Judges 9:28 - Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
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What does "Judges 9:28" mean?
Judges 9:28 is a statement of rebellion against Abimelech, spoken by Gaal the son of Ebed. Let's break it down:
"Gaal the son of Ebed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him?'" This is the core of Gaal's argument. He's questioning Abimelech's legitimacy and authority to rule over the people of Shechem. He implies that Abimelech is an upstart and unworthy of their allegiance. He also diminishes the importance of Shechem, asking why they should even be relevant to the people he's addressing.
"Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn't Zebul his officer?" Here, Gaal reminds the people of Abimelech's origins and highlights his reliance on Zebul. "Jerubbaal" is another name for Gideon, a judge who had saved Israel. Gaal subtly reminds the people that Abimelech is merely Gideon's son, implying he hasn't earned the right to rule. He also points out Zebul, Abimelech's officer, likely implying that Zebul is more of a puppet master than a leader in his own right.
"Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?" This is the crucial call to action. Hamor was the original Hivite prince of Shechem (Genesis 34). Gaal is appealing to a sense of local identity and tradition. He suggests they should serve the original leaders of Shechem (represented by Hamor, a figure from the past). By contrasting that with serving Abimelech, he reinforces the idea that Abimelech is an outsider and an illegitimate ruler. In effect, he is calling for a return to their pre-Abimelech status and a rejection of his rule.
In essence, Gaal's words are a rallying cry against Abimelech, built on these arguments:
Questioning legitimacy: Abimelech hasn't earned the right to rule.
Appealing to local pride: He urges a return to the "good old days" before Abimelech's rule, aligning himself with the historical identity of Shechem.
Demonizing the ruler: He subtly paints Abimelech as an outsider and illegitimate heir, contrasted with the rightful line of Hamor.
Gaal's speech is a classic example of a demagogue trying to incite rebellion by appealing to grievances and playing on local sentiments. It reflects the political instability and power struggles of the time, as well as the enduring tension between local identity and external rule.
Judges 9:28 - Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
What does "Judges 9:28" mean?
Judges 9:28 is a statement of rebellion against Abimelech, spoken by Gaal the son of Ebed. Let's break it down:
"Gaal the son of Ebed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him?'" This is the core of Gaal's argument. He's questioning Abimelech's legitimacy and authority to rule over the people of Shechem. He implies that Abimelech is an upstart and unworthy of their allegiance. He also diminishes the importance of Shechem, asking why they should even be relevant to the people he's addressing.
"Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn't Zebul his officer?" Here, Gaal reminds the people of Abimelech's origins and highlights his reliance on Zebul. "Jerubbaal" is another name for Gideon, a judge who had saved Israel. Gaal subtly reminds the people that Abimelech is merely Gideon's son, implying he hasn't earned the right to rule. He also points out Zebul, Abimelech's officer, likely implying that Zebul is more of a puppet master than a leader in his own right.
"Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?" This is the crucial call to action. Hamor was the original Hivite prince of Shechem (Genesis 34). Gaal is appealing to a sense of local identity and tradition. He suggests they should serve the original leaders of Shechem (represented by Hamor, a figure from the past). By contrasting that with serving Abimelech, he reinforces the idea that Abimelech is an outsider and an illegitimate ruler. In effect, he is calling for a return to their pre-Abimelech status and a rejection of his rule.
In essence, Gaal's words are a rallying cry against Abimelech, built on these arguments:
Questioning legitimacy: Abimelech hasn't earned the right to rule.
Appealing to local pride: He urges a return to the "good old days" before Abimelech's rule, aligning himself with the historical identity of Shechem.
Demonizing the ruler: He subtly paints Abimelech as an outsider and illegitimate heir, contrasted with the rightful line of Hamor.
Gaal's speech is a classic example of a demagogue trying to incite rebellion by appealing to grievances and playing on local sentiments. It reflects the political instability and power struggles of the time, as well as the enduring tension between local identity and external rule.