Oreb is a figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Judges. He was one of the two Midianite princes defeated by the Israelites under the leadership of Gideon. The account of Oreb is primarily found in Judges 7 and 8, where the narrative details the miraculous victory of Gideon's small army over the vast forces of Midian.

Biblical Account:

In Judges 7:25 , the text states: "They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan."

The capture and execution of Oreb and his fellow prince Zeeb marked a significant turning point in the battle against the Midianites. The Israelites, under divine guidance, were able to rout the Midianite forces despite being vastly outnumbered. The victory is attributed to God's intervention, as Gideon's army was reduced to just 300 men to ensure that the triumph would be recognized as the work of the Lord and not of human strength.

Historical and Theological Significance:

Oreb's defeat is emblematic of God's deliverance of Israel from its oppressors. The narrative underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and the power of faith. Gideon's victory over the Midianites, including the capture and execution of their leaders, serves as a testament to God's ability to save His people against overwhelming odds.

The "rock of Oreb," where the prince was killed, became a geographical marker, symbolizing the victory and the judgment executed upon the enemies of Israel. This event is later referenced in Isaiah 10:26 , which states: "The LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as He did when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; and His staff will be over the sea, and He will lift it as He did in Egypt."

Symbolism and Legacy:

Oreb's account is often seen as a symbol of God's justice and the ultimate triumph of His will. The defeat of the Midianite princes is a reminder of the futility of opposing God's chosen people when they are aligned with His purposes. The narrative encourages believers to trust in God's provision and timing, even when circumstances seem insurmountable.

In the broader context of Scripture, the account of Oreb and the Midianites serves as a precursor to the many instances where God delivers Israel from its enemies, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and His people. The account of Oreb is a powerful illustration of the biblical principle that "the battle is the LORD's" (1 Samuel 17:47), highlighting the importance of faith and obedience in the life of the believer.Oreb

a raven

Oreb

(raven), one of the chieftains of the Midianite host which invaded Israel, and was defeated and driven back by Gideon. (Judges 7:25) (B.C. 1362.) Isaiah, (Isaiah 10:26) refers to the magnitude of this disaster. Comp. (Psalms 83:1) ...

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.

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)).

6159. Oreb -- a Midianite
... 6158, 6159. Oreb. 6160 . a Midianite. Transliteration: Oreb Phonetic
Spelling: (o-rabe') Short Definition: Oreb. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/6159.htm - 6k

6158. oreb -- a raven
... 6157, 6158. oreb. 6159 . a raven. Transliteration: oreb Phonetic Spelling:
(o-rabe') Short Definition: raven. ... 6157, 6158. oreb. 6159 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6158.htm - 6k

696. oreb -- an ambuscade
... 695, 696. oreb. 697 . an ambuscade. Transliteration: oreb Phonetic Spelling:
(o'-reb) Short Definition: ambush. ... 695, 696. oreb. 697 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/696.htm - 6k

698. orbah -- an artifice
... spoils. Feminine of 'oreb (only in the plural); ambuscades -- spoils. see
HEBREW 'oreb. 697, 698. orbah. 699 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/698.htm - 6k

6155. arab -- (a kind of tree) perhaps poplar, also a wadi in Moab
... Word Origin from the same as oreb Definition (a kind of tree) perhaps poplar, also
a wadi in Moab NASB Word Usage Arabim (1), poplars (1), willows (3). willow. ...
/hebrew/6155.htm - 6k

Psalm LXXXIII.
... subdued and conquered by Israel, which then was the people of God: as was the case
also with those whom he next mentions: "Make their princes like Oreb and Zeb ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxiii.htm

Deliverance from Assyria
... and the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter
of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as His rod was upon the sea, so shall He ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Psalm 83
... 10And Sis'ra, which at En-dor fell,. as dung to fat the land. ^11Like Oreb and like
Zeeb make. their noble men to fall; Like Zeba and Zalmunna like,. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 83.htm

How the Midianites and Other Nations Fought against the Israelites ...
... a certain valley encompassed with torrents, a place which these could not get over;
so they encompassed them, and slew them all, with their kings, Oreb and Zeeb ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the midianites.htm

Judges
... According to the later version, Gideon is the deliverer of Israel from the incursions
of the Midianites, and the princes slain are Oreb and Zeeb, vii.24-viii.3 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... more of them were slain. Among the slain were two of the princes of the
Midianites, named Oreb and Zeeb. A part of the Midianite ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

Here Next Followeth the History of Moses
... Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his wife's father. When he had brought the sheep into
the innermost part of the desert he came unto the mount of God, Oreb. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here next followeth the history.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... and mine anger in their destruction: and the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge
for him, according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Oreb (4 Occurrences)
...Oreb, The rock of. The place where Gideon slew Oreb after the defeat of the Midianites
(Judges 7:25; Isaiah 10:26). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. OREB; ZEEB. ...
/o/oreb.htm - 10k

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)
... The division of that host, which attempted to escape across the Jordan, under Oreb
and Zeeb, was overtaken by the Ephraimites, who, in a great battle ...OREB; ZEEB. ...
/z/zeeb.htm - 10k

Midianite (11 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they
slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and ...
/m/midianite.htm - 13k

Grape-crushing (2 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 And they took the two chiefs of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they put
Oreb to death at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they put to death at the place of ...
/g/grape-crushing.htm - 7k

Wine-press (11 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they
slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of Zeeb ...
/w/wine-press.htm - 11k

Winepress (19 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 ...
/w/winepress.htm - 14k

Wine-vat (7 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 and they capture two of the heads of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb, and slay
Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they have slain at the wine-vat of Zeeb ...
/w/wine-vat.htm - 8k

Capture (53 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 and they capture two of the heads of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb, and slay
Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they have slain at the wine-vat of Zeeb ...
/c/capture.htm - 23k

Mid'ian (47 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:25 And they took the two princes of Mid'ian, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed
Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the wine press of Zeeb, as ...
/m/mid'ian.htm - 20k

Pursued (75 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 ...
/p/pursued.htm - 29k

What is the significance of Midian in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus