Gaal
June 3, 2025
“Gaal”
Blessings folk!
We saw that Jotham pronounced a prophetic warning over the leaders of Shechem.
Shortly we will see that the Lord calls it a curse.
Why?
Because Jotham had told them this…
Judges 9:19-20
if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”
ESV
They had not acted in good faith and integrity.
They would devour each other - Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem/Beth-millo.
Jdg 9:23-30
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem,
and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come,
and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them,
and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops,
and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.
And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives,
and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.
And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival;
and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.
And Gaal the son of Ebed said,
“Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him?
Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer?
Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
Would that this people were under my hand!
Then I would remove Abimelech.
I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed,
his anger was kindled.
The Lord sent and evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem.
They both dealt treacherously with each other.
There was purpose to what the Lord was doing.
To avenge the blood of the 70 sons of Jerubaal.
You will note that the leaders of Shechem are included in this due to their strengthening the hand of Abimelech…they made him king.
So, the men of Shechem began some disruptive guerrilla warfare.
Abimelech hears of it.
Then, a new character.
A new person, Gaal appears.
An “out-of-towner”.
He quickly wins the confidence of the leaders of Shechem
They trust him.
After the harvest time a festival was thrown!
The men go into the house of their god.
Really now?
They imbibe…they get drunk.
They begin to revile…curse…Abimelech.
Gaal seizes the moment.
Was he the voice of the evil spirit?
I suspect so.
He questions Abimelech’s leadership.
He states that if the people were under his hand then he would challenge Abimelech.
Drunken foolishness?
No.
Serious.
But…Zebul…the “mayor” of the city overheard..his anger was kindled.
Wonder what he will do?
We will see…