Zebah

Zebah is a Hebrew proper name found in the Hebrew Bible, most notably as one of the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, who ruled during the period of Israelite oppression under Midian. The two kings appear in the narrative of the Book of Judges, in the story of Gideon’s victory over Midian.

In the Judges account, Gideon defeats the Midianite forces, pursues them, and Zebah and Zalmunna are slain, bringing an end to Midianite domination over Israel for a time. The episode is part of the larger theme of deliverance through a divinely aided victory led by an unlikely military leader.

The name Zebah is of biblical Hebrew origin and is treated as a personal name in the text. The exact meaning of the name is uncertain, which is common for many ancient Hebrew names, but it is generally presented as the name of one of the Midianite rulers rather than as a common noun.

In modern discourse, Zebah is primarily encountered in biblical studies and religious reflection as part of the Gideon narrative. There is limited extrabiblical evidence for Zebah beyond the biblical text, and the figure is not corroborated by contemporary historical sources outside the scriptural record.