Judges 9:30
New International Version
When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.

New Living Translation
But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious.

English Standard Version
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

Berean Standard Bible
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

King James Bible
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

New King James Version
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.

New American Standard Bible
When Zebul the leader of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

NASB 1995
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

NASB 1977
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and his anger burned.

Amplified Bible
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

Christian Standard Bible
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.

American Standard Version
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

Contemporary English Version
Zebul was angry when he found out what Gaal had said.

English Revised Version
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zebul, Shechem's ruler, heard what Gaal (son of Ebed) had said, and he became angry.

Good News Translation
Zebul, the ruler of the city, became angry when he heard what Gaal had said.

International Standard Version
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebed's son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage.

Majority Standard Bible
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

NET Bible
When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.

New Heart English Bible
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

World English Bible
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,

Young's Literal Translation
And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Zebul the ruler of the city will hear the words of Gaal, son of Ebed, and his wrath will kindle.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Zebul the ruler of the city, hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Obed, was very angry,

Catholic Public Domain Version
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.

New American Bible
When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Gaal, son of Ebed, had said, he was angry

New Revised Standard Version
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Epar, his anger was kindled.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Zabal the Ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal, son of Aphar, and his anger was provoked
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Fall of Shechem
30When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger. 31So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” / And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

2 Samuel 3:24-25
So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! / Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

1 Kings 1:25
For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

2 Samuel 15:10-12
Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” / Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. / While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

1 Kings 16:16-18
and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had conspired against the king and struck him down. So there in the camp that very day, all Israel proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel. / Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. / When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died

2 Kings 9:14-15
Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, / but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”

Proverbs 6:34-35
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. / He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

Psalm 37:12-13
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, / but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

Psalm 2:1-2
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

Matthew 27:18
For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

Mark 15:10
For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

Acts 5:17
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.


Treasury of Scripture

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

kindled, or hot

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Anger Angry Burned Burneth City Ebed Heard Heareth Hearing Kindled Moved Prince Ruler Words Wrath Zebul
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Anger Angry Burned Burneth City Ebed Heard Heareth Hearing Kindled Moved Prince Ruler Words Wrath Zebul
Judges 9
1. Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king
7. Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin
22. Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him
30. Zebul reveals it
34. Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt
46. He burns the hold of the god Berith
50. At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone
56. Jotham's curse is fulfilled.














When Zebul the governor of the city
Zebul is identified as the governor, indicating a position of authority in Shechem. This role suggests he was responsible for maintaining order and allegiance to Abimelech, who had been made king by the people of Shechem. The term "governor" implies a level of political and military oversight, reflecting the decentralized leadership structure in Israel during the time of the Judges. This period was marked by tribal confederacies rather than a unified nation, with local leaders often holding significant power.

heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed
Gaal, son of Ebed, emerges as a challenger to Abimelech's rule. His words, which Zebul hears, are likely those of insurrection or rebellion, as Gaal sought to undermine Abimelech's authority. This reflects the frequent power struggles and shifting allegiances characteristic of the era. The mention of Gaal's lineage, "son of Ebed," may indicate his outsider status or lack of significant heritage, contrasting with Abimelech's claim to leadership through his father, Gideon (Jerubbaal).

he burned with anger
Zebul's anger signifies his loyalty to Abimelech and his vested interest in maintaining the current power structure. This emotional response underscores the tension and volatility of leadership during the time of the Judges. Anger in biblical narratives often precedes decisive action, suggesting that Zebul's response would lead to further conflict. This phrase also highlights the personal nature of political disputes in ancient Israel, where individual emotions could significantly impact broader events.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zebul
The governor of Shechem, loyal to Abimelech, who becomes angry upon hearing Gaal's rebellious words.

2. Gaal son of Ebed
A newcomer to Shechem who incites the people against Abimelech, seeking to usurp power.

3. Shechem
A significant city in Israel's history, often associated with covenant renewal and conflict.

4. Abimelech
The son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who made himself king over Israel through treachery and violence.

5. Conflict
The 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 Pride
Gaal's ambition and Zebul's anger illustrate how unchecked pride and ambition can lead to conflict and destruction.

Loyalty and Betrayal
Zebul'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 God
The chaos in Shechem reflects the broader theme in Judges of Israel's suffering due to their rejection of God's rule.

The Role of Leadership
The account challenges us to consider the qualities of godly leadership and the impact of leaders on their communities.

God's Sovereignty Amidst Chaos
Despite human failings, God's purposes prevail, encouraging us to trust in His sovereignty even in turbulent times.(30) The ruler of the city.--The word sar seems to imply that he was the military commandant.

Verses 30, 31. - And when Zebul, etc. Zebul, it appears, was governor of the city under Abimelech, and when the words of Gaal were reported to him, he privately sent off messengers to the king to tell him the state of affairs at Shechem, and urge him to come in person. Zebul meanwhile temporised, not being strong enough to resist Gaal openly. Privily. The word only occurs here. It probably means a little more than privily, - viz., with subtlety or deceit, - because he pretended all the while to be a friend of Gaal. Some make it a proper name, "In Rumah," taking it for the same place as Arumah (ver. 41)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Zebul
זְבֻל֙ (zə·ḇul)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2083: Zebul -- an officer of Abimelech

the governor
שַׂר־ (śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of the city
הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

heard
וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע (way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the words
דִּבְרֵ֖י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of Gaal
גַּ֣עַל (ga·‘al)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1603: Gaal -- probably a Canaanite

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ebed,
עָ֑בֶד (‘ā·ḇeḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5651: Ebed -- 'servant', two Israelites

he burned
וַיִּ֖חַר (way·yi·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

with anger.
אַפּֽוֹ׃ (’ap·pōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire


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OT History: Judges 9:30 When Zebul the ruler of the city (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 9:29
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