judges-9:26-40-asv

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:27

‘ And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held a festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.’ Gaal stayed until the time for gathering the grape harvest came, and when the harvest was gathered they all held a festival, as would occur yearly at that time, and began to enjoy the fruits of the vine. In process of it they went into the house of their god, Baal-berith, eating heartily and getting drunk, and... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:28

‘ And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? And is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. But why should we serve him?” ’ Gaal challenged them about their loyalty to Abimelech. He cleverly used the same argument that Abimelech had used against his brothers. He accused him of not being related to the true ancient occupants of Shechem. Note that he now included himself as one of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:29

Judges 9:29 a “And would to God this people were under my hand. Then would I remove Abimelech.” Now Gaal made his appeal to the chief men of Shechem, whether as a Habiru leader or as a descendant of Hamor. If only he was appointed chief he would soon get rid of Abimelech. Judges 9:29 b ‘And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out.” ’ We may see this as said to an absent adversary, spoken by a drunken leader from a distance into the air in the midst of the feast with a wave of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:30

‘ And when Zebul, the prince of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.’ Zebul, Abimelech’s deputy, learned of what Gaal had said and grew angry. If he was in the city representing Abimelech we would expect him to be. What it means is that he heard what was being said, possibly through a spy, and reacted accordingly. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:31

‘ And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Gaal the son of Ebal, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and behold they are constraining the city against you.” ’ Gaal and his brothers were probably well known as troublemakers, possibly as Habiru, always seeking to stir up trouble and obtain rich pickings for themselves. So Zebul let Abimelech know that they were there and what they were doing. The word translated ‘constrain’ usually means ‘besiege’ but here it is used... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:32

“ Now therefore up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.” Abimelech was to come that night after sunset, bringing the men who were with him, and they were to lie hidden in the open country and in the hills outside the city. No one would be expecting them, and the men in the city would be recovering from their hangovers. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:33

“ And it shall be, that, in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you will rise early, and set upon the city, and, behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then you may do to them as your hand will find.” Then when morning came they were to attack the city, and when Gaal and his supporters came out to meet them they could do to them whatever was necessary. He had outlined the primary strategy. At that point it would be up to Abimelech. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:34

‘ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.’ As Zebul had advised, Abimelech came up at night with four companies of men and took up their hidden positions outside the city. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:35

‘ 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 who were with him from the ambush.’ When the gates of the city were opened next morning Gaal went out to survey the position, not expecting that his enemy was already near. He had his men at the ready within the city (Judges 9:39). But the opening of the gates was the signal for the attack, so Abimelech and his men rose from their ambush to approach the city quickly... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:36

‘ And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the mountain heights.” And Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains, as if they were men.” ’ ’ Gaal was accompanied by Zebul, probably not suspecting that he knew of the proposed insurrection, (he had not been at the feast), and as he looked towards the mountains he thought he spotted a company of men coming down towards the city. So he pointed them out to Zebul to ask him what he... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:27

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:28

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:29

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:30

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:31

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:32

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:33

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:34

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:35

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:36

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