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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 9:22 - 9:45
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The Defeat of Gaal
v. 22. When Abimelech had reigned, held sway, three years over Israel, over as many of the people as acknowledged his rule,
v. 23. then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, sowing the seeds of discord and treason between them; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, they rebelled against him;
v. 24. that the cruelty, the violence, 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 aided him in the killing of his brethren. The vengeance of God was to strike both the tyrant and those who had strengthened him in his wicked plans, as both were equally guilty.
v. 25. And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him in the top of the mountains, men in ambush for the purpose of bringing discredit upon Abimelech, who evidently did not live in Shechem, and they robbed all that came along that way by them, thus making it appear either that he was not able to keep the criminals at bay, or that they were operating with his consent, that he himself was a robber and a highwayman; and it was told Abimelech, his eyes thus being opened to the real state of affairs.
v. 26. And Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brethren, apparently the leader of a roving band, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him, believing him to be the very man for their purpose, namely, to lead the rebellion against Abimelech.
v. 27. And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, arranged a great banquet or sacrificial meal, and went into the house of their god, Baal-berith,and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
v. 28. And Gaal, the son of Ebed, apparently a true adventurer, said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerubbaal, the enemy and destroyer of their god? and Zebul his officer? The ruler or prefect of the city was Abimelech's representative, according to Gaal's idea, the tyrant's tool. Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the original heathen owners of the city; for why should we serve him?
v. 29. And would to God this people were under my hand! Then would I remove Abimelech. His drunken boast was that if he but had as much authority as Zebul, he would soon disclaim allegiance to the tyrant and put him out of the way. And he said to Abimelech, a boastful challenge, as though the latter had been present in person, Increase thine army and come out, namely, to make war upon rebellious Shechem.
v. 30. And when Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, when they were brought to his attention, his anger was kindled.
v. 31. And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, or, to Tormah, saying, Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
v. 32. Now, therefore, up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, for Abimelech evidently was in the midst of his army, on some expedition, and lie in wait in the field, remain in ambush till the morning;
v. 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, move upon it to give battle; 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.
v. 34. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, following the plan outlined by Zebul, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
v. 35. And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city, for he considered himself the ruler of the town; and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait, making ready for the attack on the city.
v. 36. And when Gaal saw the people, the approaching forces, he said to Zebul, whose position as prefect made his presence in the gate necessary, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains, the higher hills in the distance. And Zebul, in order to deceive him and to prevent his gathering a full force for the defense of the city, said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
v. 37. And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, over the hills in the middle distance. and another company come along by the Plain of Meonenim, the Magicians' Grove, a dark woods against the near horizon. There could no longer be any doubt that an attacking force was moving upon the city.
v. 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. Here was a chance to make good his boasting, if he were really such a great hero.
v. 39. And Gaal, goaded on by this biting remark of Zebul, went out before the men of Shechem, in the presence of the heathen nobility of the city, and fought with Abimelech,
v. 40. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, escaping both death and capture, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
v. 41. And Abimelech, instead of following up his advantage that day, dwelt at Arumah, went into camp at this small town nearby; and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem, he once more became a rover.
v. 42. And it came to pass on the morrow that the people went out into the field, pursuing their work in the fields and vineyards with the idea that Abimelech was satisfied with the banishment of Gaal; and they, scouts or sentinels, told Abimelech.
v. 43. And he took the people, his army,and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them, in the manner which is now explained.
v. 44. And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, in a sudden charge, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city, thus cutting off the retreat of the men in the fields; and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them,
v. 45. And Abimelech, having held the gate until his forces had finished their gruesome work outside, fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, leveling it to the ground, and sowed it with salt, to signify that the city was to remain a desert of salt forever (but it was afterward rebuilt. 1Ki_12:25).