Judges 6:5 - Midian Oppresses Israel

New International Version
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.New Living Translation
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.English Standard Version
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.Berean Standard Bible
For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.King James Bible
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.New King James Version
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.New American Standard Bible
For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts in number, and both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to ruin it.NASB 1995
For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.NASB 1977
For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.Legacy Standard Bible
For they would go up with their livestock and their tents; they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to make it a ruin.Amplified Bible
For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, and they would come in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were innumerable. So they came into the land to devastate it.Christian Standard Bible
For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it.Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to waste it. American Standard Version
For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.English Revised Version
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.GOD'S WORD® Translation
Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it.Good News Translation
They would come with their livestock and tents, as thick as locusts. They and their camels were too many to count. They came and devastated the land, International Standard Version
They would invade with their livestock and tents, swooping in as numerous as locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels—and they came into the land to destroy it. Majority Standard Bible
For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.NET Bible
When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land.New Heart English Bible
For they came up with their livestock and their tents and their camels. They would come in like locusts in number, and they were innumerable. And they came into the land to ravage it.Webster's Bible Translation
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.World English Bible
For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for they and their livestock come up, with their tents; they come in as the fullness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their livestock there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it.Young's Literal Translation
for they and their cattle come up, with their tents; they come in as the fulness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their cattle there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it.Smith's Literal Translation
For they and their cattle will come up, and their tents will come, as an abundance of locusts for multitude; and to them and to their camels no number: and they will come into the land to destroy it.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For they and all their flocks came with their tents, and like locusts filled all places, an innumerable multitude of men, and of camels, wasting whatsoever they touched. Catholic Public Domain Version
For they and all their flocks arrived with their tents, and they filled all places like locusts, an innumerable multitude of men and camels, devastating whatever they touched.New American Bible
For they would come up with their livestock, and their tents would appear as thick as locusts. They would be too many to count when they came into the land to lay it waste.New Revised Standard Version
For they and their livestock would come up, and they would even bring their tents, as thick as locusts; neither they nor their camels could be counted; so they wasted the land as they came in.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came like locusts in multitude; for both they and their camels were without number; and they entered into the land to destroy it.Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because they and their cattle and their tents were coming like many locusts, and there was no number to them and to their camels, and they entered the land for its destruction

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.Brenton Septuagint Translation
For they and their stock came up, and their tents were with them, as the locust in multitude, and there was no number to them and their camels; and they came to the land of Israel, and laid it waste.Additional Translations ...

For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents
The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah, indicating a distant kinship with the Israelites. Historically, they were nomadic people, often moving with their livestock and tents, which is consistent with their lifestyle as described in this passage. This nomadic lifestyle allowed them to be mobile and opportunistic, often raiding settled communities. The presence of livestock and tents suggests a large, organized group capable of sustaining themselves during prolonged campaigns.

like a great swarm of locusts
The comparison to locusts is significant in the biblical context, as locusts were known for their destructive power, consuming everything in their path. This imagery conveys the overwhelming number and the devastating impact of the Midianite invasion. In the Bible, locusts are often associated with divine judgment (e.g., Exodus 10:12-15), highlighting the severity of the situation faced by the Israelites. The metaphor underscores the sense of helplessness and the need for divine intervention.

They and their camels were innumerable
The mention of camels is noteworthy, as it indicates the Midianites' advanced capabilities in warfare and trade. Camels were a relatively new addition to military campaigns in this period, providing a strategic advantage due to their speed and endurance. The term "innumerable" emphasizes the vastness of the Midianite forces, creating a sense of intimidation and despair among the Israelites. This overwhelming force serves as a backdrop for God's deliverance through Gideon, highlighting the contrast between human weakness and divine strength.

and they entered the land to ravage it
The purpose of the Midianite invasion was not just to conquer but to plunder and destroy. This aligns with the cyclical pattern in the Book of Judges, where Israel's disobedience leads to oppression by foreign powers, followed by cries for deliverance. The term "ravage" indicates the complete devastation of the land, affecting the Israelites' ability to sustain themselves. This destruction sets the stage for God's intervention, as He raises up Gideon to deliver His people, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who rescues humanity from spiritual oppression.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Midianites
A nomadic people who oppressed Israel during the time of the Judges. They are descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham by Keturah.

2. Israelites
The people of God who were suffering under the oppression of the Midianites due to their disobedience to God.

3. Gideon
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Gideon is the central figure in the surrounding account, called by God to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression.

4. Land of Israel
The geographical setting where the events take place, specifically in the time of the Judges when Israel was a loose confederation of tribes.

5. Camels
Notable for their use by the Midianites, symbolizing the overwhelming and swift nature of the Midianite invasion.

Teaching Points

The Consequences of Disobedience
The oppression by the Midianites was a direct result of Israel's disobedience to God. This serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The overwhelming nature of the Midianite invasion illustrates God's control over nations and events, using them to bring His people back to Himself.

The Power of Repentance
The account of Gideon that follows shows that God is ready to deliver His people when they turn back to Him in repentance.

Spiritual Warfare
Just as the Israelites faced physical oppression, Christians today face spiritual battles. We must rely on God's strength and guidance to overcome.

Trust in God's Deliverance
Despite overwhelming odds, God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel, teaching us to trust in God's power to save us from our own "Midianites."

(5) As grasshoppers.--See Judges 7:12. Rather, as locusts. The magnificent imagery of Joel 2:2-11 enables us to realise the force of the metaphor, and Exodus 10:4-6 the number of locusts, which are a common metaphor for countless hordes. Aristophanes (Ach. 150) speaks of an army so numerous that the Athenians will cry out, "What a mass of locusts is coming!" The Bedouin call the locusts Gurrud Allah, "Host of God" (Wetzstein, Hauran, p. 138).

Their camels.--These were very uncommon in Palestine, and were brought by the invaders from the Eastern deserts.

Without number.--This is Oriental hyperbole. "When Burckhardt asked a Bedouin, who belonged to a tribe of 300 tents, how many brothers he had, he flung a handful of sand into the air, and replied, 'Equally numberless'" (Cassel).

Verse 5. - As grasshoppers. See the striking description of the destruction caused by locusts in Joel 3. I have heard travellers in India describe the sudden darkening of the sky by a flight of locusts. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Midianites
הֵם֩ (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

came
וּבָ֤אוּ (ū·ḇā·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

with their livestock
וּמִקְנֵיהֶ֨ם (ū·miq·nê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

and their tents
וְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם (wə·’ā·ho·lê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 168: A tent

like a great
לָרֹ֔ב (lā·rōḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

swarm
כְדֵֽי־ (ḵə·ḏê-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1767: Sufficiency, enough

of locusts.
אַרְבֶּה֙ (’ar·beh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 697: (a kind of) locust

They and their camels
וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶ֖ם (wə·liḡ·mal·lê·hem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1581: A camel

were innumerable,
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

and they entered
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the land
בָאָ֖רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

to ravage it.
לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ׃ (lə·ša·ḥă·ṯāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

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Judges 6:5 Catholic BibleOT History: Judges 6:5 For they came up with their livestock (Jd Judg. Jdg)