Judges 9:26-28

9:26 Gaal son of Ebed ¹  came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. ²  9:27 They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, ³  squeezed out the juice, ⁴  and celebrated. They came to the temple ⁵  of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. 9:28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? ⁶  Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech? ⁷ 

[9:26]  ¹ 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]  ² 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).

[9:27]  ³ tn Heb “vineyards.”

[9:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “stomped” or “trampled.” This refers to the way in which the juice was squeezed out in the wine vats by stepping on the grapes with one’s bare feet. For a discussion of grape harvesting in ancient Israel, see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 110-14.

[9:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “house.”

[9:28]  ⁶ tn Heb “and Zebul his appointee.”

[9:28]  ⁷ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abimelech) has been specified in the translation for clarity.