Following the death of Gideon (Judges 8:29-32), the judge who had delivered Israel from the oppression of the Midianites (Judges 7), the Israelites turned again to other gods and “…did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side” (Judges 8:33-34). The children of Israel also refused to show kindness to the house of Gideon even though he had done so much good for them (Judges 8:35). Without Gideon ruling over Israel as a judge, a struggle for leadership and power over Israel began to surface with Abimelech who was one of Gideon’s sons. Abimelech went to Shechem and spoke with his mother’s family saying, “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!” (9:1-2, NLT). The men of Shechem decided to support Abimelech and even gave him money, which he used to hire “worthless and reckless men” (9:3-4). Abimelech took these men and their first rebellious act was to kill all of his brothers; however, Jotham (his youngest brother) hid himself and escaped the mass murder (9:5). After this horrendous act, the men of Shechem gathered themselves and made Abimelech their king (9:6).
When Jotham heard what his brother had done, he stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and spoke a parable of the trees (9:7), which is written in Judges 9:8-15. Jotham’s parable spoke of the trees who repeatedly asked for someone to rule over them, but three times (olive tree, fig tree, vine) they had been refused (9:8-13). After three refusals, the trees finally asked the bramble (thorn-bush) to rule over them even though the bush was considered inferior to the others (9:14). The thorn-bush agreed to rule over them as long as they would “…take shelter in my shade” (9:15). It was impossible for the thorn-bush to provide shade so this statement by the bush was made in pride. Jotham revealed that the thorn-bush in his parable represented Abimelech, who had elevated himself in pride in an attempt to rise to power. Jotham then confronted the men of Shechem and asked them if they were honoring the memory of Gideon by making Abimelech their king (9:16-19). If the men of Shechem had not acted in sincerity and truth, Jotham asked that they be destroyed along with Abimelech (9:20-21). Three years passed since Abimelech had come to power, but then the Lord caused a spirit of trouble between the men of Shechem and Abimelech so that those who dwelled in Shechem planned a revolt against Abimelech (9:22-25). This revolt was led by Gaal, son of Ebed, but Abimelech soon found out about their plan when Zebul sent word to him while he was away (9:26-33). Abimelech quickly formed a plan to attack Gaal and he eventually took the city, killed the people, demolished the city, and polluted the land with salt (9:34-45). The events described in Judges 9:46-49 are probably further details concerning Abimelech’s attack on the people of Shechem. After his defeat of Shechem, Abimelech attacked and captured the town of Thebez but the men and women escaped to a tower and barricaded themselves inside (9:50-51). Abimelech decided to set the tower on fire, but as he was standing near the entrance a woman dropped a millstone from the roof and it crushed his skull (9:52-53). ”Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, 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. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place” (9:54-55). By dying in this matter, “…God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. 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” (9:56-57). Although it may seem like those who rebel are getting away with their selfish acts, their actions will eventually be punished.
Dear God, guard me from leading in foolishness and pride.
