Zebah and Zalmunna

Zebah (Hebrew: זֶ֫בַח Zeḇaḥ, "sacrifice", Zebee in the Brenton Septuagint Translation and the Douai-Rheims Bible) and Zalmunna (צַלְמֻנָּע Ṣalmunnā‘, "shade denied" or "Salm protects" Salmana in the Brenton Septuagint Translation and the Douai-Rheims Bible) were the two kings who led the vast host of the Midianites who invaded the land of Israel, and over whom Gideon gained a great and decisive victory (Judges 8). Zebah and Zalmunna had succeeded in escaping across the Jordan River with a remnant of the Midianite host, but were overtaken at Karkor, probably in the Hauran, and routed by Gideon. The kings were taken alive and brought back across the Jordan; and confessing that they had personally taken part in the killing of Gideon's brothers, they were put to death.

Landscape with Gideon. In his one hand the heads of Zebach and Salmunna, in his other a trumpet and an oil lamp. (Hieronymus Wierix)

Their demise is remembered and invoked in Psalms 83:9–11:

Deal with them as with Midian ... yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna.

See also 1 Samuel 12:11 and Isaiah 10:26.

References

General references

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Zalmunna". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Zebah". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.