Israel’s disobedience led to seven years of Midianite oppression.
Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. (v.1) This verse opens with a tragic refrain heard throughout the Book of Judges: the people of Israel lapse into disobedience, deliberately doing “what was evil” in the eyes of God. Historically, this points to a cyclical pattern in which the Israelites stray from God’s commandments, prompting the LORD to allow a foreign power to gain control over them. In this case, it is the Midianites, setting the stage for the events that will unfold in subsequent verses (Judges 6-8). Through this cycle, God’s holiness and justice are underscored, revealing how wrongdoing can result in consequences—similar themes can be found in later New Testament teachings, such as in Hebrews 12:6, where the discipline of God is explained as an act of parental love.
By naming the Midianites, the text reminds us of a tribe southeast of Israel, near the Arabian Desert region. The Midianites are descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2), which places them among Israel’s distant relatives in the historical timeline. By the approximate date of this period in Judges (likely between 1200 and 1100 BC), the Israelites had settled into the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership (roughly mid-14th century BC) but continued to struggle with faithfulness to the LORD. The seven-year oppression under the Midianites emphasizes both the severity of the situation and the people’s need to return to God.
In Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years (v.1), we see a reminder that blessings and protection for Israel were contingent upon their adherence to the covenant with God. When they turned away from God, foreign domination often followed. Yet, every cycle of disobedience in Judges is also accompanied by God’s mercy: a judge would be raised to deliver Israel from their oppressors, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance offered through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:13). This interplay of sin, consequence, and redemption forms a core theme throughout the biblical narrative.
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Judges 6:1 meaning
Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. (v.1) This verse opens with a tragic refrain heard throughout the Book of Judges: the people of Israel lapse into disobedience, deliberately doing “what was evil” in the eyes of God. Historically, this points to a cyclical pattern in which the Israelites stray from God’s commandments, prompting the LORD to allow a foreign power to gain control over them. In this case, it is the Midianites, setting the stage for the events that will unfold in subsequent verses (Judges 6-8). Through this cycle, God’s holiness and justice are underscored, revealing how wrongdoing can result in consequences—similar themes can be found in later New Testament teachings, such as in Hebrews 12:6, where the discipline of God is explained as an act of parental love.
By naming the Midianites, the text reminds us of a tribe southeast of Israel, near the Arabian Desert region. The Midianites are descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2), which places them among Israel’s distant relatives in the historical timeline. By the approximate date of this period in Judges (likely between 1200 and 1100 BC), the Israelites had settled into the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership (roughly mid-14th century BC) but continued to struggle with faithfulness to the LORD. The seven-year oppression under the Midianites emphasizes both the severity of the situation and the people’s need to return to God.
In Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years (v.1), we see a reminder that blessings and protection for Israel were contingent upon their adherence to the covenant with God. When they turned away from God, foreign domination often followed. Yet, every cycle of disobedience in Judges is also accompanied by God’s mercy: a judge would be raised to deliver Israel from their oppressors, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance offered through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:13). This interplay of sin, consequence, and redemption forms a core theme throughout the biblical narrative.