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Judges 9:36

GaalZebul

34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

37 Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”

38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
KJV
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
WEB
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
ASV
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
DARBY
And Gaal saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.
BLB
And Gaal saw the people, and he said to Zebul, “Behold, a people is coming down from the tops of the mountains.” And Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains You are seeing as men.”
ÅB
Da Ga'al så folkene, sa han til Sebul: Se, det kommer folk ned fra fjelltoppene! Men Sebul sa til ham: Det er skyggen av fjellene du tar for folk.
OTB
Da Gaal så dem, sa han til Sebul: "Se, folk kommer ned fra fjelltoppene!" Sebul svarte: "Du tar feil av skyggene fra fjellene for menn."
B1930
Da Ga'al så folkene, sa han til Sebul: Se, det kommer folk ned fra fjelltoppene! Men Sebul sa til ham: Det er skyggen av fjellene du tar for folk.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 7:7

    Doom has come to you, O inhabitants of the land. The time has come; the day is near; there is panic on the mountains instead of shouts of joy.

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  • Mark 8:24

    The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

    Read in context