Midianite king defeated by Gideon
Zalmunna
Named in 9 verses across 2 books, first in Judges 8:5.
צַלְמֻנָּעZalmunna
The name means “shadow; image; idol forbidden.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- People
- Sinai
About Zalmunna Written by AI
Zalmunna was one of the two Midianite kings, along with Zebah, who oppressed Israel during the time of the judges. The Midianites, in alliance with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, regularly raided Israel and destroyed their crops. God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites. After a decisive battle, Gideon pursued the fleeing Midianite army and captured Zalmunna and Zebah. Gideon questioned them about the men they had killed at Tabor, and upon learning that they were his brothers, he executed Zalmunna and Zebah. The defeat of these Midianite kings brought about a period of peace for Israel. The psalmist later refers to Zalmunna and Zebah as examples of God's enemies who were defeated and destroyed.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
One of the two kings of Midian whom the “Lord delivered” into the hands of Gideon. He was slain afterwards with Zebah (Judg. 8:5-21). (See ZEBAH.)
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Judges 8:5
So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
- Judges 8:6
But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?”
- Judges 8:7
“Very well,” Gideon replied, “when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!”
- Judges 8:10
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the east. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen.
- Judges 8:12
When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.
- Judges 8:15
And Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your weary men?’”
- Judges 8:18
Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.”
- Judges 8:21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments from the necks of their camels.
- Psalm 83:11
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.