JUDGES 9

1 And Abimelech (the son of Gideons concubine) the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

• Shechem; a city in the tribe of Ephraim, lying between mount Gerizim on the south, and mount Ebal on the north.
• Abimelechs name means, my father is king. In those days, when a man took a concubine, he would not bring her into his own dwelling place, she would remain in her fathers house. This is why Abimeleceh travels to Shechem to visit his mothers family.
• By planting the idea that it would be better for him to rule over the city than his 70 step brothers, the FBN Bible note says this: Men who earnestly desire power, and flatter their fellow men to obtain it, are not worthy to be trusted, and should not be chosen to rule over others.

3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons (worthless and foolhardy), which followed him.

• The nation of Israel is now far from God, and it is affecting their decision making and judgment. That is always a symptom of having a heart that is far from God. They paid Abimelech 70 pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, which means in the Hebrew, 'the Baal with whom we are in covenant.' Abimelech turns around and uses the 70 pieces of silver to hire vain and light persons. The Hebrew meaning is that these people who Abimelech hired to follow him were worthless and reckless.
• People that are low on character and right thinking are most gullible to manipulation; e.g. 1930's Germany listened to the shrewd intonations of Hitler.  His ideas were ludicrous, venomous, divisive, and lacked a moral foundation.  But the people were eventually swayed because their own moral foundation had been eroding for 50 years.Dr. Phillip Newtown

5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone:

• Upon one stone- they were brought to one place and beheaded. His first act as “king” is to murder his 70 step brothers.
• In order to successfully carry out his egotistic ambition and revolution, Abimelech “eliminates” all the possible competition to his throne.

notwithstanding yet Jotham (The Lord is upright) the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made (proclaimed) Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

• He was made king by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem, where Joshua erected a pillar as a witness of the covenant renewed between God and Israel, Josh 24:26.

7 ¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you (listen to me if you want God to listen to you).

• Mount Gerizim. When Israel had entered the land, they proclaimed the blessings of the covenant from this mountain (Josh. 8:30–35) as Moses had commanded (Deut. 11:26–32). Now Jotham utters curses from this “mountain of blessing.”

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

• This is the beginning of a parable, representing the foolishness of the Shechemites in making Abimelech king.

9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness (quit producing olive oil), wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted (lifted up) over the trees?

10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness (give up my good sweet fruit), and my good fruit, and go to be promoted (lifted up) over the trees?

12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

• The response from the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine provides a powerful lesson about knowing the place that God has called each person to, and being content to remain there and be faithful rather than to seek to elevate one's self beyond God's call. Pastor Bob Caldwell
• Selfish or inflated ambition is a dangerous thing for people who aspire to be in ministry or any position of leadership. The prophet Jeremiah told Baruch these words, and seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not (Jer 45.5).

14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

• The bramble is a thorn bush, the most worthless plant in the Middle East. It produces no fruit and is too low to the ground to produce any shade. Its wood cannot be used for any kind of construction because it splits too easily. All it can do is burn. Jon Courson

15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust (take refuge) in my shadow (humble yourself under my shade): and if not (if you refuse), let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely (rightly, in a proper manner), in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured (risked) his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

18 And ye are risen (revolted) up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour (destroy) the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

• One of the points of this parable/prophecy is to show the foolishness of Israel in choosing Abimelech to reign over them.  Jotham's parable shows that a high cost would eventually be paid.

22 ¶ When (after) Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between (to stir up trouble  NLT) Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

• After 3 years, bad blood developed between the men who were ruled by the bramble, Abimelech himself. As this story develops, you discover that this evil spirit was “a spirit of ill will” or “a harmful spirit” between the parties. Discord prevailed between them. Beloved, ill will between brethren is an evil thing. The Holy Spirit warns us in the book of Hebrews this way: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Heb 12.15)
• Bitterness is a cancer that destroys relationships.
• Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. It will destroy a marriage and family.
• James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. It will destroy and separate brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
• Please note that it was God Who sent this evil spirit that caused ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.
• God gave the devil commission to work upon their minds. John Wesley
• This is the same thing that we read in:
• 1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil (distressing; harmful; tormenting) spirit from the LORD troubled him.
•  1Ki 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee (King Ahab).
• During the time of the great tribulation, the Antichrist will be performing lying sings and wonders on earth, and because the people will not believe the truth about God and His Son Jesus Christ, 2Th 2:11 God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.
• Listen carefully beloved, demons, evil spirits and even Satan himself (as seen in the book of Job), cannot function outside of God’s sovereign will. Now I tremble to say this because of all of the gut wrenching trials and tragedies that we as the people of God face in life, but it is a biblical truth nonetheless….nothing can happen to us without The Lord allowing it. The other side of every trial and tribulation is Romans 8.28.
• For those who love God and are the called according to His purpose, God is the ultimate power and authority that can and will use anything, both good and evil, to accomplish His purposes in your life without regard to its nature.
• Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

• In other words, the purpose for God allowing this evil spirit to surface was divine retribution upon Abimelech and the men of Schechem for the murder of Gideons 70 sons.

25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait (ambushes) for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech (someone warned Abimelech of the plot ).

• Liers in wait; the men of Shechem set up ambushes to kill Abimelech, who was then absent from the city, or to take him prisoner on his return.
• The Shechemites and Abimelech deserved each other. Abimelech, who was once aided by the Shechemites, was himself now the target of their lawlessness. What a difference 3 years can make!

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over (moved) to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

·      Gaal and his brothers appear to be Canaanites who had taken up residence in Israel, specifically in Shechem. Here they want to remove Abimelech, who was half Israelite, and place a full-blooded Canaanite on the throne.

·      The men of Shechem, once loyal to Abimelech are now a part of the plan to destroy him.

27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

• No doubt under the influence of wine, they are seen here partying and cursing Abimelech in the name of their god.

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29 And would to God this people were under my hand (rule)! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

• Gaal says to the men of Shechem the same thing that Abimelech said to his brethren. Why should we serve Abimelech when “a great leader like me is available.”
• We could very well call this pending battle between Abimelech and Gaal, the battle of the egomaniacs!

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

• Zebul was a “secret agent” for Abimelech inside the city.

31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee (they are turning the city against you).

32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait (hide) in the field:

33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city (suddenly attack): and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against (ambushed) Shechem in four companies.

35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait (their hiding places).

36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim (the enchanters' oak).

38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth (boast; where is that big mouth of yours now), wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them (the very men that you have taunted are right outside the city, go out and fight them).

39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate (as they were retreating to the city).

41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out (drove away) Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech (someone told Abimelech his plans).

43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait (laid an ambush) in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city (to keep them from retuning back to the city): and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

• Do you remember what Jotham said in his parable/prophecy to the men of Shechem? If you men are not right in your selection of making Abimelech your king, he will eventually turn on you. And here in verses 43-45 Abimelech does just that. He not only kills the people in the city, but he sows salt in then land to prevent it from ever growing there again.
• It was later rebuilt by Jeroboam. 1Ki 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold (the stronghold) of the house of the god Berith.

47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

• How different are God appointed leaders like Paul who would say, follow me, as I follow Christ.

49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold (placed them around the tower), and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

• Jotham warned that Abimelech will burn you and that is exactly what he did. 1,000 people from the city died in this attack.

50 ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it (captured).

51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them (shut themselves in), and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard (drew near) unto the door (entrance) of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him (never let it be said that a woman killed me). And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

• Joab made reference to Abimelech being killed this way in 2Sa 11:21 in a report that he sent to King David after Urijah was killed in combat.

55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 Thus God rendered (requited or punished) the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal (verses 7-21).

• Both Abimelech and the men of Shechem reaped what they sowed. Decisions have consequences, don’t they? Good decisions reap good consequences, and bad decisions reap bad consequences.
• This chapter is filled with the consequences of pride, ill will and bitterness. Never let bitterness, ill will or pride have the final say in your heart beloved…..take it to the cross and bring glory to God.
• This chapter reveals the love of God warning the city of Shechem about the end result of choosing Abimelech to be their king. A warning that they refused.
• Beloved, do not despise the warnings of God in your life….choose to make prayerful, God honoring decisions. Cultivate Christ honoring, iron sharpening iron relationships. Life is short beloved! Love Christ and live for Christ.