This verse indirectly reports the victory of Abimelech. It is a pivotal verse between this episode concerning Abimelech’s battle against Gaal and the next episode concerning his battle against the people of Shechem (verse 9.42-45). Contemporary English Version sets this verse apart in its own paragraph, but many other versions join it to the end of this episode (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). By mentioning Gaal and his kinsmen, the narrator closes the inclusio begun in verse 9.26.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And signals the conclusion of this episode. It may be translated “So” (New Revised Standard Version) or even “After that [event/victory].” The Hebrew verb rendered dwelt is the same one translated live at the end of this verse, so it forms an inclusio here. New American Bible changes this verb to read “returned,” but the verb dwelt makes more sense here, and is supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. The Hebrew verb for dwelt (yashab) is sometimes used to imply authority, as when Deborah “used to sit” to preside over the people (verse 4.5). Thus Revised English Bible says “established himself.” Arumah was a town about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southeast of Shechem. It is on the basis of this verse that some biblical scholars have emended verse 9.31 to read “Arumah” instead of “Tormah” (see comments there).

And Zebul drove out Gaal and his kinsmen: This clause makes it clear that, unlike many of his men, Gaal himself survived Abimelech’s attack. It also gives credit to Zebul rather than to Abimelech for driving out Gaal and his men from Shechem. This fits the general presentation of Abimelech in this book, who is portrayed as a weak and immoral leader. For drove out, see verse 2.3. Here this verb is emphasized, since it occurs in the middle of the inclusio formed by the Hebrew verb rendered dwelt and live. It also carries some irony since especially in the beginning of this book, the Israelites are not able to “drive out” their enemies. For Gaal and his kinsmen, see verse 9.26.

So that they could not live on at Shechem is literally “from dwelling in Shechem.” Zebul succeeds in banishing Gaal and his brothers from Shechem. Not only are they no longer in control in the town, they are also prevented from even living there. As noted above, live renders the same Hebrew verb translated dwelt. If possible, translators should try to render it in the same way at the beginning and end of this verse. We might say “and they were no longer permitted to live in Shechem” or “Zebul prevented them from [even] living in Shechem.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• So Abimelech established himself at Arumah, while Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers completely out of Shechem. They were [even] prevented from living there anymore.

• After that Abimelech went to live in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem, not allowing them to live there any longer.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .