Read Judges 9
Abimelek
9 Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.
26 Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”
34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.
36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”
Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39 So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
Go Deeper
In Judges 9 we read one of the most shocking, violent stories in the Book of Judges…and that’s saying something. Abimelek, son of Gideon, the judge we’ve been with for several chapters, sees the power vacuum left by his father’s death. With this hole in leadership in mind, Abimelek goes to his mother’s family in Shechem to plead his case. This is strange; why his mother’s house? His father was the judge of Israel, and his mother wasn’t one of Gideon’s wives, but rather a concubine. So why would Abimelek go to her house?
Returning to Judges 8, we see how Gideon responded when the people tried to make him king of Israel, not just judge. “But Gideon told them, ‘I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you” (8:23).
Perhaps Abimelek knew the rest of his half-brothers, the sons of Gideon, were following this teaching of their father. He might have decided to seek out people he could manipulate, such as his mother’s family, who were less familiar with Gideon’s words. Perhaps that’s also why Abimelek killed sixty-nine of his seventy half-brothers, only missing Jotham because he hid from Abimelek.
The question must be asked: What does God think of this manipulative, abusive power-grab? In Judges 9, God is directly mentioned twice, and in neither instance does God show support for Abimelek. First, God “stirred up animosity” between Abimelek and Shechemm where he sought support. Then, at the end of the chapter, we read that “God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness” (9:23; 56-57a).
Not only do we see God’s disapproval of Abimelek and Shechem’s actions, but we also see His disapproval in His silence. Namely, unlike the true judges whom God calls to lead Israel back to Him, Abimelek received no such call. God does not support power-grabs that oppress the innocent. And, as we read in Judges 5, He calls us to take part in His work in the world, as Jotham did here, naming evil, speaking against it, and taking action.
Questions
- How can this connect to our lives today? What are areas in your life where you’ve seen an abuse of power – maybe not on this scale – but in a similar vein?
- How did you respond in those instances?
- What is something you and your community can do going forward to come alongside God in this work in the world?
A Quote
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:3-4
Help Us Brainstorm
We are trying to figure out what would make the BRP’s Rest Day (Sunday) entries more helpful and engaging. Maybe it’s a video, a podcast, a personal reflection…the options are endless!
Do you have an idea? If so, e-mail us at jgreen@harriscreek.org. Thanks for helping us think!
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
3 thoughts on “Judges 9”
Let to our own devices we will self-destruct every time. Jeremiah 17:9-10 warns us that “The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick—who can understand it? I, the Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart to give according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.” One thing for sure is that we can be easily deceived. Once we coddle sin it demands all, leaving powerful consequences. Abimelech craved power which led him down a heinous path of renouncing his father’s faith, murdering his brothers and whole cities who refused to submit to him. It’s ironic that God used a woman with a millstone to take his life. Our sins demand payment by holy God. Through the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross of Calvary we can have atonement. The real question is will we let or carnal nature control us or humble ourselves and submit to Christ. I pray we bow our selfish will to His!
What a turmoilic world we live in. Ever since the beginning sin we wrestle. God knew we would need a savior, thank you God for sending Jesus and thank you Jesus for being willing to die for me.
God I thank you that the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditation of my heart will be and can be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock, strength and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Show me where and how to be your hands and feet each day so that my life is a glory and honor to You!!!! In Jesus name amen
Thank you, Heavenly Father for your silence to those who have sinned greatly against your people. Even through arrogant, control of power-You are still silently working for our good. May we never forget that you alone conquer every battle we face! That you are always victorious! That you will always make wrong, right! May we remember this battle when speaking truth to others as a reminder that through Jesus, your son, we will forever be, victorious! We have a Savior! And we are so grateful for His grace and mercy!
In His Powerful name. Amen!