Judges 9:23

9:23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostility ¹  between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal ²  to Abimelech.

Judges 9:39

9:39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out ³  and fought Abimelech.

Judges 9:47

9:47 Abimelech heard ⁴  that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. ⁵ 

Judges 9:26

9:26 Gaal son of Ebed ⁶  came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. ⁷ 

Judges 9:46

9:46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem ⁸  heard the news, they went to the stronghold ⁹  of the temple of El-Berith. ¹⁰ 

[9:23]  ¹ tn Heb “an evil spirit.” A nonphysical, spirit being is in view, like the one who volunteered to deceive Ahab (1 Kgs 22:21). The traditional translation, “evil spirit,” implies the being is inherently wicked, perhaps even demonic, but this is not necessarily the case. The Hebrew adjective רָעַה (ra’ah) can have a nonethical sense, “harmful; dangerous; calamitous.” When modifying רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) it may simply indicate that the being in view causes harm to the object of God’s judgment. G. F. Moore (Judges [ICC], 253) here refers to a “mischief-making spirit.”

[9:23]  ² tn Heb “The leaders of Shechem were disloyal.” The words “he made” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:39]  ³ tn Heb “So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem.”

[9:47]  ⁵ tn Heb “and it was told to Abimelech.”

[9:47]  ⁶ tn Heb “were assembled.”

[9:26]  ⁷ sn The name Gaal derives from, or at least sounds like, a Hebrew verb meaning “to abhor, loathe.” His father’s name, Ebed, means “servant.” Perhaps then this could be translated, “loathsome one, son of a servant.” This individual’s very name (which may be the narrator’s nickname for him, not his actual name) seems to hint at his immoral character and lowly social status.

[9:26]  ⁸ tn Heb “trusted in him.” Here the verb probably describes more than a mental attitude. It is likely that the Shechemites made an alliance with Gaal and were now trusting him for protection in return for their loyalty (and probably tribute).

[9:46]  ⁹ sn Perhaps the Tower of Shechem was a nearby town, distinct from Shechem proper, or a tower within the city.

[9:46]  ¹⁰ tn Apparently this rare word refers here to the most inaccessible area of the temple, perhaps the inner sanctuary or an underground chamber. It appears only here and in 1 Sam 13:6, where it is paired with “cisterns” and refers to subterranean or cave-like hiding places.

[9:46]  ¹¹ sn The name El-Berith means “God of the Covenant.” It is probably a reference to the Canaanite high god El.