King James Bible

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Judges

8

:

12

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And when Zebah Zebah Noun H2078 זֶ֚בַח ze·vach
and Zalmunna Zalmunna Noun H6759 וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע ve·tzal·mun·na,
fled abate Verb H5127 וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ vai·ya·nu·su
he pursued chase Verb H7291 וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף vai·yir·dof
them and took catch self Verb H3920 וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד vai·yil·kod
the two both Noun H8147 שְׁנֵ֣י she·nei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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kings king Noun H4428 מַלְכֵ֣י mal·chei
of Midian Midian Noun H4080 מִדְיָ֗ן mid·yan
Analysis:
Read more about: Midian
Zebah Zebah Noun H2078 זֶ֙בַח֙ ze·vach
and Zalmunna Zalmunna Noun H6759 צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע tzal·mun·na,
and discomfited be afraid Verb H2729 הֶחֱרִֽיד׃ he·che·rid.
the whole all manner Noun H3605 וְכָל־ ve·chol-
all the host army Noun H4264 הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה ham·ma·cha·neh

Locations

Midian

MIDIAN; MIDIANITESmid'-i-an, mid'-i-an-its (midhyan, midhyanim; Madiam, Madienaioi):1. The See d of Abraham to the Time of the Judges:Midian was a son of Abraham by his concubine Keturah. To him were born 5 sons, Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah (Genesis 25:2, 4 1 Chronicles 1:32 f). Bearing gifts from Abraham, he and his brothers, each with his own ho... View Details

Parallel Verses

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Added text
King James Bible And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
Hebrew Greek English And when When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, them and took captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all routed the host.whole army.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And when When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, them and took captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all routed the host.whole army.