Judg 9:28 | KingComments | STEP | A new player appears on stage. His name is Gaal, which means ‘disgust’, ‘aversion’. He is the son of Ebed which means ‘slavery’, ‘service’. He makes clever use of the power vacuum that has arisen and responds to the negative feelings that the citizens of Shechem have for Abimelech. It increases the gap between the two parties even further. The opportunity he uses is a harvest feast, when everyone is in the best mood and therefore easy to influence. In so doing, he appeals to their national feelings. Abimelech has appealed to their family connection with him, but Gaal goes back to the distant ancestry. He shows them the common roots. This appeals to the citizens of Shechem. In this way he sows the seed of dissatisfaction with their current king and notices how easily his words can bring about a turnaround among the people. His tactics seem to have succeeded. After these preparatory actions he seizes power and presents himself as the better leader. He ridicules Abimelech, and those who agree with Abimelech first turn against him now. It is that easy to change the popular favor. One carnal leader is exchanged for another. But Gaal only talks. We see that in the rest of history.

‏ Judges 9:28

Gaal

A new player appears on stage. His name is Gaal, which means ‘disgust’, ‘aversion’. He is the son of Ebed which means ‘slavery’, ‘service’. He makes clever use of the power vacuum that has arisen and responds to the negative feelings that the citizens of Shechem have for Abimelech. It increases the gap between the two parties even further.

The opportunity he uses is a harvest feast, when everyone is in the best mood and therefore easy to influence. In so doing, he appeals to their national feelings. Abimelech has appealed to their family connection with him, but Gaal goes back to the distant ancestry. He shows them the common roots. This appeals to the citizens of Shechem. In this way he sows the seed of dissatisfaction with their current king and notices how easily his words can bring about a turnaround among the people. His tactics seem to have succeeded.

After these preparatory actions he seizes power and presents himself as the better leader. He ridicules Abimelech, and those who agree with Abimelech first turn against him now. It is that easy to change the popular favor. One carnal leader is exchanged for another. But Gaal only talks. We see that in the rest of history.