Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 9:39
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem,…. At the head of them, to meet Abimelech, having gathered together as many, and put them in as good order, as he could, and the time would admit of:
and fought with Abimelech; without the city.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Then Gaal went out “before the citizens of Shechem;” i.e., not at their head as their leaders, which is the meaning of in Gen 33:3; Exo 13:21; Num 10:35, etc., – for, according to Jdg 9:33-35, Gaal had only gone out of the town with his own retinue, and, according to Jdg 9:42, Jdg 9:43, the people of Shechem did not go out till the next day, – but “in the sight of the lords of Shechem,” so that they looked upon the battle. But the battle ended unfortunately for him. Abimelech put him to flight ( as in Lev 26:36), and there fell many slain up to the gate of the city, into which Gaal had fled with his followers.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(39) Before the men of Shechem.Not merely in the presence of the Shechemites, as some of the versions understand it, but as leader of the lords of Shechem. (Comp. Jdg. 9:23.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
39. Gaal went out before the men of Shechem It must have been a hasty gathering and a hurried advance, so that they were ill prepared to meet Abimelech.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.’
Possibly stirred by the taunts of Zebul, instead of shutting the gates of the city, which could anyway only be a holding device for a time, Gaal called the Shechemites who were supporting him and went out to meet Abimelech in battle. And there the battle was fought.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 9:39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Ver. 39. And Gaal went out. ] Zebul’s taunts had made him ashamed to retire: but God had a special hand in it, for his just punishment. That is a true saying of one, Where iniquity breaketh fast, calamity will be sure to dine; to sup where it dineth, and to lodge where it suppeth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
9:39 And Gaal {m} went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
(m) As their captain.