who is Shechem? i.e. what is Abimelech's kingdom, that we should be bound to obey him? does it belong to him of right?

is not … serve ye As it stands the text does not make sense; read the imperat. serve yeas a perf., they served, and translate Did not the son of J. and Z. his officer serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? why then should we serve him? Gaal works upon the Shechemites" national pride: -this chief of yours and his lieutenant were once the servants of the ancient race which sprang from Hamor (the traditional founder of Shechem, cf. Genesis 34); are we, the freemen of Shechem, to become the servants of this usurping half-breed?" The emphasis is on we, in antithesis to -the son of J." etc.

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