When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger. When Zebul heard about thisThe phrase "When Zebul heard about this" introduces us to Zebul, a key figure in the narrative of Judges 9. Zebul was the governor of Shechem under Abimelech, the son of Gideon. The Hebrew root for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and perceiving. This suggests that Zebul was not only informed but also comprehended the gravity of the situation. Historically, Shechem was a significant city in ancient Israel, often associated with covenantal events. Zebul's role as governor indicates his political and social influence, and his reaction is pivotal in the unfolding drama between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. he burned with anger
The phrase "he burned with anger" uses the Hebrew root "חָרָה" (charah), which conveys a deep, intense emotional response. This is not a mild irritation but a consuming wrath. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, such anger often led to decisive and sometimes violent action. Zebul's anger is directed towards Gaal, who had incited the people of Shechem against Abimelech. This anger reflects the political tension and personal loyalties at play. From a scriptural perspective, anger is a recurring theme in the Bible, often leading to both divine and human judgment. Zebul's anger sets the stage for the subsequent conflict, highlighting the destructive potential of unchecked emotions and the complex interplay of power, loyalty, and retribution in the narrative. Persons / Places / Events 1. ZebulThe governor of Shechem, loyal to Abimelech, who becomes angry upon hearing Gaal's rebellious words. 2. Gaal son of EbedA newcomer to Shechem who incites the people against Abimelech, seeking to usurp power. 3. ShechemA significant city in Israel's history, often associated with covenant renewal and conflict. 4. AbimelechThe son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who made himself king over Israel through treachery and violence. 5. ConflictThe tension between Gaal and Abimelech, with Zebul caught in the middle, highlights the instability and moral decline during the time of the Judges. Teaching Points The Dangers of Ambition and PrideGaal's ambition and Zebul's anger illustrate how unchecked pride and ambition can lead to conflict and destruction. Loyalty and BetrayalZebul's loyalty to Abimelech, despite his flaws, contrasts with Gaal's betrayal, reminding us of the importance of faithfulness and integrity. The Consequences of Rejecting GodThe chaos in Shechem reflects the broader theme in Judges of Israel's suffering due to their rejection of God's rule. The Role of LeadershipThe account challenges us to consider the qualities of godly leadership and the impact of leaders on their communities. God's Sovereignty Amidst ChaosDespite human failings, God's purposes prevail, encouraging us to trust in His sovereignty even in turbulent times. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Zebul's reaction to Gaal's words reflect the broader theme of loyalty and betrayal in the book of Judges? 2. In what ways does the conflict between Gaal and Abimelech illustrate the dangers of pride and ambition, and how can we guard against these in our own lives? 3. How does the account of Shechem's turmoil serve as a warning about the consequences of rejecting God's leadership? 4. What qualities should we look for in leaders, both in the church and in society, based on the events in Judges 9? 5. How can we find assurance in God's sovereignty when we face chaos and conflict in our own lives, as seen in the account of Judges 9? Connections to Other Scriptures Judges 8:33-35Provides context for Abimelech's rise to power, showing Israel's unfaithfulness after Gideon's death. Proverbs 16:18Relates to the pride and downfall of Gaal, illustrating the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction. 1 Samuel 8:4-7Connects to Israel's desire for a king, showing the dangers of rejecting God's leadership for human rulers. James 3:16Highlights the chaos and disorder that result from envy and selfish ambition, as seen in the conflict between Gaal and Abimelech. People Abimelech, Ebed, Gaal, Hamor, Jerubbaal, Jotham, Ophrah, Zalmon, ZebulPlaces Arumah, Beer, Beth-millo, Diviners' Oak, Lebanon, Midian, Mount Gerizim, Mount Zalmon, Ophrah, Shechem, Thebez, Tower of ShechemTopics Anger, Angry, Burned, Burneth, Ebed, Gaal, Ga'al, Governor, Heareth, Hearing, Kindled, Moved, Prince, Ruler, Town, Wrath, ZebulDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 9:30 5327 governors Judges 9:26-41 5575 talk, idle Library Here, by Way of Objection, Several Questions are Raised. ...
Here, by way of objection, several questions are raised. Scripture relates that God sometimes complied with certain prayers which had been dictated by minds not duly calmed or regulated. It is true, that the cause for which Jotham imprecated on the inhabitants of Shechem the disaster which afterwards befell them was well founded; but still he was inflamed with anger and revenge (Judges 9:20); and hence God, by complying with the execration, seems to approve of passionate impulses. Similar fervour …
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of FaithTrials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Hence is Also that which Thou Hast Mentioned that they Speak Of...
28. Hence is also that which thou hast mentioned that they speak of, that the Lord Jesus, after He was risen, walked in the way with two disciples; and upon their drawing near to the village whither they were going, He made as though He would have gone farther: where the Evangelist, saying, "But He Himself feigned that He would go further," [2435] hath put that very word in which liars too greatly delight, that they may with impunity lie: as if every thing that is feigned is a lie, whereas in a truthful …
St. Augustine—Against Lying The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament Sovereignty of God in Administration
"The LORD hath prepared His Throne In the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all" (Psa. 103:19). First, a word concerning the need for God to govern the material world. Suppose the opposite for a moment. For the sake of argument, let us say that God created the world, designed and fixed certain laws (which men term "the laws of Nature"), and that He then withdrew, leaving the world to its fortune and the out-working of these laws. In such a case, we should have a world over which there was no intelligent, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible An Exhortation to Love God
1. An exhortation. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 23). There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. It is not so easy to love God as most imagine. The affection of love is natural, but the grace is not. Men are by nature haters of God (Rom. i. 30). The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. They fear God, …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It.
1. A general summary of what is contained in the previous part of the work. A transition to the doctrine of prayer. Its connection with the subject of faith. 2. Prayer defined. Its necessity and use. 3. Objection, that prayer seems useless, because God already knows our wants. Answer, from the institution and end of prayer. Confirmation by example. Its necessity and propriety. Perpetually reminds us of our duty, and leads to meditation on divine providence. Conclusion. Prayer a most useful exercise. …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 9:30 NIVJudges 9:30 NLTJudges 9:30 ESVJudges 9:30 NASBJudges 9:30 KJV
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