroying all produce, leaving the land desolate. This severe oppression was a direct consequence of Israel's idolatry, driving them to desperation before God would hear their cry.

Judges 6 5 Word analysis

• For they would come up (כִּ֣י יַעֲל֗וּ - ki ya‘alu): The repeated verb indicates a regular, continuous, and habitual action, specifically referring to annual incursions, rising from their desert regions into the fertile plains of Israel. This denotes not a one-off raid but a systemic, cyclical oppression.
• with their livestock (וּמִקְנֵיהֶם - u-miqneihem): Refers to their cattle, sheep, and other beasts. This highlights the self-sustaining nature of the invading force and their primary method of devastation: direct consumption of Israel's agricultural output. Their "livestock" essentially ate Israel's harvests.
• and their tents (וְאָהֳלֵיהֶם - vĕ’oholēyhem): Signifies a complete nomadic encampment. This implies they were not just raiding parties but brought their entire communities, ready to dwell in the land for an extended period, demonstrating their resolve and capacity to establish a temporary presence and thoroughly exploit the conquered territory. It shows the sheer size of their non-combatant followers as well, further exacerbating the resource drain.
• they would come like locusts (יָבֹאוּ כָאַרְבֶּה - yavo’u ka’arbek): A powerful simile. The Hebrew term אַרְבֶּה (arbek) specifically refers to the migratory locust. This comparison vividly portrays:
  • Overwhelming numbers: Locust swarms are countless.
  • Suddenness and rapidity: They appear quickly and consume fast.
  • Totality of destruction: They consume everything in their path, leaving desolation. This is not just human invaders but an economic catastrophe.
• for number (לָרֹב - la-rov): Emphasizes the sheer quantity, underscoring the "countless" aspect of the locust simile. There were simply too many to contend with by human means.
• both they and their camels (גַּם הֵ֣ם וְגְמַלֵּיהֶם - gam hem vĕgĕmalleyhem): Reaffirms the "without number" aspect, extending it specifically to their formidable beasts of burden. Camels were crucial for desert peoples due to their endurance and capacity to carry immense loads over long distances. Their inclusion further magnifies the invaders' operational reach, strategic advantage, and ability to plunder on a massive scale. They also acted as both transport and, when needed, as a source of food.
• were without number (אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר - ein mispar): Literally "no counting." Reinforces the humanly impossible task of resisting such a host. It evokes a sense of despair and hopelessness from an Israelite perspective.
• and they would enter the land (וּבָ֣אוּ בָאָ֗רֶץ - u-va’u va’areṣ): "Enter" signifies invasion, crossing boundaries, claiming territory, however temporarily, for exploitation. It points to a direct penetration deep into Israelite lands.
• to devastate it (לְשַׁחֵֽת - lĕšaḥeṯ): The infinitive with lamed indicating purpose. The root שָׁחַת (shaḥat) means to corrupt, ruin, spoil, or destroy. This is their deliberate and stated objective: not merely to defeat an army or take tribute, but to systematically destroy the land's produce and capacity for life, rendering it unusable and Israel destitute. This goes beyond simple raiding to an intent of economic subjugation and complete impoverishment.

Judges 6 5 Bonus section

The Midianites' invasion tactics, as described in this verse, reflect a sophisticated understanding of how to destabilize an agricultural society. By bringing their entire encampments and countless livestock, they turned the very means of Israel's sustenance into their primary weapon, achieving an economic strangulation that led to famine and societal collapse. This goes beyond mere military defeat to a psychological and existential threat. Furthermore, the divine allowance of such total devastation serves as a stark reminder that God's covenant blessings include prosperity, while covenant curses include economic ruin and external oppression. The phrase "without number" prepares the reader for God's ultimate demonstration of power through Gideon, where an invisible God overcomes an innumerable enemy through a miraculously small and hand-picked force, proving that success is not determined by quantity or human strength, but by divine election and enablement.

Judges 6 5 Commentary

Judges 6:5 serves as a dramatic and chilling prelude to Gideon's call, emphasizing the dire straits Israel found itself in due to their disobedience. The Midianite strategy was ingenious and devastatingly effective: rather than full-scale occupation, they launched annual "scorched earth" campaigns, coinciding with the harvest. Their coming with livestock and tents, like an unstoppable, devouring swarm of locusts, highlights their comprehensive method of economic warfare. They literally consumed the very sustenance of Israel, leaving them utterly desolate and hiding in natural strongholds. The mention of countless camels, beasts crucial for transport across the arid regions, further emphasizes the invaders' ability to sweep through vast areas, plunder massively, and retreat swiftly. This intentional and complete "devastation" underscored the gravity of God's judgment and created the desperate scenario that would compel Israel to cry out to Yahweh, setting the stage for His extraordinary deliverance through a weak and unlikely hero like Gideon, whose small band would contrast sharply with the enemy's innumerable hordes.