Study it in the app“Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! And why should we serve him?”
Gaalגַּעַלsonבֶּןof Ebedעֶבֶדsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoמִיis Abimelech,אֲבִימֶלֶךְand whoוּמִיis Shechem,שְׁכֶםthatכִּיwe should serve him?נַעַבְדֶנּוּIs he notהֲלֹאthe sonבֶןof Jerubbaal,יְרֻבַּעַלand Zebulוּזְבֻלhis officer?פְּקִידוֹServeעִבְדוּthe menאֶת אַנְשֵׁיof Hamor,חֲמוֹרthe fatherאֲבִיof Shechem!שְׁכֶםAnd whyוּמַדּוּעַshould weאֲנָחְנוּserve him?נַעַבְדֶנּוּ
Gaal
Gaal, son of Ebed, who stirred up the people of Shechem against Abimelech. The name means "loathing."
Where else “gaal” appearsson
The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.
Where else “ben” appearsEbed
Ebed, the father of Gaal; another man of the same name returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:6). The name means "servant."
Where else “eved” appearssay
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appearsAbimelech
Abimelech, the name of Philistine kings of Gerar in the days of Abraham and of Isaac, and of other men, such as a son of Gideon. The name means "my father is king"; it may have been a title of the kings of that place.
Where else “avimelech” appearsShechem
See it on the mapWhere else “shechem” appearsserve
To serve a person.
Where else “naavde” appearsJerubbaal
Jerubbaal, the other name of Gideon. It means "let Baal contend": it was given to him when he tore down the altar of Baal (Judges 6:32).
Where else “yerubaal” appearsZebul
Zebul, the officer whom Abimelech had in Shechem and ruler of the city. The name means "dwelling."
Where else “zevul” appearsoverseer
Overseer, officer in charge.
Where else “pekid” appearsman
An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.
Where else “anshe” appearsHamor
Hamor, the Hivite ruler of the city of Shechem and father of Shechem.
Where else “chamor” appearsfather
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appearswhy?
Why? For what reason?
Where else “madua” appearsHamor was the ancient chief of the city, father of the Shechem of Genesis 34. It can be understood that Gaal is asking that those of the ancient family of Shechem should rule, and not the son of an Israelite.
Shechem
Today: Tell Balata ruins, near Nablus, West Bank
A city in the hills of central Israel, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Jerusalem.
Abram came there when he entered Canaan, and God promised him the land (Gen 12:6-7). Joshua gathered all Israel there to renew the covenant (Josh 24:1).
27They went out into the field and harvested their vineyards and trod the grapes, and they held a festival of praise; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.
28 · This verse (above)
29If only someone would put this people in my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”
