New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Judges

8

:

12

When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
When Zebah a Midianite king Noun H2078 זֶ֚בַח ze·vach
and Zalmunna a king of Midian Noun H6759 וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע ve·tzal·mun·na,
fled, to flee, escape Verb H5127 וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ vai·ya·nu·su
he pursued to pursue, chase, persecute Verb H7291 וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף vai·yir·dof
them and captured to capture, seize, take Verb H3920 וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד vai·yil·kod
the two two (a card. number) 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. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

kings king Noun H4428 מַלְכֵ֣י mal·chei
of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. and the region where they settled Noun H4080 מִדְיָ֗ן mid·yan
Analysis:
Read more about: Midian
Zebah a Midianite king Noun H2078 זֶ֙בַח֙ ze·vach
and Zalmunna, a king of Midian Noun H6759 צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע tzal·mun·na,
and routed to tremble, be terrified Verb H2729 הֶחֱרִֽיד׃ he·che·rid.
the whole the whole, all Noun H3605 וְכָל־ ve·chol-
army. an encampment, camp 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

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