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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Updated Bible Version

Judges 6:2

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cave;   Dens;   Fort;   Thompson Chain Reference - Caves;   Courage-Fear;   Dens;   Humbled, Israel;   Israel;   Israel-The Jews;   Servility;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Caves;   Fortresses;   Jews, the;   Midianites;   Mountains;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Cave;   Midianites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gideon;   Midian;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cave;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Caves;   Gideon;   Judges, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Castle;   Judges, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Cave;   Gideon;   House;   Judges (1);   Levi;   Midian, Mtdianites;   Ophrah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Cave ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Jerubbaal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gideon;   Midian;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Caves;   Engedi;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Den;   Gideon;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Agriculture;   Caves in Palestine;   War;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and they oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
Hebrew Names Version
The hand of Midyan prevailed against Yisra'el; and because of Midyan the children of Yisra'el made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
King James Version
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
Lexham English Bible
The hand of the Midianites prevailed over Israel; because of the presence of the Midianites, the Israelites made for themselves hiding places that were in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
English Standard Version
And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
New Century Version
Because the Midianites were very powerful and were cruel to Israel, the Israelites made hiding places in the mountains, in caves, and in safe places.
New English Translation
The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds.
Amplified Bible
The [powerful] hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens (hideouts) which were in the mountains, and the caves and the [mountain] strongholds.
New American Standard Bible
The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the hand of Midian preuayled against Israel, and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them dennes in the mountaines, and caues, and strong holdes.
Legacy Standard Bible
En die Midianiete het die oorhand oor Israel gekry; vanweë die Midianiete het die kinders van Israel vir hulle die slote gemaak wat op die berge is, en die gate en die bergvestings.
Contemporary English Version
The Midianites were so cruel that many Israelites ran to the mountains and hid in caves.
Complete Jewish Bible
Midyan exercised its power harshly against Isra'el, and because of Midyan the people of Isra'el hid themselves in mountains, in caves and in other safe places.
Darby Translation
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites the children of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Midianites were very powerful and were cruel to the Israelites. So the Israelites made many hiding places in the mountains. They hid their food in caves and places that were hard to find.
George Lamsa Translation
And the hand of the Midianites prevailed against Israel, in that they fled from before the Midianites; and the children of Israel made for themselves dens in the mountains, and caves, and sheepfolds.
Good News Translation
The Midianites were stronger than Israel, and the people of Israel hid from them in caves and other safe places in the hills.
Literal Translation
And the hand of Midian was strong against Israel. And the sons of Israel made dens for themselves before the faces of Midian, in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And wha the hande of the Madianites was to mightie ouer the children of Israel, the children of Israel made them clyffes in ye mountaynes, and caues and holdes, to defende them selues from ye Madianites.
American Standard Version
And 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.
Bible in Basic English
And Midian was stronger than Israel; and because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made holes for themselves in the mountains, and hollows in the rocks, and strong places.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the hand of Madian preuayled against Israel: & because of the Madianites, ye children of Israel made them dennes in the mountaynes and caues, and strong holdes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And 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.
King James Version (1611)
And the hand of Midian preuailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dennes which are in the mountaines, and caues, & strong holds.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the hand of Madiam prevailed against Israel: and the children of Israel made for themselves because of Madiam the caves in the mountains, and the dens, and the holes in the rocks.
English Revised Version
And 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 strong holds.
Berean Standard Bible
and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei weren oppressid of hem greetly; and `thei maden dichis, and dennes to hem silf in hillis, and strongeste places to fiyte ayen.
Young's Literal Translation
and the hand of Midian is strong against Israel, from the presence of Midian have the sons of Israel made for themselves the flowings which [are] in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: [and] because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which [are] in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
World English Bible
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.
New King James Version
and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.
New Living Translation
The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
New Life Bible
Midian was stronger than Israel. Because of Midian the people of Israel made big caves in the sides of the mountains where they could live which were safe places for themselves.
New Revised Standard
The hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of Midian the Israelites provided for themselves hiding places in the mountains, caves and strongholds.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel, - because of Midian, did the sons of Israel prepare for themselves the hollows which were in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they were grievously oppressed by them. And they made themselves dens and caves in the mountains, and strong holds to resist.
Revised Standard Version
And the hand of Mid'ian prevailed over Israel; and because of Mid'ian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves and the strongholds.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.

Contextual Overview

1 And the sons of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the sons of the east; they came up against them; 4 and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey. 5 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. 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the sons of Israel cried to Yahweh.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the hand: Leviticus 26:17, Deuteronomy 28:47, Deuteronomy 28:48

prevailed: Heb. was strong

dens: Dr. Shaw says, that a great way on each side Joppa, on the sea coast, there is a range of mountains and precipices; and in these high situations are generally found the dens, holes, or caves, which are so frequently mentioned in Scripture; and which were formerly the lonesome retreats of the distressed Israelites. 1 Samuel 13:6, 1 Samuel 14:11, Hebrews 11:38, Revelation 6:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:7 - the males Joshua 10:16 - in a cave 1 Samuel 31:7 - they forsook the cities 2 Samuel 7:10 - as beforetime 1 Kings 8:33 - because they have 1 Chronicles 10:7 - then they Job 30:6 - dwell Isaiah 2:10 - Enter Jeremiah 41:9 - because of Gedaliah Jeremiah 48:28 - leave Jeremiah 49:8 - dwell Ezekiel 33:27 - in the caves

Cross-References

Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he named him Enosh. Then it was begun to call on the name of Yahweh.
Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when man began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:2
that the sons of God saw the daughters of man that they were fair; and they took for themselves wives of all that they chose.
Genesis 6:3
And Yahweh said, My spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh: and his days shall be 120 years.
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man, and they bore [children] to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.
Genesis 6:6
And it repented Yahweh that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Genesis 6:7
And Yahweh said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repents me that I have made them.
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh.
Genesis 6:12
And God saw the earth, and, look, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel,.... They were too strong for them, and overcame them, and brought them into subjection to them, and no wonder, when the Lord delivered them into their hand:

and because of the Midianites; because of their usage of them, their manner of coming upon them yearly, and pillaging and plundering their substance, as after related:

the children of Israel made them dens which are in the mountains; the word for "dens" has the signification of light in it, and are so called either by an antiphrasis, because they were dark, or, as Kimchi thinks, because they had a window at the top of them, which let in the light a but Ben Gersom conjectures they were torches, which gave a great light, and when they that held them saw from the mountains the Midianites, by these torches they made a signal to the Israelites to take care and hide themselves and their substance:

and caves, and strong holds; the caves were for the poorer sort, and the strong holds for the richer to retire to with their goods; though, according to Jarchi, the latter were no other than fences they made in woods, by cutting down trees, and setting them round about them, perhaps much the same as the thickets, 1 Samuel 13:6.

a So David de Pomis Lexic. fol. 90. 3. or "because men flowed and flocked to them for safety"; so Buxtorf.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The word rendered “dens” is only found in this passage. It is best explained of ravines hollowed out by torrents, which the Israelites made into hiding-places.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 6:2. Made them the dens which are in the mountains — Nothing can give a more distressing description of the state of the Israelites than what is here related. They durst not reside in the plain country, but were obliged to betake themselves to dens and caves of the mountains, and live like wild beasts, and were hunted like them by their adversaries.


 
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