Who is Abimelech and Shechem? - Judges 9:28

In the book of Judges we learned about Abimelech that, “the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-eight of Judges, we learn how “Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem?” where we read,

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

The verse reads, “And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal?” The writer began with the words, “and Gaal” whose name means “loathing” and was “the son of Eved or Ebed who aided the Shechemites in their rebellion against Abimelech” “the son of Ebed” which means “the male offspring of Ebed whose name means ‘servant’” “said” or “uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “who is Abimelech” which means “what person exist Abimelech whose name means “Melek is father or my father is king’ and was the male offspring of Gideon by a concubine”, “and who is Shechem” or “and what person exists Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder’ and was a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Samaria”, “that we should serve him” which means “so that we, the men of Shechem, out to him, Abimelech”? “Is not he the son of Jerubbaal” or “doesn’t he, Abimelech, exist as the male offspring belonging to Jerubbaal whose name means ‘let Baal contend’ and was the name given to Gideon by his father when he destroyed the altar of Baal”? The writer shared how “Gaal” led the revolt of the “men of Shechem” in opposition to “Abimelech” by questioning what person “Abimelech” and the “men of Shechem” were that they ought to be slaves and bondmen to him.

The verse continues, “and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?” The writer added the words “and Zebul his officer” which means “and Zebul whose name means ‘exalted’ and was the chief man of the city of Shechem at the time of the contest between Abimelech and the native Canaanites”? “Serve the men of Hamor” or “work and labor for the male human beings belonging to Hamor whose name means ‘He-ass’ and was the Hivite prince of the city of Shechem when Jacob entered Palestine”, “the father of Shechem” which means “the immediate male progenitor and ancestor belonging to Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder’”: “for why should we serve him” or “because, since and on what account ought we, Gaal and the men of Shechem, to labor and work for him, Zebul”? The writer shared how “Gaal” questioned the reasons he and the men of “Shechem” ought to labor and work for “Zebul” who was “Abimelech’s” chief man. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover more drama to this story concerning the “men of Shechem” and “Abimelech”. Although they thought this relationship would be beneficial to both of them, now “Gaal” and “Abimelech’s” chief man were involved. What a tangled web of subterfuge and deceit this was, and yet, Jehovah God was overseeing all of it. (We should be reminded that He sent the “evil spirit” to be among them. See Judges 9:23) This is the way it usually turns out when people forsake Jehovah God and His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and empower us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and puts full confidence in Him regardless of the circumstances that surround us. (See Proverbs 3:5-6)

Next time we learn how Gaal says, “would to God this people were under my hand", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".