Judg 6:1-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 7:1-8:32: 6:1–8:35 Gideon’s judgeship brings to a close the first period of judges. Summary for Judg 6:1-6: 6:1-6 After forty years of peace, religious syncretism had brought about political instability, and marauding nomads had reduced the Israelites to living as fugitives. • The Midianites were once thought to be a purely nomadic tribe centered in northwest Arabia, but they are now understood to have built cities and for a time to have dominated much of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan). They are joined here by Amalekites (who earlier were part of a Moabite coalition; see study note on 3:12-13) and the mysterious people of the east (cp. 1 Kgs 4:30 ; Ezek 25:4 , 10 ). The pattern of attack was seasonal but devastating.

a6:1–8:35►

c1 Kgs 4:30►

dEzek 25:4►

‏ Judges 6:1-6

Summary for Judg 7:1-8:32: 6:1–8:35 ^a Gideon’s judgeship brings to a close the first period of judges.
Summary for Judg 6:1-6: 6:1-6 ^b After forty years of peace, religious syncretism had brought about political instability, and marauding nomads had reduced the Israelites to living as fugitives.

• The Midianites were once thought to be a purely nomadic tribe centered in northwest Arabia, but they are now understood to have built cities and for a time to have dominated much of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan). They are joined here by Amalekites (who earlier were part of a Moabite coalition; see study note on 3:12-13) and the mysterious people of the east (cp. 1 Kgs 4:30 ^c; Ezek 25:4 ^d, 10 ^e). The pattern of attack was seasonal but devastating.
6:5 ^f Camels, known in some contexts from as early as 3000 BC, are frequently associated with eastern nomads and their raids. This may be one of the first recorded instances of camels being used in a large military force.