Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
English Standard Version (ESV)
These specific, named villages—Madmenah and Gebim—aren't just random locations; their very names suggest dire circumstances. "Madmenah" hints at chaos or folly, while "Gebim" might evoke emptiness or distress, underscoring the overwhelming fear and disarray the Assyrian invasion caused, even in seemingly small, insignificant places.
Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian army is on the march, advancing toward Jerusalem. As the invaders move through the land, cities close to the capital like Madmenah and Gebim are thrown into chaos, their inhabitants fleeing in panic. This verse depicts the terror and disarray caused by the approaching military threat, illustrating the widespread fear gripping the region as Sennacherib's forces draw nearer.
Have you ever felt like your town, your history, just doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things? The prophet Isaiah mentions some places so obscure they’re barely in the records.
Isaiah 10:31 names two specific locations: Madmenah and Gebim.
The Obscure and the Overlooked
A Deeper Purpose
These villages, though unknown to us now, were real places with real people. Their inclusion in Isaiah's prophecy serves a powerful purpose:
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What does fear sound like? In this verse, it’s the sound of panicked movement and desperate flight.
The verse vividly portrays the terror striking these communities:
The Movement of Panic
The Assyrian Onslaught
This fear isn't unfounded. The Assyrian army, as described earlier in Isaiah (chapter 10), was a brutal force meant to be God's instrument of judgment. Its approach brought devastation, and these small villages were on the front lines of that terror. Their flight shows the tangible, immediate impact of that imperial power on ordinary lives.
The prophet Isaiah describes the terror and flight of towns near Jerusalem as Sennacherib's Assyrian army approaches. This vividly illustrates the imminent danger the people faced, highlighting their desperate situation before God's miraculous intervention.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, a significant event that likely preceded or occurred during the early prophecies of Isaiah under King Hezekiah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and threatening Jerusalem. This event forms the direct backdrop for Isaiah's prophecy in this chapter.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Army Withdraws from Jerusalem
After a devastating plague strikes the Assyrian army, Sennacherib is forced to withdraw his siege of Jerusalem, fulfilling God's promise of protection to King Hezekiah and the city.
This passage describes the flight of cities and the scattering of their inhabitants in response to impending invasion, mirroring the panic seen in Isaiah 10:31.
Ezekiel 39:11This verse speaks of a widespread scattering and fleeing of people from an invading force, emphasizing the utter devastation and flight that can characterize warfare, similar to the scene in Isaiah.
Luke 21:20-21Jesus speaks of Jerusalem's destruction, urging those in Judea to flee to the mountains, illustrating the concept of urgent flight and displacement in the face of overwhelming enemy advance.
Jeremiah 6:25This passage warns of fear and panic gripping the people, urging them to stay within their fortified cities but also describing the terror that leads to flight, resonating with the urgency of Isaiah 10:31.
barnesIsaiah 10:31: "Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee."
Madmenah - This city is mentioned nowhere else. The city of Madmanna, or Medemene, mentioned in Joshua 15:31 , was in the bounds of the tribe of Simeon, and was far south, toward Gaza. It cannot be the place intended here. Is removed - Or, the inhabitants have fled from fear; see Isaiah 10:29. Gebim - This place is unknown. It is nowhere else mentioned. Gather themselves to flee - A description of the alarm…
pulpitIsaiah 10:31: "Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee."
Verse 31. - Madmenah...Gebim. These are, like Gallim and Laisha, villages otherwise unknown. They must have been within a mile or two of Jerusalem, towards the north. Their inhabitants fly as the Assyrians approach.
These specific, named villages—Madmenah and Gebim—aren't just random locations; their very names suggest dire circumstances. "Madmenah" hints at chaos or folly, while "Gebim" might evoke emptiness or distress, underscoring the overwhelming fear and disarray the Assyrian invasion caused, even in seemingly small, insignificant places.
The Assyrian army is on the march, advancing toward Jerusalem. As the invaders move through the land, cities close to the capital like Madmenah and Gebim are thrown into chaos, their inhabitants fleeing in panic. This verse depicts the terror and disarray caused by the approaching military threat, illustrating the widespread fear gripping the region as Sennacherib's forces draw nearer.
The Assyrian army is on the march, advancing toward Jerusalem. As the invaders move through the land, cities close to the capital like Madmenah and Gebim are thrown into chaos, their inhabitants fleeing in panic. This verse depicts the terror and disarray caused by the approaching military threat, illustrating the widespread fear gripping the region as Sennacherib's forces draw nearer.
"Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety." — These specific, named villages—Madmenah and Gebim—aren't just random locations; their very names suggest dire circumstances. "Madmenah" hints at chaos or folly, while "Gebim" might evoke emptiness or…
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Last reviewed October 2026