ZEB (Hebr. zē'ēbh = “wolf”). – Leader of the Midianites, against whom the “judge” Gedeone fought (v).
After throwing the enemy camp into confusion by a stratagem, he pursued the fugitives toward the fords of the Jordan. The Ephraimites intervened, taking up positions along the river, and captured Z. together with the other Midianite leader, Oreb. The two defeated men were killed near the Jordan, and their heads were presented as trophies to Gedeone.
By anticipation, the text calls the place where Z. was killed “Z.’s winepress,” alluding to the configuration of the terrain, which must have consisted of a small level area hollowed out in a rock (cf. Iudc. 7:25). The victory over Z. remained famous in the memory of the people (Ps. 82:12). Angelo Penna