Gaal, son of Ebed, was a man who came to Shechem and incited the city's inhabitants to revolt against Abimelech, the son of Gideon. He sought to exploit the discontent among the Shechemites but was exposed by Zebul, the city's governor, and defeated by Abimelech in battle. His brief appearance illustrates the chaotic period during the time of the judges in Israel.
27They went out into the fields, gathered the grapes from their vineyards, trod them, and held a festival. Then they entered the temple of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28And Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, with Zebul as his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why should we serve him?
31He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying, "Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
33In the morning, at sunrise, set out early and sweep down on the city. And when Gaal and the men with him come out against you, do to him whatever your hand finds to do.
Gaal saw Abimelech's troops approaching from the hills, but Zebul tricked him by claiming they were only shadows of the mountains and tried to delay his reaction.
36Gaal saw the troops and said to Zebul, "Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!" But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."
38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight them!"