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Judges 6:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 6:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
Judges 6:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
3And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
4and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
6And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.
7And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah because of Midian,
8that Jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of Israel: and he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
← Judges 6:4Judges 6:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For they came up with their cattle, and their tents, etc.] Brought their flocks and their herds with them, to eat up the increase of the earth, and their tents, which they pitched and removed from place to place, for the convenience of feeding their cattle, and while they cut down the fruit of the earth everywhere, which serves to confirm the sense of the Targum and Vulgate Latin version of (<070605>Judges 6:5) and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; or “as locusts”f123, they were like them for their number, and for devouring all they came to: and their camels were without number; which they brought with them, to load and carry off their plunder they could not eat. Midian was a place…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Grasshoppers - Rather locusts (compare Exodus 10:4-6, Exodus 10:14-15; Joel 1:0; Joel 2:0; Psalms 78:46) return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Without number - That is, so many that it was not easy to number them. And not in a regular army to engage, but in a confused swarm, to plunder the country. Yet Israel, being forsaken of God, had not spirit to make head against them; God fighting against them with those very terrors, with which otherwise he would have fought for them. Judges 6:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“tents: Sol 1:5; Isa 13:20 as grasshoppers: Jdg 7:12, Jdg 8:10; Jer 46:23 their camels: Jdg 8:21; Sa1 30:17; Isa 60:6; Jer 49:29, Jer 49:32 to destroy: Psa 83:4-12 Judges 6:6”
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Related study paths

Read Judges 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification