Judges 7:22

Authorized King James Version

And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֮
blew
to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become
#2
שְׁלֹשׁ
And the three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#3
מֵא֣וֹת
hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#4
הַשּֽׁוֹפָרוֹת֒
the trumpets
a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn
#5
וַיָּ֣שֶׂם
set
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#6
יְהוָ֗ה
and the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#7
אֵ֣ת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#8
חֶ֥רֶב
sword
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
#9
אִ֛ישׁ
every man's
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#10
בְּרֵעֵ֖הוּ
against his fellow
an associate (more or less close)
#11
וּבְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#12
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה
and the host
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
#13
וַיָּ֨נָס
fled
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
#14
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֜ה
and the host
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
#15
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#16
בֵּ֤ית
H0
#17
הַשִּׁטָּה֙
to Bethshittah
beth-hash-shittah, a place in palestine
#18
צְֽרֵרָ֔תָה
in Zererath
tsererah for tseredah
#19
עַ֛ד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#20
שְׂפַת
and to the border
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
#21
אָבֵ֥ל
H0
#22
מְחוֹלָ֖ה
H65
of Abelmeholah
abel-mecholah, a place in palestine
#23
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#24
טַבָּֽת׃
unto Tabbath
tabbath, a place east of the jordan

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Judges Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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