Judges 9 26

Judges 9:26 kjv

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.

Judges 9:26 nkjv

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

Judges 9:26 niv

Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.

Judges 9:26 esv

And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.

Judges 9:26 nlt

One day Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the leading citizens of Shechem.

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 26 Meaning

This verse marks a critical turning point in the Shechem narrative, introducing Gaal, son of Ebed, who arrives in Shechem with his loyal followers. The disgruntled citizens of Shechem, disillusioned with the oppressive rule of Abimelech, willingly abandon their allegiance to him and instead place their trust and hope in Gaal, setting the stage for a new rebellion and the conflict described later in the chapter.

Judges 9 26 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the tumultuous reign of Abimelech, the ambitious son of Gideon and his Shechemite concubine. After Gideon's death, Abimelech ruthlessly slaughters seventy of his half-brothers, seizing power in Shechem, Israel's ancient tribal and religious center. Only Jotham, the youngest of Gideon's sons, escapes and delivers a scathing parable (Judg 9:7-15) condemning Abimelech and prophesying divine judgment on both him and the men of Shechem for their actions. The historical context reflects a period of significant social and political fragmentation in Israel, where tribal loyalties were paramount, and the lack of a centralized divine king led to frequent instability and "everyone doing what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 21:25). Shechem itself had a significant history as a covenant site (Josh 24), making its involvement in such treachery particularly poignant. After three years of Abimelech's rule, God intervenes by sending "an evil spirit" (Judg 9:23) between Abimelech and the Shechemites, causing disunity and open rebellion, which is the immediate backdrop for Gaal's arrival. This verse captures the moment when Shechem shifts its loyalty from one flawed human leader to another.

Judges 9 26 Word analysis

• And Gaal:

  • Gaal (גַּעַל, Gaʿal): Likely means "loathing" or "disgust." His name ironically prefigures the conflict and revulsion he would provoke. He is presented as an agitator, appealing to popular discontent.
  • This is Gaal's first appearance; he enters as an outsider, implying no established lineage in Shechem that would grant him authority beyond personal charisma.

• the son of Ebed:

  • Ebed (עֶבֶד, ‘Ebed): Means "servant," "slave," or "worshipper." This could indicate Gaal's humble or even foreign background, contrasting with noble Israelite lineages. Some scholars suggest "Ebed" might even be an epithet (like "son of a slave" or "son of a worshipper" of a foreign deity), underscoring his potentially non-Israelite or common origins, which would make the Shechemites' trust in him more perplexing, or perhaps more appealing as he was not associated with Gideon's house.

• came with his brethren:

  • "Brethren" (אֶחָיו, ’eḥāw): Can mean biological brothers, kinsmen, or loyal associates/followers. This implies a significant personal contingent, a strong support group for his move, not just a lone wanderer. It suggests a pre-existing power base or a loyal faction ready to challenge authority.

• and went over to Shechem:

  • "Went over" (וַיַּעֲבֹר, vayya‘avor): From the root עָבַר (‘avar), meaning to cross over, pass through. It denotes a deliberate, perhaps assertive, movement into a new territory or domain. Shechem (שְׁכֶם, Shechem) was strategically and historically vital, situated in central Canaan, and often a focal point of Israelite life and conflict.

• and the men of Shechem:

  • "Men of Shechem" (בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם, ba‘alê Shəḵem): Literally, "masters of Shechem" or "citizens of Shechem." This refers to the prominent landowners, leaders, or established inhabitants of the city, not just transient individuals. It emphasizes their collective decision and culpability in their subsequent actions.

• put their confidence in him:

  • "Put their confidence" (וַיִּבְטְחוּ בוֹ, vayyivṭĕḥû vō): From the Hebrew root בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ), meaning "to trust," "to rely upon," "to be secure." This is the theological crux of the verse. It describes an active transfer of trust and reliance. Their trust was misplaced; instead of turning to the Lord for deliverance from Abimelech's tyranny, they sought a human deliverer whose background offered no divine warrant. This reflects the recurring cycle of apostasy and humanistic solutions prevalent throughout the period of the Judges.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And Gaal...came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem": This phrase details a coordinated, strategic maneuver. Gaal isn't just arriving alone; he has strength in numbers and a clear destination, implying an intentional move to exploit Shechem's unrest. It highlights a political opportunist's arrival amidst civil strife.
  • "and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him": This is the decisive action. It shows the Shechemites' desperation and poor judgment. They were seeking a new strongman, echoing their previous mistake with Abimelech (who also appealed to their local loyalties), rather than seeking God's intervention or a divinely appointed leader. Their "confidence" implies more than just acceptance; it denotes reliance and allegiance, signifying their readiness to rebel.

Judges 9 26 Bonus section

The Shechem narrative in Judges 9 is rich in socio-political commentary applicable to any period. The arrival of Gaal and Shechem's swift trust in him reflects the inherent instability of alliances built on fleeting political expediency rather than deep-rooted principles or divine will. Shechem itself holds significant religious symbolism; it was where Abraham first built an altar (Gen 12:6-7), where Jacob buried foreign gods (Gen 35:4), and where Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel (Josh 24:1, 25). For such a sacred site to become a hotbed of political intrigue, human ambition, and misplaced trust underscores the spiritual decay prevalent during the period of the Judges. The swift transfer of loyalty from Abimelech to Gaal also emphasizes the opportunistic nature of leadership and popular support when divine governance is absent. Gaal serves as a catalyst, an opportunist through whom God’s judgment is executed, demonstrating that even ungodly agents can unwittingly serve God's purpose in fulfilling prophecies of divine retribution.

Judges 9 26 Commentary

Judges 9:26 is a pivotal moment showcasing the ongoing cycle of human folly and God's sovereign hand in judgment. The verse introduces Gaal, a seemingly unremarkable figure whose lineage ("son of Ebed") hints at his potentially common or non-Israelite origins, yet he skillfully capitalizes on Shechem's profound disaffection with Abimelech. The crucial element is the Shechemites' act of "putting their confidence" in him. This Hebrew term bataḥ signifies deep reliance and security, a trust that the Old Testament frequently reserves for God alone (Ps 118:8-9, Jer 17:7). Their choice illustrates a profound theological failure: rather than repenting for their part in establishing Abimelech (who slaughtered Gideon's legitimate sons) or crying out to Yahweh for deliverance from their own bad choices, they merely switched allegiances to another human agent, repeating the pattern of seeking human solutions over divine ones. This act seals their fate, as their reliance on Gaal directly precipitates the conflict that results in Shechem's destruction, fulfilling Jotham's prophetic curse. It is a powerful example of how human-centered political maneuvering, divorced from divine guidance, inevitably leads to further chaos and judgment. The narrative implicitly critiques leadership established by human will rather than divine anointing and highlights the tragic consequences of misplaced trust.