Judges 6:2
"And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel,.... They were too strong for them, and overcame them, and brought them into subjection to them, and no wonder, when the Lord delivered them into their hand: and because of the Midianites; because of their usage of them, their manner

of coming upon them yearly, and pillaging and plundering their substance, as after related: the children of Israel made them dens which are in the mountains; the word for "dens" has the signification of light in it, and are so called either by an antiphrasis, because they were dark, or, as Kimchi thinks, because they had a window at the top of them, which let in the light (a) but Ben Gersom conjectures they were torches, which gave a great light, and when they that held them saw from the mountains the Midianites, by these torches they made a signal to the Israelites to take care and hide themselves and their substance: and caves, and strong holds; the caves were for the poorer sort, and the strong holds for the richer to retire to with their goods; though, according to Jarchi, the latter were no other than fences they made in woods, by cutting down trees, and setting them round about them, perhaps much the same as the thickets, Sa1 13:6 . (a) So David de Pomis Lexic. fol. 90. 3. or "because men flowed and flocked to them for safety"; so Buxtorf.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (18 words)

H5810 עָזַז
Definition:

20;Psalm 52:9,יָעוֺזDaniel 11:12; 3feminine singularתָּעֹזPsalm 89:14;Ecclesiastes 7:19,וַתָּ֫עָזJudges 3:10;Judges 6:2;Imperativemasculine singularעוּזָּהPsalm 68:29(but see below);Infinitive constru 20;Psalm 52:9,יָעוֺזDaniel 11:12; 3feminine singularתָּעֹזPsalm 89:14;Ecclesiastes 7:19,וַתָּ֫עָזJudges 3:10;Judges 6:2;Imperativemasculine singularעוּזָּהPsalm 68:29(but see below);Infinitive constru

Possible Meanings:
  • be strong (semantic_range)
  • be strong (semantic_range)
  • prevail (semantic_range)
  • a wicked man maketh firm (semantic_range)
  • sheweth boldness (semantic_range)
H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H4080 מִדְיָן
Definition:

2,4 (J)1 Chronicles 1:32,33.2an Arabian tribeGenesis 36:35(=1 Chronicles 1:46)Numbers 31:3(twice in verse);Numbers 31:7,8 (twice in verse);Numbers 31:9(P)Judges 6-9(31 t.); having aכֹּהֵן(as chieftain 2,4 (J)1 Chronicles 1:32,33.2an Arabian tribeGenesis 36:35(=1 Chronicles 1:46)Numbers 31:3(twice in verse);Numbers 31:7,8 (twice in verse);Numbers 31:9(P)Judges 6-9(31 t.); having aכֹּהֵן(as chieftain

Possible Meanings:
  • the land of Midian (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל
Definition:

16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG 16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG

Possible Meanings:
  • Israel (semantic_range)
H6440 פָנִים
Definition:

23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ 23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ

H4080 מִדְיָן
Definition:

2,4 (J)1 Chronicles 1:32,33.2an Arabian tribeGenesis 36:35(=1 Chronicles 1:46)Numbers 31:3(twice in verse);Numbers 31:7,8 (twice in verse);Numbers 31:9(P)Judges 6-9(31 t.); having aכֹּהֵן(as chieftain 2,4 (J)1 Chronicles 1:32,33.2an Arabian tribeGenesis 36:35(=1 Chronicles 1:46)Numbers 31:3(twice in verse);Numbers 31:7,8 (twice in verse);Numbers 31:9(P)Judges 6-9(31 t.); having aכֹּהֵן(as chieftain

Possible Meanings:
  • the land of Midian (semantic_range)
H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H1121 בֵּן
Definition:

25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:
  • son (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • children (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • young men (semantic_range)
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל
Definition:

16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG 16(Hpt); MI5, + 5 t.ישראל; in EgyptianY-si-r-'lSteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff.PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; AssyrianSir-'-lai(=יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COTG

Possible Meanings:
  • Israel (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H4492 מִנְהָרָה
Definition:

2(+הַמְּעָרוֺתcaves,הַמְּצָדוֺתstrong-hold) — (clearly, si vera lectio, from a checkנהר, but with what meaning? SchuJob 49compare Arabic,[which meansa place hollowed out by water], and rend.crevices, 2(+הַמְּעָרוֺתcaves,הַמְּצָדוֺתstrong-hold) — (clearly, si vera lectio, from a checkנהר, but with what meaning? SchuJob 49compare Arabic,[which meansa place hollowed out by water], and rend.crevices,

H0834 אֲשֶׁר
Definition:

1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff 1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff

Possible Meanings:
  • Asher (semantic_range)
  • happy one (semantic_range)
  • Felix (semantic_range)
  • the tribe (semantic_range)
H2022 הַר
Definition:

26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3, 26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3,

H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H4631 מְעָרָה
Definition:

30+; constructמְעָרַתGenesis 23:19+; pluralמְעָרוֺתJudges 6:2+, constructid.Isaiah 2:19; —cave, especially as place of sojourn or refugeGenesis 19:30(J),1 Samuel 24:3(twice in verse);1 Samuel 24:7;1 S 30+; constructמְעָרַתGenesis 23:19+; pluralמְעָרוֺתJudges 6:2+, constructid.Isaiah 2:19; —cave, especially as place of sojourn or refugeGenesis 19:30(J),1 Samuel 24:3(twice in verse);1 Samuel 24:7;1 S

H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H4679 מְצַד
Definition:

41fastness, stronghold(properlyhunting-place?); — absoluteמְצָד1 Chronicles 11:7;1 Chronicles 12:16,מְצַד1 Chronicles 12:8; plural absoluteמְצָדוֺת1 Samuel 23:14+, constructid.1 Samuel 23:29(Gi,1 Samu 41fastness, stronghold(properlyhunting-place?); — absoluteמְצָד1 Chronicles 11:7;1 Chronicles 12:16,מְצַד1 Chronicles 12:8; plural absoluteמְצָדוֺת1 Samuel 23:14+, constructid.1 Samuel 23:29(Gi,1 Samu

Possible Meanings:
  • mountain-fastness (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

---

Get the daily verse delivered free

Create Free Account

Automatic daily verse emails after signup

← Chapter 6 All Chapters