Judges 7:12

12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the East lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seaside for multitude.

Judges 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 7:12

And the Midianites and the Amalekites, and the children of the
east
The Arabians, who with the Amalekites joined the Midianites in this expedition:

lay along in the valley
in the valley of Jezreel, in their tents, which overspread the valley, or at least great part of it:

like grasshoppers for multitude;
or locusts, which usually come in great numbers, and cover the air and the sun where they fly, and the earth where they light, as they did the land of Egypt; this army consisted at least of 135,000 men, as is clear from ( Judges 8:10 )

and their camels were without number; as the sand is by the sea side
for multitude;
an hyperbolical expression, setting forth the great number of them which the countries of Midian and Arabia abounded with; and were very proper to bring with them, to load and carry off the booty they came for, the fruits of the earth; see ( Judges 6:4 Judges 6:5 ) .

Judges 7:12 In-Context

10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Purah thy servant down to the host,

11 and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host." Then went he down with Purah his servant unto the outside of the armed men who were in the host.

12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the East lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seaside for multitude.

13 And when Gideon had come, behold, there was a man who told a dream unto his fellow, and said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream; and lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian and came unto a tent, and smote it so that it fell, and overturned it so that the tent lay flat."

14 And his fellow answered and said, "This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel, for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all the host."