Zeeb זְאֵב
Midianite prince defeated by Gideon
Who is Zeeb in the Bible?
Zeeb was a prince of Midian who lived during the period of the judges in Israel. When Gideon led a miraculous victory against the Midianite army, the tribe of Ephraim pursued the fleeing Midianite forces and captured Zeeb along with another prince named Oreb at the winepress of Zeeb (Judges 7:25). The Ephraimites killed both princes and brought their heads to Gideon as a sign of their success in the battle (Judges 8:3). The defeat of Zeeb and Oreb became a celebrated symbol of God's deliverance of Israel from Midianite oppression, so much so that the psalmist later invoked their names when asking God to deal with Israel's enemies in the same way (Psalm 83:11). Their deaths marked a turning point in Israel's freedom from foreign domination during Gideon's judgeship.
Biography
Zeeb was a prince of Midian during the time of the judges in Israel. When Gideon and his 300 men defeated the Midianite army, the Ephraimites captured Zeeb and another prince named Oreb at the winepress of Zeeb. They killed both princes and brought their heads to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan. The victory over Oreb and Zeeb was celebrated as a significant part of Gideon's triumph over the Midianites, who had been oppressing Israel. The Psalmist later refers to their defeat, asking God to make the enemies of Israel like Oreb and Zeeb.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 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,"
Study Psalms →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זְאֵב | Zeeb , a Midianitish prince |
Zeeb
Ref="Bible:Josh.18.28">Jos 18:28; the Septuagint here omits). Here was the burying-place of th