King James Bible

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Judges

Note Journal Prayer

8

:

28

“

Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Thus was Midian Midian Noun H4080 מִדְיָ֗ן mid·yan
Analysis:
Read more about: So, Midian
subdued bring down Verb H3665 וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע vai·yik·ka·na
before accept Noun H6440 לִפְנֵי֙ lif·nei
the children afflicted Noun H1121 בְּנֵ֣י be·nei
of Israel Israel Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל yis·ra·'el,
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
so that they lifted up accept Verb H5375 לָשֵׂ֣את la·set
their heads band Noun H7218 רֹאשָׁ֑ם ro·sham;
no more add Verb H3254 יָסְפ֖וּ ya·se·fu
And the country common Noun H776 הָאָ֛רֶץ ha·'a·retz
was in quietness appease Verb H8252 וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט vat·tish·kot
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֥ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
years whole age Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֖ה sha·nah
in the days age Noun H3117 בִּימֵ֥י bi·mei
of Gideon Gideon Noun H1439 גִדְעֹֽון׃ gid·'o·vn.

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

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 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
Hebrew Greek English Thus was So Midian was subdued before the children sons of Israel, so that and they lifted did not lift up their heads no more. anymore. And the country land was in quietness undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Thus was So Midian was subdued before the children sons of Israel, so that and they lifted did not lift up their heads no more. anymore. And the country land was in quietness undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.