King James Version
What Does Judges 8:13 Mean?
“And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,”
Context
11
And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
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. discomfited: Heb. terrified
13
And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
14
And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. described: Heb. writ
15
And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(13) **Before the sun was up.**—If the rendering were certain, it would prove that he had made a night attack on Karkor; but it seems more probable that the words should be rendered “from the ascent of Heres,” or “of Hechares,” as in the LXX., Peshito, and Arabic. If so, it implies that he came round by some other road to attack Succoth. The word for “going up” is *maaleh, *as in *Maaleh Ahrabbim, *“the ascent of scorpions” (see Note on Judges 1:36), which is also applied to sunrise. (Genesis 19:15.) It cannot possibly mean “before *sunset*” (*ehe die Sonne heraufgekommen war*)*, *as Luther renders it, following the Chaldee and various Rabbis. The ordinary word for “sun” is *shemesh, *not *cheres; *but the latter word occurs in various names (see on Judges 1:35; Judges 2:9), which makes it perhaps more probable that this also is the name of some place. It might, indeed, be prudent for Gideon to desist from further pursuit when the dawn revealed the paucity and exhaustion of his followers; and in poetic style (Job 9:7) *cheres *may mean “sun,” so that here the phrase *might *be an archaism, as *cheresah *is in Judges 14:18; but the preposition used *(min*) cannot mean “before.” Aquila renders it “from the ascent *of the groves” *and Symmachus “of the *mountains;” *but this is only due to a defective reading.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Judges 8:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.