Judges 9:36

*“When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, ‘Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.’ But Zebul said to him, ‘You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.’”* (v.36) This moment unfolds in the midst of a tense confrontation near Shechem, a city located in the hill country of Ephraim in ancient Canaan. Shechem sat at a crucial crossroads between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, giving it strategic importance. Here, Gaal, who has taken up leadership against Abimelech (the son of Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, who lived sometime around the 12th century BC), peers at the horizon and sees what he believes to be an advancing force. However, Zebul, an officer loyal to Abimelech, dismisses Gaal’s observation as nothing more than the trick of evening shadows.

The exchange between Gaal and Zebul highlights the uncertainty and fear that can arise when tensions boil over. *“You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.”* (v.36) portrays how caution can easily turn into misunderstanding. This moment also underscores the psychological warfare in the Book of Judges; appearances can be deceiving, and wisdom is required to discern reality from rumor or illusion. Scripture frequently teaches God’s people to look deeper for truth, as echoed in Jesus’ encouragement to maintain spiritual alertness (Matthew 24:4 NASB-95).

One possible lesson is the vulnerability we face when we rely solely on our own perceptions, much like Gaal mistaking mere shadows for incoming troops. Elsewhere in the Bible, believers are reminded to seek divine guidance (James 1:5 NASB-95) rather than trust in human judgment alone. In Judges, especially in the era following Gideon’s leadership, the nation repeatedly encountered trouble when they abandoned wise discernment. Gaal’s hasty conclusion in this verse is a warning for readers to be deliberate, humble, and seeking truth as they interpret the challenges around them.

Gaal failed to distinguish real enemies from illusion.