Lexical Summary Tsererah: Bundle, parcel Original Word: צְרֵרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zererath Apparently by erroneous transcription for Tsredah; Tsererah for Tseredah -- Zererath. see HEBREW Tsredah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsar Definition a city toward which Gideon's enemies fled NASB Translation Zererah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צְרֵרָה] proper name, of a location צְרֵרָ֫תָה Judges 7:22 (Γαραγαθα, ᵐ5. of L καὶ ἦν συνηγμένη), usually thought corrupt for צְרֵדָ֫תָה, and in nay case probably = צָֽרְתָן, q. v. (GFM). Topical Lexicon Geographic SettingZererah (צְרֵרָה) is mentioned once in Scripture as a point on the retreat route of the Midianite coalition routed by Gideon (Judges 7:22). The text pairs it with Beth Shittah and sets both “as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.” This locates Zererah east of the Jezreel Valley, down toward the Jordan Rift, probably within the basin formed by the Harod and Jordan rivers. Suggestions range from the vicinity of modern Tell el-Maqlub to sites along Wadi el-Farʿah. Although no identification is certain, its connection with Abel-meholah places it in territory later associated with Elisha (1 Kings 19:16) and well within the theater of Gideon’s pursuit. Biblical Context Judges 7 narrates the defeat of Midian by the hand of the LORD using Gideon’s three hundred. After the surprise night attack, “the army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah” (Judges 7:22). The verse depicts a cascading panic in which God turns the enemy’s swords against one another before the Israelites even draw theirs. Zererah therefore functions not merely as a geographic marker but as proof of the completeness of Midian’s rout: the enemy does not regroup until it has crossed several landmarks and effectively surrendered the heartland of Israel. Historical Background The flight to Zererah took place in the late Judges period, an era characterized by tribal fragmentation and cyclic apostasy. Midianite oppression had drained Israel’s resources; Gideon himself was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from raiders (Judges 6:11). The sudden turning of the tide at Zererah demonstrates the LORD’s sovereignty over foreign powers and His commitment to covenant promises even when Israel was faithless. The ease with which Midian is scattered underscores how oppression ends when God’s people act in obedience and faith. Theological Significance 1. Divine Initiative: Zererah stands as evidence that victory belongs to God, not to human might. Gideon’s tiny band shouts and blows trumpets; the LORD fights. Connections to Broader Biblical Themes • Panic from the LORD: Similar terror strikes Egypt at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:24-25) and the Philistines before Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:15-23). Zererah belongs to this pattern of divinely induced confusion. Archaeological and Geographical Considerations While unexcavated, a location near the Jordan valley plain is favored because: (1) It fits the logical retreat path from the Harod Valley toward the fords of the Jordan, and (2) It lies near Abel-meholah, a site associated with abundant farmland, matching the Midianites’ interest in plunder. The absence of definitive ruins highlights Israel’s tendency to remember a place more for what God did there than for lasting structures. Ministry Applications • Trust in Divine Strategy: Zererah reminds believers that God’s methods may appear inadequate by human calculation yet prove decisive. Summary Though Zererah surfaces only once, its role in Judges 7:22 anchors a decisive moment when God’s power, not Israel’s prowess, secured deliverance. The name therefore signals the turning point from oppression to freedom, affirming that the LORD directs history, geography, and even enemy movements to accomplish His saving purposes. Forms and Transliterations צְֽרֵרָ֔תָה צררתה ṣə·rê·rā·ṯāh ṣərêrāṯāh tzereRatahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 7:22 HEB: בֵּ֤ית הַשִּׁטָּה֙ צְֽרֵרָ֔תָה עַ֛ד שְׂפַת־ NAS: as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far KJV: to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border INT: far Beth-shittah Zererah far as the edge 1 Occurrence |
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