Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Commentary for Judges 9:28

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ גַּ֣עַל בֶּן־עֶ֗בֶד מִֽי־אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ וּמִֽי־שְׁכֶם֙ כִּ֣י נַעַבְדֶ֔נּוּ הֲלֹ֥א בֶן־יְרֻבַּ֖עַל וּזְבֻ֣ל פְּקִיד֑וֹ עִבְד֗וּ אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֤י חֲמוֹר֙ אֲבִ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם וּמַדּ֖וּעַ נַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

And Gaal the son of Ebed said: ‘Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

Rashi on Judges

Who is Avimelech, and who is Shechem. Who is Avimelech to control Shechem, and who is Shechem to be subjugated to Avimelech? Is not Avimelech Yerubaal's son, from Ofros, of the Aviezrites?10
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Rashi on Judges

And his henchman Zevul? The city superintendent, named Zevul, is Avimelech's henchman. His master cannot justify his authority over the city; thus his appointee, as well, is a non-entity.
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Rashi on Judges

Serve the people of Chamor. If you want to get yourselves leaders, come serve the men of Chamor, who ruled the land in early times.11Bereishis, 34:2.
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Rashi on Judges

But why must we serve him? Avimelech.
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