Judges 9:22-41 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Sedition of the Shechemites. The statement that Abimelech was prince over Israel is an exaggeration, and the chronological note is probably by R.

Judges 9:23. The Shechemites soon tired of the government of their brother (Judges 9:3). God sent an evil spirit between the king and his subjects; cf. the evil spirit from the Lord that possessed Saul (1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 18:10), and misled the prophets of Ahab (1 Kings 22:19-23); and recall the classical saying, Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat.

Judges 9:26. The spirit of disaffection at Shechem gave a self-seeking demagogue his chance. Gaal is called the son of Ebed, i.e. of a slave. That was probably a popular nickname; his real name would be Gaal ben Obed (= Obadiah).

Judges 9:27-29. The sedition is described with great vividness. When the vintagers were heated with wine, Gaal made a speech in the heathen temple, contrasting the rule of the Israelite half-breed with the government of the honourable house of Hamor, the native and ancient aristocracy of the city.

Judges 9:27. The heathen festival, or religious festivities, consisted largely in merry-making.

Judges 9:28. Most critics now read, Were not this Abimelech and Zebul his lieutenant subjects of the family of Hamor? Why, then, should we serve him?

Judges 9:30. The LXX greatly improves the sense by reading, not and I said, but and I would say.

Judges 9:31. Read in Arumah (where Abimelech lived, Judges 9:41), instead of craftily; and, at the end of the verse, they are stirring up the city against thee.

Judges 9:37. Read with mg. the navel of the land and the augurs-' oak, places which would be familiar to every Shechemite.

Judges 9:38. Zebul, the absent king's governor in the city, takes the demagogue down by asking him Where is now thy mouth? At the approach of danger the man's boastings and vapourings cease.

Judges 9:40. Read fell slain.

Judges 9:41. The site of Arumah is uncertain; it may be el--' Orme, two hours SE. of Shechem.

Related Commentaries of Judges 9:22

Judges 9:22-41

22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aidedg him in the killing of his brethren.

25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry,h and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.i

31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily,j saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middlek of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.