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27 They went out of the city to pick grapes in their fields. They squeezed the grapes to make wine. They went to the temple of their god and they had a party. They ate a lot of food and they drank a lot of wine. At their party, they cursed Abimelech.

28 Gaal said, ‘Why does Abimelech think he is so great? There is no reason why the people of Shechem should serve him! He is a son of Gideon and he does not really belong here. Zebul only serves Abimelech as his officer. Instead we should be faithful to Hamor's descendants. He is the ancestor of Shechem's clan. 29 If I were the leader of these people, I would remove Abimelech as king. I would say to him, “Make your army strong and try to fight against us!” ’

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27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden(A) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.(B) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed(C) said, “Who(D) is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor,(E) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command!(F) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[a](G)

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”