Judges 9:22-41

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); 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. 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.