Judges 6:5 meaning

When the writer describes the Midianites in Judges 6:5, he emphasizes the sheer magnitude of their invasion by saying that “they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number; both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.” (Judges 6:5). The Midianites descended upon Israel’s territory, occupying large portions of the countryside and bringing their herds in vast droves. Their numbers, likened to swarms of locusts, suggest not only a terrifying force but also thorough destruction of the resources in their path. This event unfolds in ancient Israel, located in the region west of the Jordan River, which in those days was a land of smaller, tribal confederations frequently challenged by neighboring peoples.

Although this verse does not explicitly name a major figure like Gideon, it sets the stage for his eventual role as a judge and deliverer in Israel (Judges 6:11–14). Historically, the Midianites were a nomadic people who came from territories southeast of Israel, near the Arabian Peninsula. Their power surged at various times, and here we see one of their most threatening incursions in the period of the Judges, likely around the late 12th century BC. During this era, Israel had no centralized government, so enemies such as the Midianites could exploit the political fragmentation within the land.

By likening the Midianites to locusts, the verse calls to mind the destructive power often associated with plagues (Joel 2:3–5), evoking a sense of judgment and desperation. The phrase “and they came into the land to devastate it” (Judges 6:5) highlights how the Midianites aimed to impoverish Israel by consuming crops, pastures, and any provisions. In the broader narrative of Judges, such difficult circumstances consistently point people back to the LORD, where deliverance ultimately finds its hope and fulfillment.