Psalms 83:11-12

83:11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,

and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna,

83:12 who said, “Let’s take over the pastures of God!”


sn Oreb and Zeeb were the generals of the Midianite army that was defeated by Gideon. The Ephraimites captured and executed both of them and sent their heads to Gideon (Judg 7:24-25).

sn Zebah and Zalmunna were the Midianite kings. Gideon captured them and executed them (Judg 8:1-21).

tn The translation assumes that “Zebah and Zalmunna” are the antecedents of the relative pronoun (“who [said]”). Another option is to take “their nobles…all their rulers” as the antecedent and to translate, “those who say.”

tn Heb “let’s take possession for ourselves.”