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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:22-49

Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his co 7611 untry, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been fond of a king that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:26

And Gaal the son or Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem ,.... Who this Gaal was, and who his brethren, and from whence he came, and the place he went over, are all uncertain. Jarchi thinks he was a Gentile, and it looks, by some speeches of his afterwards, as if he was a descendant of Hamor, prince of Shechem, in the times of Jacob, who, since the expulsion of the Canaanites, his family had retired to some distant parts; but hearing of a difference between Abimelech and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:27

Before they kept within the city, and durst not stir out to gather in the vintage, the time being come, for fear of the troops of Abimelech; for their lying in wait for him, and the robberies committed being made known to him, he had prepared to raise some forces, and attack them, of which they had had information; but now being encouraged with the protection of Gaal, they ventured out to gather their grapes in their vineyards without fear: and trode the grapes, and made merry : sung songs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:28

And Gaal the son of Ebed said ,.... As they were then making merry, drinking and carousing: who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him ? who is this Abimelech the Shechemite? or who is he more than Shechem, the old prince of this place, long ago dispossessed of it? the one is no better than the other, nor has a better title to rule and government than the other, that we should serve him; nay, of the two, the descendants of the old Shechem have the best title: is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:29

And would to God this people were under my hand ,.... Or government, that I were but the ruler of their city, and general of their forces: then would I remove Abimelech ; from his kingly office, and rid Shechem of him, and all the country round about, and indeed remove him out of the world: and he said to Abimelech ; as if he was present, in a hectoring and blustering manner; or he said what follows to his officer under him, that represented him; or he sent a messenger to him,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:26

Gaal the son of Ebed - Of this person we know no more than is here told. He was probably one of the descendants of the Canaanites, who hoped from the state of the public mind, and their disaffection to Abimelech, to cause a revolution, and thus to restore the ancient government as it was under Hamor, the father of Shechem. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:28

Zebul his officer - פקידו pekido , his overseer; probably governor of Shechem in his absence. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:29

Would to God this people were under my hand - The very words and conduct of a sly, hypocritical demagogue. Increase thine army , and come out - When he found his party strong, and the public feeling warped to his side, then he appears to have sent a challenge to Abimelech, to come out and fight him. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:26

It does not appear who Gaal, son of Ebed, was; he may have been an officer sent by Abimelech with a force to bring the men of Shechem back to their allegiance, but who tried to turn the rebellion to his own account. He got into Shechem with a band of men, “his brethren,” unopposed by Zebul, Abimelech’s officer, and soon gained the confidence of the Shechemites, read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:27-29

Seditious and lawless acts Judges 9:25-26 now broke out into open rebellion. It was at an idolatrous feast in the house of Baal-berith, on occasion of the vintage, and when they were excited with wine, that the rebellion was matured. Those present began to “curse Abimelech,” to speak insultingly of him, and to revile him (compare Leviticus 20:9; 2 Samuel 19:21; Isaiah 8:21). Gaal, the son of Ebed, who was watching the opportunity, immediately incited them to revolt from the dominion of... read more

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