Zebul
Ze'bul (Heb. Zebul', זבל, habitation; Sept. Ζεβούλ; Josephus, Ζέβουλος), the chief man (שִׂר, A. V. "ruler") of the city of Shechem at the time of the contest between Abimelech and the native Canaanites (Jg 9:28,30,36,38,41). B.C. 1319. He governed the town as the "officer" (פָּקַיד; Sept. ἐπίσκοπος; Josephus, ζένος Ant. 5, 7, 4]) of Abimelech while the latter was absent; and he took part against the Canaanites by shutting them out of the city when-Abimelech was encamped outside it. His conversation with Gaal, the Canaanitish leader, as they stood in the gate of Shechem watching the approach of the armed bands, gives Zebul a certain individuality among the many characters of that time of confusion. SEE ABIMELECH.
