Judges 8:10
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
Judges 8:10 · King James Version
Meaning
After defeating the Midianites in battle, Gideon pursued their kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, to Karkor with his small army of 300 men. The verse reveals that these kings were left with only fifteen thousand men, as their entire army of the children of the east had been greatly reduced. The destruction of their forces was significant, as a total of 120,000 enemies had been killed in the previous battles. This verse showcases the power of God working through Gideon and his army, demonstrating that victory is possible even when facing overwhelming odds. It emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience in carrying out God's plan, as Gideon's unwavering trust in God ultimately led to the defeat of the Midianites and their kings.
Theological Overview
One possible theological interpretation of the verse mentioning Zebah and Zalmunna in Karkor is the theme of divine justice and victory. Here, we see that even though the enemies of God's people, the children of the east, gathered a formidable army of fifteen thousand men, they were still defeated. This victory was made possible by the hand of God, as evidenced by the fact that a much larger number of one hundred and twenty thousand men fell at the hands of the Israelites. This serves as a reminder of God's power and faithfulness to protect and deliver his people in times of trouble. Additionally, the sheer number of casualties can also serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning against God and his chosen people. Through this account, we are reminded of the importance of remaining faithful to God and trusting in his ultimate victory over all enemies.
Judges 8:10 in other translations
American Standard Version
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
World English Bible
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
Douay-Rheims
But Zebee and Salmana were resting with all their army. For fifteen thousand men were left of all the troops of the eastern people, and one hundred and twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword were slain.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hostes with them, about fifteene thousande, all that were left of all the hostes of them of the East: for there was slaine an hundreth and twentie thousand men, that drew swordes.