Tanach
Shoftim 9:26-41 שופטים ט׳:כ״ו-מ״א
Part of: Chapter 9
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיָּבֹא גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו וַיַּעַבְרוּ בִּשְׁכֶם וַיִּבְטְחוּ־בוֹ בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶֽם׃
Ga'al ben Eved arrived with his cohorts, and came through Shechem. The men of Shechem had confidence in him.
Ga'al ben Eved arrived with his cohorts, and came through Shechem. The men of Shechem had confidence in him.
Rashi
וַיֵּצְאוּ הַשָּׂדֶה וַֽיִּבְצְרוּ אֶת־כַּרְמֵיהֶם וַֽיִּדְרְכוּ וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ הִלּוּלִים וַיָּבֹאוּ בֵּית אֱֽלֹהֵיהֶם וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַֽיְקַלְלוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
They went out to the fields, harvested their vineyards, pressed the grapes, and indulged in carousals. They entered their temple, ate and drank, and cursed Avimelech.
They went out to the fields, harvested their vineyards, pressed the grapes, and indulged in carousals. They entered their temple, ate and drank, and cursed Avimelech.
Rashi
ויעשו הלולים. (תרגום:) ועבדו חנגין:
Indulged in carousals. Performed dances.9This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.
וַיֹּאמֶר ׀ גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד מִֽי־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִֽי־שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ הֲלֹא בֶן־יְרֻבַּעַל וּזְבֻל פְּקִידוֹ עִבְדוּ אֶת־אַנְשֵׁי חֲמוֹר אֲבִי שְׁכֶם וּמַדּוּעַ נַעַבְדֶנּוּ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃
Ga'al ben Eved declared, "Who is Avimelech, and who is Shechem, that we must serve him? Is he not Yerubaal's son? And his henchman Zevul? Serve the people of Chamor, the father of Shechem, but why must we serve him?
Ga'al ben Eved declared, "Who is Avimelech, and who is Shechem, that we must serve him? Is he not Yerubaal's son? And his henchman Zevul? Serve the people of Chamor, the father of Shechem, but why must we serve him?
Rashi
מי אבימלך ומי שכם. מי אבימלך להיות שר על שכם ומי שכם להיות עבדים לאבימלך, הלא בן ירובעל היה אבימלך מן עפרת אבי העזרי (לעיל ו יא):
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
וזבל פקידו. וזה פקיד העיר ששמו 'זבול', פקידו של אבימלך הוא, ואדוניו אין לו משפט מלוכה בעיר ואף פקידו אינו כלום:
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.
עבדו את אנשי חמור. אם באתם לקנות לכם אדונים, באו ועבדו את אנשי חמור, שהיה נשיא הארץ מקדם (בראשית לד ב):
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.
ומדוע נעבדנו. לאבימלך:
But why must we serve him? Avimelech.
וּמִי יִתֵּן אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי וְאָסִירָה אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ רַבֶּה צְבָאֲךָ וָצֵֽאָה׃
Would that someone place this people in my hands, and I would remove Avimelech." He said to Avimelech, "Beef up your army, and come on out!"
Would that someone place this people in my hands, and I would remove Avimelech." He said to Avimelech, "Beef up your army, and come on out!"
Rashi
ויאמר לאבימלך. ויאמר געל בפני זבול, הודיע לאבימלך:
He said: For Avimelech. Ga'al declared in the presence of Zevul, "Tell Avimelech."
רבה צבאך וצאה. מן המקום שאתה שם, ונראה את גדולתך:
Beef up your army and come on out from your place, and let us see how grand you are!
וַיִּשְׁמַע זְבֻל שַׂר־הָעִיר אֶת־דִּבְרֵי גַּעַל בֶּן־עָבֶד וַיִּחַר אַפּֽוֹ׃
Zevul, the city superintendent, heard the speech by Ga'al ben Eved, and he was infuriated.
Zevul, the city superintendent, heard the speech by Ga'al ben Eved, and he was infuriated.
וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בְּתׇרְמָה לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה גַעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו בָּאִים שְׁכֶמָה וְהִנָּם צָרִים אֶת־הָעִיר עָלֶֽיךָ׃
He dispatched emissaries to Avimelech clandestinely, saying: "Look, Ga'al ben Eved and his cohorts have arrived in Shechem, and are blockading the city against you.
He dispatched emissaries to Avimelech clandestinely, saying: "Look, Ga'al ben Eved and his cohorts have arrived in Shechem, and are blockading the city against you.
Rashi
בתרמה. כמו במרמה, בתרמית, כלומר: בלט ובסתר:
Clandestinely. As in "cunningly,"12Bereishis, 27:35. "in deceit,"13Yirmiyahu, 8:5. meaning secretively, stealthily.
וְעַתָּה קוּם לַיְלָה אַתָּה וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתָּךְ וֶאֱרֹב בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃
Now, get up during the night—you, and the people accompanying you—and lie in ambush in the field.
Now, get up during the night—you, and the people accompanying you—and lie in ambush in the field.
וְהָיָה בַבֹּקֶר כִּזְרֹחַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ תַּשְׁכִּים וּפָשַׁטְתָּ עַל־הָעִיר וְהִנֵּה־הוּא וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ יֹצְאִים אֵלֶיךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדֶֽךָ׃
When morning comes, exactly at sunrise, arise, and charge into the city. When he and the people accompanying him come out to engage you, deal with him to the best of your ability.'
When morning comes, exactly at sunrise, arise, and charge into the city. When he and the people accompanying him come out to engage you, deal with him to the best of your ability.'
וַיָּקׇם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְכׇל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּוֹ לָיְלָה וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ עַל־שְׁכֶם אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִֽׁים׃
Avimelech and all the people with him got up during the night, and deployed the ambushers of Shechem into four divisions.
Avimelech and all the people with him got up during the night, and deployed the ambushers of Shechem into four divisions.
Rashi
ארבע ראשים. ארבעה כתות:
Four divisions. Four companies.
וַיֵּצֵא גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וַיָּקׇם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ מִן־הַמַּאְרָֽב׃
Ga'al ben Eved stepped outside, and stood at the entrance to the city gate, when Avimelech and the people with him rose from the ambush.
Ga'al ben Eved stepped outside, and stood at the entrance to the city gate, when Avimelech and the people with him rose from the ambush.
וַיַּרְא־גַּעַל אֶת־הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־זְבֻל הִנֵּה־עָם יוֹרֵד מֵרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אֵת צֵל הֶהָרִים אַתָּה רֹאֶה כָּאֲנָשִֽׁים׃
Ga'al noticed the people, and exclaimed to Zevul, "Look, people are descending from the mountain tops!" Zevul replied to him, "The mountain shadows appear to you like men.'
Ga'al noticed the people, and exclaimed to Zevul, "Look, people are descending from the mountain tops!" Zevul replied to him, "The mountain shadows appear to you like men.'
וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד גַּעַל לְדַבֵּר וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה־עָם יֽוֹרְדִים מֵעִם טַבּוּר הָאָרֶץ וְרֹאשׁ־אֶחָד בָּא מִדֶּרֶךְ אֵלוֹן מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃
But Ga'al resumed speaking, and said, "Look, people are descending from the promontory of the land, and one division is coming from the road to the plain of Meonenim."
But Ga'al resumed speaking, and said, "Look, people are descending from the promontory of the land, and one division is coming from the road to the plain of Meonenim."
Rashi
מעם טבור הארץ. (תרגום:) מן תוקפא דארעא, מהר הגבוה שבכולם:
From the promontory of the land. "From the pre-eminence of the land."14This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. From the highest summit of all.
אלון מעוננים (תרגום:) מישר מעוננים:
Elon Meonenim. The plain of Meonenim
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אַיֵּה אֵפוֹא פִיךָ אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ הֲלֹא זֶה הָעָם אֲשֶׁר מָאַסְתָּה בּוֹ צֵא־נָא עַתָּה וְהִלָּחֶם בּֽוֹ׃
Zevul retorted to him, "Now where are your mouthings, when you said, 'Who is Avimelech that we must serve him?' Are these not the people whom you despise? Go now, if you please, and fight them!"
Zevul retorted to him, "Now where are your mouthings, when you said, 'Who is Avimelech that we must serve him?' Are these not the people whom you despise? Go now, if you please, and fight them!"
וַיֵּצֵא גַעַל לִפְנֵי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וַיִּלָּחֶם בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
Ga'al went forth at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Avimelech.
Ga'al went forth at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Avimelech.
וַיִּרְדְּפֵהוּ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיָּנׇס מִפָּנָיו וַֽיִּפְּלוּ חֲלָלִים רַבִּים עַד־פֶּתַח הַשָּֽׁעַר׃
Avimelech pursued him, and he fled from him. A great many fell dead, up to the gateway entrance.
Avimelech pursued him, and he fled from him. A great many fell dead, up to the gateway entrance.
וַיֵּשֶׁב אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בָּֽארוּמָה וַיְגָרֶשׁ זְבֻל אֶת־גַּעַל וְאֶת־אֶחָיו מִשֶּׁבֶת בִּשְׁכֶֽם׃ {ס}
Avimelech settled in Arumah. Zevul ousted Ga'al and his cohorts from residence in Shechem.
Avimelech settled in Arumah. Zevul ousted Ga'al and his cohorts from residence in Shechem.
געל בן עבד. מאומה אחרת היה:
Ga'al ben Eved. He was from another nation.