Judges 9:39

Translations

Modern

So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

Traditional

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

Literal

And Gaal went out before the faces of the masters of Shechem, and he fought with Abimelech.

Latin

Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech,

Original

Hebrew

English

So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

Notes

Judges 9:30–41

The second plot, like the first (Judges 9:22–25), was stopped by an informer, likely an official appointed by the absent Abimelech. Zebul suggested a bold morning ambush, planning to lure Gaal and his followers into the open country for a confrontation. The plan succeeded. Due to his boasting and possibly Zebul’s mocking challenge, Gaal and his men ventured out, only to be driven from town by the loyal Zebul, who acted to cleanse the city.

Judges 9:26–41

Gaal, son of Ebed (meaning "vile son of a slave"), led a failed rebellion against Abimelech. Many citizens of Shechem died in this event. This partially fulfilled Jotham's curse (Judges 9:20).

Judges 9:22–57

Theological statements in Judges 9:23–24 and 9:56–57 frame the story of the civil conflict that caused the destruction of Abimelech and Shechem. This event fulfilled the curse that Jotham declared (Judges 9:19–20).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Shechem