And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it sounds like Israel was simply hiding, the Hebrew word for "dens" suggests more than just digging holes. It hints at preparing existing natural formations with features like openings or even signaling mechanisms, indicating a conscious effort to adapt their environment for survival, not just passively endure.
And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
For seven years, the Midianites, nomadic raiders from the east, had been crushing Israel. Their annual invasions were so devastating that the Israelites were forced to abandon their homes and fields, hiding in mountain caves and makeshift strongholds to survive. This deep oppression, a consequence of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, set the stage for the dramatic appearance of Gideon, who would be called to deliver them.
Imagine your home isn't safe. You can't sleep in your bed or work your fields. That's the reality for Israel in Judges 6.
The verse paints a stark picture of oppression. The 'hand of Midian overpowered Israel,' forcing the Israelites to abandon their homes and livelihoods.
Driven to Extremes
They didn't just hide; they made for themselves "dens in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds." This wasn't just seeking shelter; it was a desperate, ongoing effort to survive by becoming like wild animals, constantly on the run and hidden from their enemies. The limestone hills of Palestine provided natural caves, but the Israelites had to adapt and fortify these spaces to survive.
This wasn't a temporary inconvenience; it was a way of life dictated by fear.
Why were the Midianites so powerful? This verse hints at a deeper story of Israel's choices.
The oppression by Midian wasn't random; it was a consequence. The book of Judges clearly lays out a cycle: Israel disobeys God, God allows foreign nations to oppress them as a form of discipline, Israel cries out for help, and God raises up a deliverer.
A Pattern of Pain
Judges 6:1 tells us, 'And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.' This establishes the theological context for the physical hardship described in verse 2. Their sin led to their suffering, and their suffering was meant to turn them back to God. The desperate measures of hiding in caves show the depth of this judgment.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
azaz · Hebrew Verb
To prevail over, be strong against, or overcome someone; often used in the context of military oppression or dominating power.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Midianite Raids Intensify
Following a period of relative peace after Deborah's victory, Israel falls back into sin. This leads to a severe oppression by the Midianites, who raid the land annually at harvest time.
c. 11th century BC
Israelite Devastation
The Midianites, along with Amalekites and other eastern tribes, devastate Israel's crops and livestock, leaving them with no sustenance. This forces the Israelites to flee their homes and seek refuge.
c. 11th century BC
Israel Cries Out to God
Crushed by the oppression and facing starvation, the Israelites cry out to the Lord for deliverance. This cry marks the beginning of their eventual rescue.
This verse directly echoes the plight of the Israelites in Judges 6:2 by describing those who 'wandered in deserts and in mountains and in caves and in holes of the earth' because they were persecuted.
1 Samuel 13:6This passage illustrates a similar desperate situation where the Israelites, under pressure from the Philistines, hide in 'caves and in thickets and in rocks and in holes and in pits,' mirroring the actions described in Judges 6:2.
Psalm 106:41-42This psalm reflects on Israel's history of oppression, including times when their 'enemies triumphed over them' and they were 'humbled by their enemies,' which resonates with the overwhelming power of the Midianites mentioned in Judges 6:2.
Leviticus 26:17This prophetic warning states that if Israel did not obey God, their enemies would 'rule over them,' directly foreshadowing the kind of oppression and defeat seen in Judges 6:2 where the Midianites overpowered them.
jfbJudges 6:2: "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds."
- made … dens … in the mountains and caves—not, of course, excavating them, for they were already, but making them fit for habitation.
gillJudges 6:2: "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds."
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel,.... They were too strong for them, and overcame them, and brought them into subjection to them, and no wonder, when the Lord delivered them into their hand: and because of the Midianites; because of their usage of them, their manner of coming upon them yearl…
While it sounds like Israel was simply hiding, the Hebrew word for "dens" suggests more than just digging holes. It hints at preparing existing natural formations with features like openings or even signaling mechanisms, indicating a conscious effort to adapt their environment for survival, not just passively endure.
For seven years, the Midianites, nomadic raiders from the east, had been crushing Israel. Their annual invasions were so devastating that the Israelites were forced to abandon their homes and fields, hiding in mountain caves and makeshift strongholds to survive. This deep oppression, a consequence of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, set the stage for the dramatic appearance of Gideon, who would be called to deliver them.
For seven years, the Midianites, nomadic raiders from the east, had been crushing Israel. Their annual invasions were so devastating that the Israelites were forced to abandon their homes and fields, hiding in mountain caves and makeshift strongholds to survive. This deep oppression, a consequence of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, set the stage for the dramatic appearance of Gideon, who would be called to deliver them.
"And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds." — While it sounds like Israel was simply hiding, the Hebrew word for "dens" suggests more than just digging holes. It hints at preparing existing natural formations with features like openings or even…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026