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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 8:4-17

In these verses we have, I. Gideon, as a valiant general, pursuing the remaining Midianites, and bravely following his blow. A very great slaughter was made of the enemy at first: 120,000 men that drew the sword, Jdg. 7:10. Such a terrible execution did they make among themselves, and so easy a prey were they to Israel. But, it seems, the two kings of Midian, being better provided than the rest for an escape, with 15,000 men got over Jordan before the passes could be secured by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:10

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor ..... Jerom F21 De loc. Heb. fol. 90. B. under this word says, there was in his time a castle called Carcuria, a day's journey from Petra, which was the metropolis of Idumea; but whether the same with this is not clear: and their host with them, about fifteen thousand men ; to which number Gideon and his three hundred men were very unequal; and yet, faint and weary as they were, closely pursued them, attacked and conquered them. Josephus F23 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:11

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwell in tents ,.... That is of the Arabians and Kedarenes, who dwelt in tents for the sake of feeding their flocks, as the Targum and Jarchi; he did not pursue them in the direct road, but went a roundabout way, where these people dwelt, that he might surprise the host of the kings of Midian at an unawares: and he came upon them: on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah ; the first was in the tribe of Manasseh, and the latter in the tribe of Gad, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:12

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled ,.... Their host being smitten and thrown into confusion by the sudden approach of Gideon's army; and who probably attacked them in somewhat like manner as before, blowing their trumpets, and calling out the sword of the Lord and of Gideon; which were such terrifying sounds to them, that they fled at once: he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host ; or terrified them, so that they fled some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 8:13

And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle ,.... To Penuel and Succoth, to chastise them for their ill treatment of him and his men: before the sun was up ; by which it appears that it was in the night that he fell upon the host at Karkor, which must be the night following; it could not be the same night in which he had defeated them in the valley of Jezreel; though Vatablus thinks this battle was begun and finished in one night; but there were, according to this history, so many... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:10

Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor - If this were a place, it is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture. Some contend that קרקר karkor signifies rest; and thus the Vulgate understood it: Zebah and Zalmunna requiescebant , rested, with all their army. And this seems the most likely, for it is said, Judges 8:11 , that Gideon smote the host, for the host was secure. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 8:13

Returned from battle before the sun was up - This does not appear to be a proper translation of החרס מלמעלה milmaaleh hechares . It should be rendered from the ascent of Chares: this is the reading of the Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Arabic. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:10

Zebah and Zalmunna seem to have fled nearly due east to Karkor, which was probably an enclosure of some kind (perhaps a walled sheepfold, compare Numbers 31:32 note). Its site is unknown; but it was near Nobah, in the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead Numbers 32:40, and Jogbehah was in the tribe of Gad Numbers 32:34-35. Gideon, perhaps taking a circuit so as to come upon them from the east, fell suddenly upon them, apparently at night, surprised them, and smote them. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 8:13

Before the sun was up - The translation of the words is doubtful, because of the rarity of the word rendered “sun” (חרס cheres). Many suppose it to be the name of a mountain pass, and render it from the ascent of Heres. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 8:10

Judges 8:10. There fell a hundred and twenty thousand men Such a terrible execution did they make among themselves, and so easy a prey were they to Israel. That drew the sword That is, persons expert and exercised in war, besides the retainers to them. read more

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