Judges 7 12

Judges 7:12 kjv

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

Judges 7:12 nkjv

Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

Judges 7:12 niv

The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

Judges 7:12 esv

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.

Judges 7:12 nlt

The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore ? too many to count!

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 12 Meaning

Judges 7:12 vividly describes the immense size and menacing presence of the Midianite, Amalekite, and "people of the East" forces gathered in the valley, posing a formidable threat to Israel. Their numbers are likened to swarms of locusts, signifying an overwhelming, destructive multitude. The count of their camels, indispensable for their nomadic warfare and plunder, is described as countless as the sand on the seashore, further emphasizing their vast military might and capacity for devastation. This description highlights the perceived impossibility of Israel's victory against such a horde through human strength alone, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention through Gideon's tiny army.

Judges 7 12 Context

Judges chapter 7 follows the period of Israel's oppression by the Midianites, who, alongside the Amalekites and "people of the East," had been pillaging Israelite land for seven years, devastating their crops and livestock. God had raised Gideon to deliver Israel. In the immediate context, God had progressively reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to a mere 300 men, a move intended to demonstrate that the victory would be solely God's, preventing Israel from boasting in their own strength. This verse describes the terrifying scale of the enemy forces Gideon was about to face with his small contingent. The historical context reveals that these nomadic desert tribes, especially the Midianites and Amalekites, were long-standing adversaries of Israel, known for their swift, destructive raids. Their vast numbers and well-equipped camel forces made them a fearsome and seemingly unconquerable foe, highlighting the divine nature of the impending victory.

Judges 7 12 Word analysis

• Now (וְ): Connects the narrative, emphasizing a pivotal moment.
• the Midianites (מִדְיָן, Miḏyān): A significant people, descendants of Abraham (Gen 25:2), but long-time oppressors and enemies of Israel (Num 22, Judges 6). Their presence underscores the severe judgment Israel faced.
• and the Amalekites (וַעֲמָלֵק, vaʿămālēq): A distinct and ancient enemy, notorious for unprovoked attacks on the weakest Israelites during the Exodus (Exod 17:8), marked by God for complete eradication (Deut 25:19, 1 Sam 15:3). Their inclusion heightens the sense of persistent evil.
• and all the people of the East (וְכָל־בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם, vekol-bənê-qēdem): This broader term refers to nomadic tribes from the Arabian desert. It signifies a widespread, vast coalition of raiders, emphasizing the overwhelming numerical superiority.
• were lying (נֹפְלִים, nôfəlîm): Literally "fallen" or "lying stretched out." It indicates their established encampment, confident in their numbers and intent on conquest and plunder.
• in the valley (בָּעֵמֶק, bāʿēmeq): Specifically, the valley where the confrontation would occur (likely Jezreel), setting the geographical stage for the battle.
• as numerous as locusts (כָּאַרְבֶּה לָרֹב, kāʾarəbēh lārōv):
  • locusts (אַרְבֶּה, ʾarəbēh): An image of overwhelming, destructive numbers. Locust swarms could blacken the sky and devour everything in their path, causing immense devastation (Exod 10:4-6, Joel 1:4-7). This comparison instills a sense of unavoidable ruin.
  • as numerous as: Employs hyperbole, a common biblical literary device to convey vastness and emphasize the terrifying scale of the enemy.
• and their camels (וּגְמַלֵּיהֶם, ūgəmallêhem):
  • camels (גְּמַלִּים, gəmallîm): Crucial to nomadic desert warfare. They represented mobile wealth, military advantage, and capacity for plunder. A large number of camels underscored the economic and military might of these tribes.
• were innumerable (אֵין מִסְפָּר, ʾên mispār): "Without number" – reiterates the overwhelming scale.
• as the sand on the seashore (כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם, kaḥôl ʾašār ʿal-śəfat hayyām): Another hyperbolic simile for immense numbers, frequently used in covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 22:17) and Jacob (Gen 32:12) to describe their future countless descendants. Here, it is twisted from a blessing into a horrifying description of an enemy multitude, ironically highlighting the challenge to God's covenant people. The use of this specific imagery emphasizes the 'uncountable' nature in the ancient Near East and underscores the perception of invincibility.

Judges 7 12 Bonus section

The hyperbolic language used ("as numerous as locusts," "innumerable as the sand") is a deliberate literary device, not meant as a literal census, but to impress upon the reader the utter desperation of the situation from a human perspective. This heightens the glory of God's eventual victory. The specific pairing of "locusts" and "sand" for vastness is significant. "Locusts" evoke an image of destructive plague and relentless consumption, while "sand on the seashore", traditionally a symbol of God's blessing and countless descendants for Abraham, is here inverted to represent an overwhelming, threatening horde. This inversion underscores the degree to which Israel's disobedience had allowed the covenant promises (of countless offspring) to be turned against them in the form of a myriad enemy. This strategic choice of imagery frames the impending battle not merely as a military engagement, but as a direct confrontation between the perceived might of an uncountable enemy and the absolute power of the God who reduces Israel to a mere handful.

Judges 7 12 Commentary

Judges 7:12 serves a critical purpose: to starkly highlight the impossible odds facing Gideon's divinely reduced army. By portraying the Midianite alliance as numerically "as locusts" and their camels "as the sand on the seashore," the narrative powerfully emphasizes the overwhelming material superiority of the enemy. This exaggerated imagery prepares the reader for the dramatic display of God's power. It reinforces the core message of the book of Judges and Gideon's story: human might, numbers, or strategy are ultimately irrelevant when God decides to act. The victory would not be a result of Israel's strength, but solely of Yahweh's delivering hand. This magnification of the enemy's size makes Gideon's subsequent triumph, through a tiny, unconventional force, a clear testimony to divine omnipotence and a rebuke to reliance on human power.Practical Usage:

• In times of great challenge, remember God’s ability to work with small beginnings to overcome insurmountable odds.
• Discern if fears of inadequacy or being outnumbered are hindering trust in divine power.
• Acknowledge that true victory comes not from human might or overwhelming resources, but from divine intervention and faith.