Judges 9 36

Judges 9:36 kjv

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

Judges 9:36 nkjv

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" But Zebul said to him, "You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."

Judges 9:36 niv

When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men."

Judges 9:36 esv

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!" And Zebul said to him, "You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men."

Judges 9:36 nlt

When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!" Zebul replied, "It's just the shadows on the hills that look like men."

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 36 Meaning

Judges 9:36 describes Gaal's accurate visual observation of an approaching military force descending from the surrounding mountains towards Shechem. This report, directed to Zebul, Abimelech's officer, highlights the imminent threat to the city. It sets the immediate scene for the impending conflict between Abimelech's forces and Gaal's party, unfolding within the dramatic context of Abimelech's self-appointed rule and Shechem's rebellion.

Judges 9 36 Context

Judges chapter 9 marks a dark period in Israel's history following the judgeship of Gideon (Jerubbaal). After Gideon's death, his ambitious and ruthless son, Abimelech, conspired with the people of Shechem and Beth-millo to make himself king, assassinating seventy of his brothers, sons of Gideon, on one stone in Ophrah. Only Jotham, the youngest, escaped. Jotham then delivered a powerful fable of the trees (Jdg 9:7-15), prophesying that fire would come out from Abimelech to consume the men of Shechem and vice versa, foretelling their mutual destruction. For three years, Abimelech reigned over Israel. Then God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, leading to their betrayal of him. It is at this point that Gaal son of Ebed arrives in Shechem, gaining the confidence of the men and openly defying Abimelech. Zebul, Abimelech's governor in Shechem, heard of Gaal's defiance and cunningly set a trap. Zebul sent word to Abimelech to come with his army to attack Shechem at dawn. Judges 9:36 captures the immediate aftermath of this planning, as Gaal observes the arriving enemy forces, initially perhaps disbelieving their military threat. This verse underscores Gaal's perception in contrast to Zebul's manipulative dismissal, leading directly to Gaal's overconfidence and subsequent defeat.

Judges 9 36 Word analysis

• And Gaal said: Gaal (גַּעַל - Gaʿal) likely meaning "loathing" or "abhorrence." His name might prophetically signify his eventual ignominious end. He is the protagonist of the rebellion against Abimelech, and his voice here signifies immediate, crucial observation.
• Look: (הִנֵּה - hinneh) An imperative, serving as an interjection to draw immediate and emphatic attention to something. It stresses the urgency and the visual reality of what Gaal sees, directly contrasting with Zebul's later dismissal.
• the people: (הָעָם - haʿam) Refers to Abimelech's army, a substantial and organized military force, not just a few individuals. This is a common Hebrew term for "people" or "nation," here specifically used for a body of armed men. Its presence clearly signals an advancing military.
• are coming down: (יוֹרְדִים - yorəḏîm) Present participle, emphasizing ongoing and continuous descent. The verb indicates movement from a higher to a lower position. Military advantage is often gained from attacking downhill.
• from the tops: (מֵרָאשֵׁי - merāʾshê) Literally "from the heads of." Raʾsh (ראש) often means "head" but in geographical context, refers to the summit or highest point of a mountain. This detail specifies their vantage point and direction of movement.
• of the mountains: (הֶהָרִים - hehārîm) Plural form, indicating the surrounding mountainous terrain. Shechem is situated in a valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, making observations of forces descending from these or other nearby peaks crucial for defense. The mention of multiple mountains suggests the breadth of the approaching force.

Word-group by word-group analysis:

• "And Gaal said, 'Look,': Establishes Gaal's role as the initial, somewhat urgent observer. The "look" emphasizes his belief in the immediacy and visibility of what he is reporting. It sets up the impending revelation of Abimelech's military.
• "the people are coming down from the tops of the mountains": This entire phrase conveys the critical military intelligence. It precisely identifies what is seen (people/army), how they are moving (descending), and from where (mountain tops). This clear and detailed observation lays bare the strategic movement of Abimelech's forces, directly challenging Zebul's dismissive responses in the subsequent verses. It's a vivid snapshot of the battle lines forming.

Judges 9 36 Bonus section

Some textual traditions and ancient versions, such as the Septuagint in some manuscripts, have "shadows of the mountains" for Gaal's initial observation in Judges 9:36, implying he might have at first misidentified the advancing army or at least presented it as less significant. However, the Masoretic Text (from which most modern English translations derive) consistently reads "the people" in both verses 36 and 37, presenting Gaal as having accurately seen the military force from the beginning. This choice in the Masoretic Text heightens the drama of Zebul's intentional deception, where he scoffs at Gaal's true observation. The passage thereby highlights the theme of misjudgment and overconfidence on Gaal's part, amplified by Zebul's cunning, leading directly to Gaal's disastrous military encounter.

Judges 9 36 Commentary

Judges 9:36 is a pivotal verse because it marks the immediate onset of the conflict between Abimelech and Shechem. Gaal's seemingly straightforward observation of an approaching army becomes deeply ironic in the light of Zebul's manipulative dismissal in the very next verse. While Gaal correctly identifies the military threat ("the people"), Zebul initially tries to deceive him, suggesting he only sees shadows, thereby questioning Gaal's judgment and building up Gaal's overconfidence. The description of the forces "coming down from the tops of the mountains" is crucial; it signifies an offensive posture, leveraging the high ground to descend upon the city, and aligns with the typical military strategy of the time. This verse serves to heighten the dramatic tension, moving the narrative from political machination to direct confrontation, a confrontation which is part of Jotham's prophetic judgment against both Abimelech and Shechem for their wickedness.