Oreb עֹרֵב
Midianite prince, killed by Ephraimites
Who is Oreb in the Bible?
Oreb was a Midianite prince who led forces against Israel during the time of Gideon. When Gideon and his small army routed the Midianites, the tribe of Ephraim pursued and captured Oreb and his fellow prince Zeeb, killing them both at locations that became known as the Rock of Oreb and the Rock of Zeeb (Judges 7:25, 8:3). The Ephraimites brought the heads of these princes to Gideon as trophies of victory. This defeat symbolized God's deliverance of Israel from oppression, and the prophet Isaiah later invoked the Rock of Oreb as a symbol of God's judgment (Isaiah 10:26), making Oreb's defeat memorable throughout Israel's history.
Biography
Oreb was a prince of Midian who, along with another prince named Zeeb, led the Midianite army against Israel during the time of Gideon (Jdg.7.25). After Gideon and his 300 men defeated the Midianites, the Ephraimites captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb (Jdg.7.25; 8.3). The Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon as a trophy of their victory (Jdg.7.25). The rock where Oreb was killed became known as the "rock of Oreb" (Jdg.7.25). The defeat of Oreb and Zeeb was a significant victory for Israel and a testament to God's power and deliverance (Psalm Jdg.83.11). The prophet Isaiah later used the "rock of Oreb" as a symbol of God's judgment against the Assyrians (Isa.10.26).
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 2 with study contentJudges 2 verses
- Judges 7:25
"They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan."
- Judges 8:3
"God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided."
Psalms 1 verse
- Psalms 83:11
"Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,"
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Isaiah 1 verse
- Isaiah 10:26
"And 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."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֹרֵב | Oreb , the name of a Midianite and of the cliff near the Jordan |