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Judges 9

Judges 9 recounts the story of Abimelech, the son of Gideon, who seeks to establish himself as king by conspiring against his brothers and the people of Shechem. This chapter shows how ambition, treachery, and divine judgment played out in the lives of Abimelech, the people of Shechem, and those around them. It serves as a warning against greed for power and injustice.

Judges 9:1-5 (NKJV):
1 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”
3 And his mother's brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.
5 Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

Abimelech appeals to his maternal relatives in Shechem, exploiting family ties to gain political support. By offering them a choice between being ruled by all of Gideon’s seventy sons or just by one, Abimelech presents himself as the simpler option due to his familial connection. The people of Shechem agree and finance his campaign using silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, indicating their idolatrous priorities. Abimelech then uses the money to hire ruthless men and murders his brothers, eliminating rivals. However, Jotham, the youngest, escapes, setting the stage for future conflict.

Judges 9:6 (NKJV):
6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.

Abimelech is crowned king by the people of Shechem and Beth Millo, further solidifying his power. This event takes place by a significant landmark, the terebinth tree near a pillar in Shechem, a location with spiritual and historical importance. Despite being proclaimed king, his rise is rooted in treachery and murder, foreshadowing the instability of his reign.

Judges 9:7-15 (NKJV):
7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you!
8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?’
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’
13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’
15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon!’

Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, speaks a parable from Mount Gerizim, warning the people of Shechem. In his story, the trees represent the people, seeking a king among noble candidates like the olive tree, fig tree, and vine, but all refuse. Finally, they turn to the bramble, a useless and thorny plant, symbolizing Abimelech. The bramble’s offer of shade is ironic, as it can provide none. The threat of fire from the bramble reflects the destructive potential of Abimelech’s reign.

Judges 9:16-21 (NKJV):
16 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves—
17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—
19 if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
20 But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”
21 And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

Jotham calls out the people of Shechem for their betrayal, reminding them of the sacrifices Gideon made for their freedom from the Midianites. He sarcastically states that if they have acted honorably by supporting Abimelech, they should rejoice together. However, he warns that if they have acted treacherously, mutual destruction will follow, with Abimelech and the people of Shechem turning against each other. Jotham then flees for his life, knowing the consequences of confronting his murderous brother.

Judges 9:22-25 (NKJV):
22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,
23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24 that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.
25 And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.

After three years, God’s judgment begins to manifest. A spirit of discord arises between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, fulfilling Jotham’s curse. This division leads to treachery, as the Shechemites turn against Abimelech, seeking revenge for the blood he spilled. They even resort to highway robbery, further destabilizing the region. God is actively ensuring justice for the massacre of Gideon’s sons, highlighting the consequences of their sin.

Judges 9:26-29 (NKJV):
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
29 If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

Gaal, a new leader, gains favor with the men of Shechem, and they begin to celebrate, getting drunk in the temple of their god. Gaal openly challenges Abimelech’s authority, questioning why they should follow him, the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal), instead of honoring their own heritage by following the descendants of Hamor, the original founder of Shechem. Gaal’s bold statements challenge Abimelech to battle, signaling a rebellion is brewing within Shechem against their self-made king.

Judges 9:30-33 (NKJV):
30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.
31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.
32 Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33 And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

Zebul, who remains loyal to Abimelech, is angered by Gaal’s rebellion. He sends a secret message to Abimelech, warning him of the uprising and advising him to attack Shechem by surprise. Zebul’s strategy involves ambushing the city at dawn, catching Gaal and his supporters off guard. This sets the stage for a confrontation between Abimelech’s forces and the rebellious people of Shechem.

Judges 9:34-38 (NKJV):
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
37 So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners' Terebinth Tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

Abimelech’s forces surround Shechem during the night, positioning themselves in four divisions to ambush Gaal and his men. As Gaal notices the approaching forces, Zebul mocks him, initially trying to downplay the threat by suggesting Gaal is seeing shadows. When the reality of the attack becomes clear, Zebul taunts Gaal for his earlier bravado and challenges him to face Abimelech’s army. This confrontation reveals Zebul’s cunning as he lures Gaal into an unwinnable battle.

Judges 9:39-41 (NKJV):
39 So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded to the very entrance of the gate.
41 Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

Gaal leads the men of Shechem into battle, but they are quickly defeated by Abimelech’s superior forces. Gaal and his men retreat back to the city gate, suffering heavy losses along the way. Abimelech stays in nearby Arumah, while Zebul, taking advantage of the situation, drives Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem, removing a key threat to Abimelech’s rule and temporarily restoring peace to the city.

Judges 9:42-45 (NKJV):
42 And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.
43 So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them.
44 Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them.
45 So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

The day after Gaal’s defeat, the people of Shechem attempt to go about their daily activities, unaware that Abimelech is preparing another ambush. Dividing his forces, Abimelech catches the citizens of Shechem off guard and slaughters them. He then captures the city, kills its inhabitants, and in a symbolic act of destruction, sows the city with salt, ensuring it remains barren and ruined as punishment for their rebellion.

Judges 9:46-49 (NKJV):
46 Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.”
49 So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

After Abimelech’s destruction of Shechem, the survivors retreat to a stronghold inside the temple of their god, Baal-Berith, seeking refuge. However, Abimelech does not relent. He leads his men to Mount Zalmon, where they gather wood and use it to set fire to the temple, burning the stronghold and killing about a thousand people. This ruthless act demonstrates Abimelech’s relentless ambition and his willingness to destroy anything that stands in his way, even sacred places.

Judges 9:50-55 (NKJV):
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.
52 So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.
54 Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.

Abimelech’s violent campaign continues as he attacks the city of Thebez. When the people flee to a strong tower, Abimelech attempts to repeat his strategy of burning them alive. However, as he approaches the tower, a woman drops a heavy millstone on his head, mortally wounding him. Fearing the shame of being killed by a woman, Abimelech orders his armor-bearer to kill him, which the young man does. With Abimelech’s death, his army disperses, and his tyrannical reign ends in failure and humiliation.

Judges 9:56-57 (NKJV):
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

The chapter concludes with the clear statement that God’s justice was served. Abimelech’s death is divine retribution for the murder of his seventy brothers, and the people of Shechem also suffer for their complicity in his crimes. The curse Jotham pronounced is fulfilled, demonstrating that God does not tolerate wickedness, and those who commit evil will ultimately face His judgment.

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