New International VersionIsraelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
New Living TranslationThen Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who joined in chasing the army of Midian.
English Standard VersionAnd the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.
Berean Standard BibleThen the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
King James BibleAnd the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
New King James VersionAnd the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.
New American Standard BibleAnd the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
NASB 1995The men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
NASB 1977And the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
Amplified BibleThe men of Israel were summoned together from [the tribes of] Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
Christian Standard BibleThen the men of Israel were called from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen the men of Israel were called from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
American Standard VersionAnd the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.
Contemporary English VersionGideon sent word for more Israelite soldiers to come from the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and both halves of Manasseh to help fight the Midianites.
English Revised VersionAnd the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh to help pursue the troops of Midian.
Good News TranslationThen men from the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and both parts of Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
International Standard VersionIsraeli soldiers were called out from the territories of Naphtali, Asher, and throughout Manasseh, and they chased after the Midianites.
NET BibleIsraelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh answered the call and chased the Midianites.
New Heart English BibleThe men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd the men of Israel assembled out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
World English BibleThe men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued Midian. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the men of Israel are called from Naphtali, and from Asher, and from all Manasseh, and pursue after Midian.
Young's Literal Translation And the men of Israel are called from Naphtali, and from Asher, and from all Manasseh, and pursue after Midian.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd a man of Israel will be called from Naphtali, and from Asher, and from Manasseh, and they will pursue after Midian. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFleeing as far as Bethsetta, and the border of Abelmahula in Tebbath. But the men of Israel shouting from Nephtali and Aser, and from all Manasses pursued after Madian.
Catholic Public Domain Versionfleeing as far as Bethshittah, and the base of Abelmeholah in Tabbath. But the men of Israel pursued Midian, shouting from Naphtali and Asher, and from all of Manasseh.
New American BibleThe Israelites were called to arms from Naphtali, from Asher, and from all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.
New Revised Standard VersionAnd the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the men of Israel gathered themselves together from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd the sons of Israel cried out from Naphtali and from Ashir and from all Manasheh and pursued after Midian OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd the host fled as far as Bethseed Tagaragatha Abel-meula to Tabath; and the men of Israel from Nephthali, and from Aser, and from all Manasse, came to help, and followed after Madiam.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Gideon Defeats Midian… 22And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath. 23Then the menof Israelwere called outfromNaphtali,Asher,andallManasseh,and they pursuedthe Midianites.24Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah.…
Cross References Hebrews 11:32-34And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
1 Samuel 14:20-23Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. / And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. / When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit. ...
2 Chronicles 20:22-24The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. / When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
Isaiah 9:4For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
Psalm 83:9-11Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, / who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. / Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
Joshua 7:2-5Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. / On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.” / So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. ...
1 Samuel 17:52Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
2 Kings 7:6-7For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.
Isaiah 10:26And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise His staff over the sea, as He did in Egypt.
Exodus 15:9-10The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ / But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
1 Kings 20:29-30For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. / The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
2 Samuel 8:1-2Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. / David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
2 Samuel 22:15He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
Psalm 18:14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
Isaiah 41:15-16Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Treasury of Scripture And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. Judges 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. 1 Samuel 14:21,22 Moreover the Hebrewsthat were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the campfrom the country round about, even they alsoturned to be with the Israelites thatwere with Saul and Jonathan… Jump to Previous AsherAssembledIsraelIsraelitesManassehManas'sehMidianMid'ianMidianitesNaphtaliNaph'taliPursuedSummonedThemselvesTogetherJump to Next AsherAssembledIsraelIsraelitesManassehManas'sehMidianMid'ianMidianitesNaphtaliNaph'taliPursuedSummonedThemselvesTogetherJudges 7 1.Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is brought to three hundred9.He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the burley cake16.His plan of trumpets and lamps in pitchers24.The Ephraimites take Oreb and ZeebThen the men of Israel were called outThis phrase indicates a mobilization of the Israelite tribes. In the context of Judges 7, Gideon had just achieved a miraculous victory over the Midianites with only 300 men. The calling out of the men of Israel signifies a rallying of additional forces to capitalize on the victory. This reflects a common practice in ancient warfare where initial victories were often followed by a broader call to arms to ensure complete defeat of the enemy. from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh
These tribes were located in the northern part of Israel, close to the area where the battle against the Midianites took place. Naphtali and Asher were situated near the Sea of Galilee, while Manasseh was a larger tribe with territory on both sides of the Jordan River. The inclusion of these tribes highlights their geographical proximity to the conflict and their vested interest in the outcome. Historically, these tribes often faced threats from northern invaders, making their participation crucial. and they pursued the Midianites
The pursuit of the Midianites indicates a strategic follow-up to the initial victory. In ancient warfare, pursuing a retreating enemy was essential to prevent them from regrouping and counterattacking. This pursuit also fulfills God's promise of delivering the Midianites into Israel's hands, as seen earlier inJudges 7. The Midianites were a nomadic people who had oppressed Israel, and their defeat was a significant turning point. This pursuit can be seen as a type of Christ's ultimate victory over sin and evil, where the initial victory on the cross is followed by the ongoing pursuit of righteousness and the eventual complete eradication of evil. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonThe judge chosen by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. He led a small army to victory through God's guidance. 2. MidianitesA nomadic people who oppressed Israel for seven years. They were defeated by Gideon's army through divine intervention. 3. Naphtali, Asher, and ManassehTribes of Israel. Men from these tribes were called to join the pursuit of the fleeing Midianites after Gideon's initial victory. 4. The PursuitFollowing the miraculous victory, the Israelites pursued the remaining Midianite forces to ensure a complete defeat. 5. The BattleThis event is part of a larger account where God reduces Gideon's army to 300 men to demonstrate His power and ensure that the victory is attributed to Him alone. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in DeliveranceGod orchestrates events to demonstrate His power and ensure that glory is given to Him alone. Gideon's victory with a small army is a testament to God's sovereignty. The Call to ActionAfter the initial victory, the men of Israel are called to pursue the enemy. This teaches us that while God grants victory, we are also called to actively participate in His plans. Unity Among God's PeopleThe tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh come together for a common cause. Unity among believers is crucial in fulfilling God's purposes. Faith and ObedienceGideon's account emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience to God's instructions, even when they seem illogical by human standards. God's Strength in Our WeaknessThe reduction of Gideon's army highlights that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, encouraging us to rely on Him rather than our own abilities. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Judges 7:23?
2.How does Judges 7:23 demonstrate God's power in overcoming overwhelming odds?
3.What role did unity play among Israelites in Judges 7:23's victory?
4.How can we apply the Israelites' obedience in Judges 7:23 to our lives?
5.What scriptural connections exist between Judges 7:23 and other Old Testament battles?
6.How does Judges 7:23 encourage us to trust God in challenging situations?
7.How does Judges 7:23 demonstrate God's power in overcoming overwhelming odds?
8.What role does faith play in the victory described in Judges 7:23?
9.Why did God choose Gideon to lead the Israelites in Judges 7:23?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 7?
11.If the land division was divinely ordained, why do other biblical accounts (e.g., Judges 1) describe tribes failing to fully possess these assigned territories?
12.What are Jacob's prophetic blessings for his sons?
13.Revelation 7:4 states 144,000 are sealed from the tribes of Israel; does this number conflict with historical records of the 'lost' tribes?
14.Judges 5:15-17: Does the criticism of certain tribes for not joining the battle suggest editorial bias or political propaganda?What Does Judges 7:23 Mean Then the men of Israel were called out• Gideon has just witnessed God throw the Midianite camp into panic (Judges 7:21–22). With the enemy fleeing, the next step is to rally broader support, echoing Gideon’s earlier trumpet blast that “summoned the men of Abiezar” (Judges 6:34–35). • God’s pattern often involves a few faithful initiating action, followed by a larger body joining in once victory is assured (1 Samuel 14:6–23;2 Chronicles 20:17). • Calling out “the men of Israel” underscores national unity under God’s deliverance rather than personal glory for Gideon (Judges 8:23).
from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh• These northern tribes bordered the Jezreel Valley, making them strategically positioned to intercept Midian’s retreat toward the Jordan (Judges 7:1). • Naphtali and Asher had previously answered Barak’s summons against Sisera (Judges 4:6–10), showing a history of responsiveness when faith is stirred. • Manasseh, Gideon’s own tribe, now mobilizes fully; earlier only a portion had gathered (Judges 6:35). The phrase “all Manasseh” signals wholehearted participation, parallelingPsalm 110:3—“Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power.” • God’s sovereignty is evident: though initial victory came through 300 men (Judges 7:7), He still values the wider body’s engagement, reflectingRomans 12:4–5.
and they pursued the Midianites• Pursuit prevents the enemy from regrouping, completing the deliverance God initiated (Judges 8:4). Faith does not stop at a miracle; it follows through in obedience (Philippians 3:12–14). • The verb “pursued” links to earlier deliverances where Israel chased fleeing foes—seeExodus 14:25 andJoshua 10:19—reminding us that God fights for His people while calling them to active participation. • Midian’s defeat fulfills God’s promise inJudges 6:16, “You will strike the Midianites as one man.” What began as a daunting task now becomes a routed enemy, illustratingProverbs 21:31: “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.”
summaryJudges 7:23 captures the moment Israel moves from watching God’s miracle to joining in His victory. Gideon’s trumpet summons the nearby tribes, demonstrating unity under God’s hand. Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh respond promptly, showing readiness to follow when faith leads. Their pursuit of Midian completes the deliverance God promised, reminding believers that divine intervention and human obedience work hand in hand until the enemy is fully driven away. (23) Out of Naphtali.--Doubtless these pursuers were some of those who had left Gideon's camp before the victory. Those of Naphtali and Asher might pursue the flying Midianites northwards (if Beth-shittah is the same Shultah), and those of Manasseh might pursue those who fled southwards to the lower fords. Verse 23. - The men of Israel, etc. Gideon's disbanded army got together again very quickly when they heard of the flight of the Midianites. Zebulun is not mentioned.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Then the menאִֽישׁ־(’îš-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male personof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descwere called outוַיִּצָּעֵ֧ק(way·yiṣ·ṣā·‘êq)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6817:To shriek, to proclaimfromוּמִן־(ū·min-)Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480:A part of, from, out ofNaphtali,מִנַּפְתָּלִ֥י(min·nap̄·tā·lî)Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5321:Naphtali -- a son of Jacob, also his descendants and the district settled by themAsher,אָשֵׁ֖ר(’ā·šêr)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 836:Asher -- 'happy one', a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, also perhaps a city in Palestineandוּמִן־(ū·min-)Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480:A part of, from, out ofallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyManasseh,מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה(mə·naš·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519:Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelitesand they pursuedוַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ(way·yir·də·p̄ū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7291:To pursue, chase, persecutethe Midianites.מִדְיָֽן׃(miḏ·yān)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4080:Midian -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his descendants and the region where they settled
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OT History: Judges 7:23 The men of Israel were gathered together (Jd Judg. Jdg) |
