Judges 9:1-57
Q.1. Who was Abimelech? Who was to rule over Gideon’s inheritance? How did Abimelech gain Shechem’s support for his personal ambitions? How well did he succeed? – (Jdgs.9:1-6)
Gideon (spoken of as Jerubbaal – Jdgs.6:32) had a large family, namely – … seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives (Jdgs.8:30). He likely had a number of concubines with more sons. The Book records – his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech (Jdgs.8:31). Joash had passed on the territory of the Abiezrites to his son Gideon – one of the clans in Manasseh (Jdgs.6:11; 8:27, 32). This inheritance included the cities of Ophrah and Shechem. Most of the sons of Gideon lived primarily in Ophrah. Abimelech’s family resided at Shechem. After Gideon died, Abimelech persuaded his family at Shechem to let him reign there, rather than have seventy sons of Gideon rule over their city (Jdgs.9:1-3). They gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver. He then hired a bunch of reckless thugs who – went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone (Jdgs.9:5). However – Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself (Jdgs.9:5 c.f. Jdgs.6:32). The men of Shechem then installed Abimelech as their king (Jdgs.9:6).
Q.2. Who was Jotham? What was the gist of his parable to the men of Shechem? How did he appeal to the conscience of the Shechemites? What curse did he place on his enemies? – (Jdgs.9:7-21, 57)
Jotham was the youngest son of Gideon, and the only one to escape the assassination plot. He stood at a distance on Mount Gerizim, which was noted for its excellent acoustics (c.f. Deut.27:11-14). Jotham lifted up his voice and delivered an insightful parable which illustrated the crime of Abimelech and the Shechemites – Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us!' (Jdgs.9:8). He outlined the failure of the productive trees to take up the mantel of leadership, and the disgraceful usurping of the throne by Abimelech, ‘the bramble’ - finally all the trees said to the bramble,You come, reign over us!’ (Jdgs.9:14). He then appealed to their consciences – … if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you (Jdgs.9:19). He reminded them of his father’s courage and sacrifice when delivering the nation from their enemies (Jdgs.9:17-19). Jotham then pronounced a curse on Abimelech and the Shechemites, after denouncing their actions – but if you have not (dealt honourably), let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech (Jdgs.9:20). Then he escaped before he could be captured.
Q.3. How did God undermine Abimelech’s reign? Who was Gaal to Shechem? Who was Zebul and what did he propose? How did the battle for Shechem go? – (Jdgs.9:22-41)
After Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years – 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers (Jdgs.9:23-24). The thugs destabilised the region with their robbery. Many in Shechem then placed their trust in a rival leader Gaal and his brothers, who had moved there (Jdgs.9:25-26). At the time of the grape harvest festival, they cursed Abimelech. Gaal undermined Abimelech’s credentials and challenged him to fight (Jdgs.9:27-29). Zebul, the ruler of the city who had been maligned by Gaal, secretly stirred up Abimelech against the family of Gaal (Jdgs.9:30-33). Abimelech. aided by Zebul, then ambushed the forces of Gaal. They expelled Gaal and his family from Shechem (Jdgs.9:34-41). The battle for the city was far from over.
Q.4. How was Shechem overcome? What happened to its tower? Was Abimelech satisfied with conquering Shechem? Who killed him? Why did God repay Abimelech and Shechem? – (Jdgs.9:42-57)
Abimelech ambushed the people, and – … fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt (Jdgs.9:45). Many escaped into the tower. However, Abimelech’s men set a huge fire against it – … so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women (Jdgs.9:49). Abimelech was far from finished with bloodshed and turned against the neighbouring city of Thebez (perhaps Gaal had come from and escaped to Thebez) – But there was a strong tower in the centre of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower (Jdgs.9:51). Abimelech planned to burn them out, as he had done at Shechem – but a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull (Jdgs.9:53 c.f. 1 Kgs.22:34). He ordered his armour bearer to pierce him through with a sword, so that it could not be said that a woman slew him (Jdgs.9:54). There were human players involved, but the writer recorded – 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them (Jdgs9:56-57). Why was this story recorded? It reveals the heart of sinful men, and it reinforces the truth that sin does not pay. Paul summed it up this way – do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal.6:7).