| Easton's Bible Dictionary Raven, a prince of Midian, who, being defeated by Gideon and put to straits, was slain along with Zeeb (Judges 7:20-25). Many of the Midianites perished along with him (Psalm 83:9; Isaiah 10:26). Oreb, The rock of The place where Gideon slew Oreb after the defeat of the Midianites (Judges 7:25; Isaiah 10:26). It was probably the place now called Orbo, on the east of Jordan, near Bethshean. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia OREB; ZEEB o'-reb, ze'-eb, zeb (`orebh, "raven," especially "crow"), and (ze'ebh, "wolf") (Judges 7:25; Judges 8:3 Psalm 83:11, Isaiah 10:26 (Oreb only)): Two Midianite chieftains captured and beheaded by the Ephraimites, who brought their heads to Gideon.
1. Meaning of Names:
As to the meaning of the two names, both words are found in Arabic. Robertson Smith, Kinship, etc. (190;, 218;), says that the use of the names of animals as names of persons is a relic of totemism. But Noldeke (ZDMG, XL, 160;) and others hold that such a use shows a desire that those so named should be as disagreeable to their enemies as the plant or animal which the name denoted. Some again (e.g. Stade, Geschichte, 189;) maintain that the two names here are borrowed from localities and not vice versa, as Judges 7:25 implies. If so, we must take the names to be originally two places, apparently in Ephraim, for the words "beyond Jordan" in 7:25 contradict 8:4, where it is said that Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over. Moore (Judges, 214) suggests that the two localities were near the junction with the Jordan of the stream that comes from Wady Far`ah. The construction of the Hebrew allows of a translation "the rock (called) Oreb," and "the winepress (called) Zeeb."
2. The Battle of Oreb:
The account of a battle here is corroborated by Isaiah 10:26, a verse which mentions the "rock of Oreb," and suggests that the great defeat of the Midianites took place there (compare Isaiah 9:4). The passage in Isaiah 10:24-26 is prose, however, and is said to be late editing (see G.H. Box, Isaiah, 65). In Psalm 83:11 (Hebrew 12) there is a prayer that God would make the "nobles" among the Psalmist's enemies as Oreb and Zeeb.
David Francis Roberts OREB In 2 Esdras 2:33 the King James Version for Mt. HOREB (which see; so the Revised Version (British and American)). |  | Multi-Version Concordance Oreb (4 Occurrences) Judges 7:25 They took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian: and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 8:3 God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 83:11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 10:26 Yahweh of Armies will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) |
