Amelekites and Minianites Like Grasshoppers - Judges 7:12

In the book of Judges we learned how the LORD told Gideon, “Arise, get you down unto the host; for I have delivered it into your hand. But if you fear to go down, go you with Phurah your servant down to the host. And you shall hear what they say; and afterward shall your hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host”, and in chapter seven and verse twelve of Judges, we learn how, “the Amalekites and the Midianites … were like grasshoppers” where we read,

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

The verse reads, “And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude;” The writer began with the words, “and the Midianites” or “Midian” which means “strife” and was the son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians” “and the Amalekites” whose name means “dweller in a valley” and was “the son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan” “and all the children of the east” which means “and each, the whole and everyone of the offspring and progeny belonging to the people in the eastern direction” “lay along in the valley” or “were stationed, lying down and fallen out in the vale, lowland or open country” “like grasshoppers” which means “similar and in likeness to a locust swarm” “for multitude” or “in abundance, number and greatness”. The writer shared how the armies of the “Midianites, Amalekites and from the east” were so numerous that they were similar to a massive locust swarm. 

The verse continues, “and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.” The writer added the words, “and their camels” which means “and their, the Midianites, Amalekites and from the east’s, beast of burdens and riding camels” “were without number” or “were unable to be counted”, “as the sand by the sea side” which means “similar and in likeness to the round whirling particles alongside and beside the large body of water” “for multitude” or “in abundance, number and greatness”. The writer shared how the burden bearing “camels” which belonged to the “Midianites, Amalekites and from the east” were exceedingly numerous and unable to be counted because they were similar to the number of the grains of the sand on the side of the sea.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how large and numerous the army and the “camels” were that belonged to the “Midianites, Amalekites and from the east”. The idea was that the foes of Israel were exceedingly numerous, and the odds of three hundred men and “Gideon” defeating them was extremely small. However, Jehovah God was involved, and regardless of how many warriors and “camels” were among them, they were to be defeated. God knows what we need, and He gave His Son Jesus to the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to give us the ability to be conquerers even when the odds seems vastly great against us. (See John 3:16;16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:37; Ephesians 3:20)

Next time we learn how, “there was a man that told his dream to a fellow”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".