Gaal in the Bible
Meaning: contempt; abomination
Exact Match
Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.
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? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?
When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.
He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.
Then in the morning, at sunrise, you will get up early and rush upon and attack the city; and when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them
When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.
Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills -- it just looks like men."
Gaal again said, "Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners."
Then Zebul said to Gaal, “Where is your [boasting] mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!”
So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech.
Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate.
Thematic Bible
Gaal » Conspires against and is defeated by abimelech
If I were leading this people I would get rid of Abimelech! I would tell him to: call out your army, come on out and fight! The ruler of the city, Zebul, became angry when he heard what Gaal said. He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah. They said: Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are not going to let you enter into the city. You and your men should move by night and hide in the fields. Get up early in the morning at sunrise and attack the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you do what you can against them. Abimelech and all his troops, in four companies, took up concealed positions at night against Shechem. Abimelech and his men saw Gaal come out and stand at the city gate. So they got up from their hiding places. Gaal saw them and said to Zebul: There are men coming down from the mountaintops! Zebul answered: They are not men. They are only shadows on the mountains. Gaal responded: Do you see? There are men coming down from the top of the mountain. Some are coming along the road from the big tree of Meonenim (big tree of magic)! Zebul said to him: Where is all your big talk now? You asked why we should serve this man Abimelech. These are the men you made fun of. You go fight them! Gaal led the men of Shechem out to fight Abimelech. Abimelech chased Gaal, and Gaal ran away. Many were wounded at the city gate. Abimelech lived in Arumah. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. They could no longer live there.