Zebah and Zalmunna were Midianite kings mentioned in the Book of Judges, specifically in chapters 7 and 8. They played a significant role in the narrative of Gideon, one of the judges of Israel, who was called by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites.

Historical Context

The Midianites were a nomadic people who, during the time of the Judges, oppressed the Israelites by invading their land, destroying crops, and causing widespread devastation. This period of oppression lasted for seven years, as described in Judges 6:1: "Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years."

Role in the Gideon Narrative

Zebah and Zalmunna are introduced in the context of Gideon's military campaign against the Midianites. After being called by God, Gideon assembled an army and, through a series of divine instructions, reduced his forces to 300 men. With this small band, Gideon launched a surprise attack on the Midianite camp, causing panic and confusion among the enemy forces.

Judges 8:10-12 provides details about Zebah and Zalmunna during this campaign: "Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the East. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen. Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their army, taking them by surprise. Zebah and Zalmunna fled, but he pursued them and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army."

Capture and Execution

After their capture, Zebah and Zalmunna were brought before Gideon. In Judges 8:18-21, Gideon interrogates them about the killing of his brothers at Tabor. The kings admit to the act, describing the slain men as resembling Gideon himself. In response, Gideon commands his firstborn son, Jether, to execute them, but the young boy hesitates out of fear. Consequently, Gideon himself kills Zebah and Zalmunna, fulfilling his role as the avenger of his family.

Theological Significance

The account of Zebah and Zalmunna highlights several theological themes. Firstly, it underscores the sovereignty of God in delivering His people through unlikely means, as seen in the reduction of Gideon's army and the subsequent victory. Secondly, it illustrates the concept of divine justice and retribution, as Gideon avenges the blood of his brothers. Lastly, the narrative serves as a reminder of the consequences of idolatry and disobedience, which led to Israel's oppression by the Midianites.

Legacy

The defeat of Zebah and Zalmunna marked a significant victory for Israel and contributed to a period of peace during Gideon's judgeship. Their account is a testament to God's faithfulness in raising leaders to deliver His people and the importance of obedience to His commands.Zebah and Zalmunna

ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA

ze'-ba (zebhach, "victim"), zal-mun'-a (tsalmunna`, "protection refused"): Two Midianite kings or chiefs whom Gideon slew (Judges 8:4-21 Psalm 83:11 (Hebrew text, verse 12)). The name zebhach (Zebee) is very much like that of ze'ebh (Zeb, "Zeeb" in the Septuagint). Moore (Judgess, 220) says that tsalmunna` is probably "a genuine Midianite name"; Noldeke conjectured that it contains that of a deity (ts(a)lm), and a compound form tslmshzbh, is found in an inscription from Teima, a place East of the Midianite capital (Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum, II, cxiiiff).

The narrative of Judges 8:4-21 is not to be connected with that of 8:1-3. Budde (Kurzer Hand-Comm. z. Altes Testament, XXII) would join 8:4 to 6:34; Moore (ICC) following Budde's earlier work (1890) would connect it with a part of 7:22b, describing the direction of the flight, while Nowack (Hand-Komm.) regards the battle of 8:11 as the same as that of 7:11 if; he then takes the latter part of 8:11 to refer to the place of the camp at night. There are many difficulties in forming a natural connection for the verses. It may be noted that in 8:18 Gideon is not "the least in my father's house," as he represents himself to be in 6:15.

The whole section tells of a daring raid made by Gideon upon the Midianites. Some of his own kin had been slain by Midianite hordes at Ophrah (Judges 8:18 f), and, stirred by this, Gideon went in hot pursuit with 300 men (Judges 8:4). He requested provisions for his men from the people of Succoth and Penuel, but was refused this. He then went on and caught the Midianites unawares at Karkor (Judges 8:10) and captured their two chiefs. He then had his revenge on the two towns, and returned probably to his home with the two notable prisoners. These he determined to slay to avenge the death of his own kinsmen, and called upon his eldest son to perform this solemn public duty that he owed to the dead. His son, apparently only a boy, hesitated, and he did the deed himself. W. R. Smith (Lectures on the Religion of the Semites, 2nd edition, 417, note) compares with this call to Gideon's son the choice of young men or lads as sacrificers in Exodus 24:5, and says that the Saracens also charged lads with the execution of their captives.

The narrative reminds one of David's romantic life in 1 Samuel 25; 1 Samuel 27; 30. It is throughout a characteristic picture of the life of the early Hebrews in Palestine, for whom it was a sacred duty to avenge the dead. It affords a splendid illustration of what is meant by the spirit of Yahweh coming upon, or rather "clothing itself with" (Revised Version margin) Gideon (Judges 6:34); compare also Saul's call to action (1 Samuel 11:1-11), and also Judges 19 f.

David Francis Roberts

Gideon's Brave Band
... the men of Succoth, "Give, I beg of you, loaves of bread to the people who follow
me, for they are faint and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

Judges
... to the earlier version, viii.4-21, which is on a smaller scale, Gideon, accompanied
by part of his clan, takes the lives of Zebah and Zalmunna to avenge his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... three hundred men followed closely after them, fought another battle with them,
destroyed them utterly, and took their two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, whom he ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

Shoes of Iron, and Strength Sufficient: a New Year's Promise
... the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Are we not often too much like the young
man Jether, who was bidden by his father to slay Zebah and Zalmunna, but he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/shoes of iron and strength.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... Penuel to withhold bread from the army of Gideon, partly that He might test the
constancy of those, who were "pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna," partly that ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

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