Judges 9:26-41
Lexham English Bible
26 And Gaal son of Ebel and his relatives came, and they crossed over into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem gave him confidence.[a] 27 They went out into the field and harvested their vineyards and trod them, and they held a festival.[b] And they went into the temple[c] of their god, and they ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul his chief officer?[d] Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem. Why should we serve him?[e] 29 If only this people were in my command![f] Then I would remove Abimelech, and I would have said,[g] ‘Increase your army and come out!’”
30 When Zebul the commander of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he became angry,[h] 31 and he sent messengers to Abimelech in Tormah, saying, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. 32 So then, get up by night, you and the army that is with you, and lie in ambush in the field. 33 And in the morning at sunrise, get up and rush the city; and look, when he and the troops who are with him come out to you, you must act according to whatever opportunity offers itself.[i]
34 So Abimelech and all the army that was with him got up by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four divisions.[j] 35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the army that was with him got up from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the army, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the top of the mountains!” And Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains look like people to you.”[k] 37 And Gaal spoke again[l] and said, “Look, people are coming down from Tabbur-erez, and one division[m] is coming from the direction of Elon-meonenim.”[n] 38 And Zebul said to him, “Where then is your boast,[o] you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the army that you rejected? Please, go out now and fight against them.”[p] 39 So Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem and fought against Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; many fell slain up to the entrance of the gate. 41 So Abimelech resided at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives[q] from living in Shechem.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 9:26 Literally “put confidence into him”
- Judges 9:27 Literally “made a rejoicing”
- Judges 9:27 Or “house”
- Judges 9:28 Or “overseer”
- Judges 9:28 That is, Abimelech
- Judges 9:29 Literally “were in my hand”
- Judges 9:29 Hebrew “he said”; the translation “I would have said” follows the LXX
- Judges 9:30 Literally “his nose became hot”
- Judges 9:33 Literally “you must do to him just as it will find your hand”
- Judges 9:34 Or “companies”
- Judges 9:36 Literally “the shadows of the mountains you are seeing as men”
- Judges 9:37 Literally “And he did again again Gaal to speak”
- Judges 9:37 Or “company”
- Judges 9:37 Or “the Sorcerer’s Oak”
- Judges 9:38 Literally “is your mouth”
- Judges 9:38 Hebrew “against him”
- Judges 9:41 Or “brothers”
Judges 9:26-41
Christian Standard Bible
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem trusted him. 27 So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration.(A) Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn’t Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem.(B) Why should we serve Abimelech? 29 If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he said[a] to Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”
30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry. 31 So he secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are turning the city against you.[b] 32 Now tonight, you and the troops with you, come and wait in ambush in the countryside. 33 Then get up early, and at sunrise attack the city. When he and the troops who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can.” 34 So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.
35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the troops who were with him got up from their ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, “Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!” But Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37 Then Gaal spoke again, “Look, troops are coming down from the central part of the land,(C) and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.” 38 Zebul replied, “What do you have to say now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Aren’t these the troops you despised? Now go and fight them!”
39 So Gaal went out leading the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, 40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Numerous bodies were strewn(D) as far as the entrance of the city gate. 41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
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