Zeeb was one of the two Midianite princes killed by the Ephraimites during Gideon's battle against the Midianites. Along with Oreb, he was pursued after Gideon inflicted a great defeat on the army of Midian. His name, which means 'wolf', has remained as a symbol of God's judgment upon Israel's enemies.
Schlüsselereignisse
Gideon's Victory over the Midianites
Gideon defeated the large Midianite army with only 300 men, causing the Midianites to flee in panic. This was the prelude to the pursuit during which Zeeb was killed.
19Gideon and the hundred men with him came to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the guard had been changed. They blew their trumpets and smashed the jars in their hands.
20The three companies blew their trumpets and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
22As the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD set every man's sword against his comrade throughout the camp, and the army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, to the edge of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
Gideon sent word to the Ephraimites to cut off the Midianites' escape at the fords of the Jordan, and they captured the two Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb.
24Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against Midian and seize the waters ahead of them as far as Beth Barah, and the Jordan as well." So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth Barah, and the Jordan.
25They captured the two Midianite commanders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, and they pursued the Midianites. Then they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.
Zeeb was killed at the winepress that later came to be named after him—the Winepress of Zeeb. The Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.
25They captured the two Midianite commanders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, and they pursued the Midianites. Then they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.
After the killing of Zeeb and Oreb, the Ephraimites were angry with Gideon because they had not been called from the beginning. Gideon answered them diplomatically, pointing out that their capture of the princes was more important than all his own efforts.
1The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they quarreled with him bitterly.
3God gave the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?" When he said this, their anger against him subsided.
26The LORD of hosts will raise a whip against him, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; he will lift his staff over the sea as he did in Egypt.