Judges 9:22-41

Judges 9:22-Mark : . 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-Isaiah :); 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-Joel : . 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.