Judges 6:33
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
Original Language Analysis
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִדְיָ֧ן
Then all the Midianites
H4080
מִדְיָ֧ן
Then all the Midianites
Strong's:
H4080
Word #:
2 of 11
midjan, a son of abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
וַֽעֲמָלֵ֛ק
and the Amalekites
H6002
וַֽעֲמָלֵ֛ק
and the Amalekites
Strong's:
H6002
Word #:
3 of 11
amalek, a descendant of esau; also his posterity and their country
וּבְנֵי
and the children
H1121
וּבְנֵי
and the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 11
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
קֶ֖דֶם
of the east
H6924
קֶ֖דֶם
of the east
Strong's:
H6924
Word #:
5 of 11
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
נֶֽאֶסְפ֣וּ
were gathered
H622
נֶֽאֶסְפ֣וּ
were gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
6 of 11
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ
and went over
H5674
וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ
and went over
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
8 of 11
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ
and pitched
H2583
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ
and pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
Cross References
Joshua 17:16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.Judges 6:3And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
Historical Context
The Jezreel Valley was Israel's breadbasket—a fifteen-mile-long, fertile plain between Galilee's hills and Samaria's mountains. Control of this valley meant control of crucial east-west trade routes and prime agricultural land. The coalition of Midianites (primary raiders), Amalekites (Israel's ancient enemy from Exodus 17), and eastern peoples (generic term for trans-Jordanian nomadic tribes) shows the invasion's scale. This alliance threatened Israel's survival.
Questions for Reflection
- How does opposition intensifying after spiritual victory demonstrate spiritual warfare's reality?
- Why does God often allow crises immediately after calling servants to test and develop faith?
- What does the enemy coalition's timing teach about Satan's strategy to discourage newly committed believers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Following Gideon's reformation, Midian, Amalek, and 'children of the east' unite for another raid. The phrase 'gathered together' (ne'esfu, נֶאֶסְפוּ) suggests organized military coalition rather than opportunistic raid. Their crossing Jordan and camping in Jezreel Valley indicates major invasion threatening Israel's most fertile agricultural region. The timing 'then'—immediately after Baal's altar destruction—raises questions: divine testing of newly reformed Gideon? Natural timing? Enemy response to perceived weakness during religious upheaval? The narrative treats this as the crisis for which God has been preparing Gideon.