Zebul

26A man named Gaal, son of Ebed, came to Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem decided to trust him.

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.

27They went out to their vineyards and picked the grapes. They crushed them and held a party. In the temple of their god they ate and drank and said bad things about Abimelech.

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

NoteAfter picking grapes, people stomped them with bare feet to squeeze out the juice. Harvest time meant a big party.

28Gaal said, "Who is Abimelech? Why should Shechem serve him? He is only Jerubbaal's son, and Zebul is his helper. Serve the family of Hamor, who first built Shechem. Why serve Abimelech?

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?

NoteHamor's family were the oldest family in Shechem. Gaal is saying they should follow the old family, not Abimelech.

29"I wish these people were under me. Then I would get rid of Abimelech." He said about him, "Get your army ready and come out and fight!"

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.

30Zebul was the ruler of the city. When he heard what Gaal said, he became very angry.

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

NoteZebul ran the city for Abimelech while Abimelech lived somewhere else.

31He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech. They said, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are stirring up the city against you.

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

32"So come tonight with your men. Hide in the fields and wait.

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

33"Then get up early, as soon as the sun rises, and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out, do whatever you can to them."

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.

34So Abimelech and all his men set out at night. They hid near Shechem in four groups.

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

35Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the city gate. Just then Abimelech and his men came out from hiding.

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.

36Gaal saw them and said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountains!" Zebul said, "Those are only shadows. They just look like men."

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.

37Gaal spoke again. "Look, people are coming down through the middle of the land. Another group is coming past the Diviners' Oak."

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

NoteThe Diviners' Oak was a big tree. People used to go there to try to find out what would happen next. Everyone knew it as a landmark.

38Zebul said, "Where is your big talk now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' These are the men you laughed at. Go out and fight them!"

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.

39So Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem. He fought against Abimelech.

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

40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away. Many men of Shechem were hurt and fell, all the way back to the city gate.

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

41Abimelech stayed in a town called Arumah. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

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