Bible Strands
Judges 6:4
encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The invading coalition of Midianites, Amalekites, and eastern tribes encamps against Israel and systematically ravages the countryside during the agricultural cycle, stripping the nation of all livestock and crops.
The words — וַ/יַּשְׁחִ֙יתוּ (va/i.yash.Chi.tu) translates literally as "and they destroyed," paired with יְב֣וּל הָ/אָ֔רֶץ (ye.Vul ha./'A.retz), meaning "the produce of the land," emphasizing the deliberate targeting of agricultural sustenance.
The thread — This pattern of total agricultural depletion appears in Leviticus 26:16, Deuteronomy 28:51, and Micah 6:15, where invading forces or divine judgment consume the offspring of livestock and the yield of the soil until the population is left destitute.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of total material vulnerability when a community's food supply is systematically severed, leaving no buffer against starvation or economic collapse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 26:16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
- Deuteronomy 28:51 They will eat the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain or new wine or oil, no calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks, until they have caused you to perish.
- Micah 6:15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.
- Deuteronomy 28:33 A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.
- Jeremiah 49:9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted?
- Genesis 10:19 and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
- Genesis 13:10 And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
- Deuteronomy 28:30 You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit.
- Proverbs 28:3 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
- Obadiah 1:5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, how you will be ruined—would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?