Judges 7:25

King James Version (KJV)

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

They slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb - These two generals had taken shelter, one in the cavern of the rock, the other in the vat of a winepress; both of which places were from this circumstance, afterwards called by their names.

Brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon - Oreb signifies a raven and Zeeb a wolf. In all ancient nations we find generals and princes taking their names from both birds and beasts; the Romans had their Gracchi, jackdaws; Corvini, crows; Aquilini, eagles, etc. We have the same in our Crows, Wolfs, Lyons, Hawkes, Bulls, Kidds, etc. Among barbarous nations the head of the conquered chief was often brought to the conqueror. Pompey's head was brought to Caesar; Cicero's head, to Mark Antony; the heads of Ahab's children, to Jehu, etc. These barbarities are not often practiced now, except among the Mohammedans or the savages of Africa and America; and for the credit of human nature it is a pity that such barbarous atrocities had ever been committed.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Two chief commanders of the host of Midian were taken and slain by the men of Ephraim. It were to be wished that we all did as these did, and that where help is needed, that it were willingly and readily performed by another. And that if there were any excellent and profitable matter begun, we were willing to have fellow-labourers to the finishing and perfecting the same, and not, as often, hinder one another.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

25. Oreb and Zeeb. Literally, “the raven and the wolf,” picturesque names for desert chieftains. The quick action of the Ephraimites enabled them to cut off the escape of a large number of Midianites who were trying to cross the Jordan at the lower fords. Pursued from behind by the reassembled forces of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, with the Jordan on one side and the Ephraimites before them, many Midianites were forced to surrender. Among the captives were two princes, Oreb and Zeeb, who were both promptly executed. To commemorate the victory, the sites where these men were slain were named “rock of Oreb,” literally, “raven’s rock,” and “winepress of Zeeb,” literally, “wolf’s wine press,” names which they, apparently, still bore when the book of Judges was written many years later. “Raven’s rock” was still known in Isaiah’s day (Isa. 10:26).

Other side Jordan. On the eastern side, the area now called Transjordan. According to ch. 8:4, Gideon had not yet crossed over the Jordan. Therefore, some have thought that the Ephraimites captured Oreb and Zeeb after they had crossed over to the eastern side of the river, and that they then brought the captives’ heads back to Gideon, who was still pursuing the Midianites in their flight from Jezreel toward the Jordan. The better explanation is that the author of Judges, having introduced the Ephraimites and their part in this battle, wished to complete his narrative concerning them and their dispute with Gideon before giving the long account of Gideon’s pursuit of the Midianites to the east of Jordan. For this reason he interrupted the chronological account of the battle to tell of the jealousy of the Ephraimites and how Gideon appeased them. Then in ch. 8:4 the author resumed the thread of the battle story. Gideon’s meeting with the Ephraimites would actually, then, have taken place after he returned from the total defeat of the Midianites, or at least after he crossed the Jordan.

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Cross References

two princes

rock

on the other side

The Period of the Judges

Gideon's Battles with the Amalekites

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Judges 7:25