Judges 9:36-42

Judges 9:36

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.

Gaal then saw the men of Abimelech approaching from all four directions and knew that he fell into a trap.  There were so many men approaching Shechem that they actually looked like a dark shadow.  The mountains of Ebal and Gerizim were in close proximity to Shechem so they would have been readily visible.  Zebul was either faking his allegiance to Gaal or he was trying to scare him into leaving the city.

Judges 9:37

And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

Gaal started to realize that his days are numbered because the armies of Abimelech were now descending on the city in large numbers from several directions.  This is the only place the plain of Meonenim is mentioned in Scripture and not much is known about it.  Some say that it was a place of enchantments where many soothsayers lived but that is not certain.

Judges 9:38

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

Zebul now taunts Gaal concerning the boast that he made concerning Abimelech and his Governor that who should serve them?  Zebul further taunts him by telling him that there is the people that you so despised and since you think you are much fiercer in battle than they, go and fight with them now.  A great spiritual principle emerges here. 1 Kings 20:11 (KJV)   And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.  Never brag about something in the future because you do not know how things will work out as Gaal is finding out right now.  He thought the people would be easy prey for him but now he is learning the hard way that what you see is not always the whole story.

Judges 9:39

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

The battle then commenced as Gaal went out to meet Abimelech head on to try and defeat him.  This battle was outside the city gate where Abimelech’s men were waiting for Gaal and his troops.  This was one company of men so Gaal had to literally deal with the four companies which meant he had troops on the side of him and behind him.  It seemed he was boxed in and had no place to go.

Judges 9:40

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

Abimelech’s troops engaged so heavily in the battle that they had killed and wounded many of Gaal’s men even to the point of the actual city gates.  This means the battle had turned against Gaal from the start.  His battle skills did not match his boasting.

Judges 9:41

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

After the battle was over, Gaal was defeated to the point that Zebul had thrown Gaal and his troops out of the city of Shechem.  Abimelech had returned to Arumah since the threat by Gaal had been neutralized.  As much as Gaal wanted to rule over the people, that was not going to happen since he proved himself to be a very bad leader in battle losing to Abimelech.

Judges 9:42

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.