Judges

Gideon was a man that God used for the nation of Israel.  The writer of Hebrews places Gideon in the same sentence with Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel; all men of noteworthy faith used by God for His work.

³⁹ And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  (NKJV; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1982, Thomas Nelson)

But let's not lose sight of Gideon, the coward idolater turned military hero only by God's empowerment and guiding hand.  Over and over, we see our God used messed up people.  He guides them and empowers them and writes the story on His terms.  This should give us hope.  We tend to like our heroes a little stronger, taller and more courageous; those who look at hopeless situations with courage and head held high.  They lift their eyes to God and raise their sword and proclaim, "It's a good day to die."  We like to imagine that's how we'd be; we want to identify with these folks.  But is that reality?  Be honest and imagine standing as leader of 300 against 135,000 mean looking armed soldiers who hope to separate you from your head.  Would our fears and inadequacies not rule us rather than our faith? 

In this situation, we likely would see ourselves as failures; and in the world's eyes, we would certainly look that way.  However, when we are weak, He is strong.  When we get our self and all we trust in out of the way and come to a place where we must solely rely on God, He can show himself mighty and grow us to trust Him more.  God is glorified.  The world looks at us as failures because it assumed we are working for our own glory, fame, wealth, etc.

To the shame of the people, there was no lasting change from Gideon's life and work in the Lord.  At the end of chapter 8 it appears that Baal had his way in the end and that God lost.  The people went back to apostasy.  They worshiped the Baals.  But the story isn't over.  The spiritual and ethical seeds sown by Gideon would come to fruition in Abimelech.

Judges 9:1-6

The city of Shechem had a long and sordid past – much if it as a sacred site.  Shechem shows up first in scripture when Abram passed through the land in (Genesis 12:6).  It was a Canaanite city that existed at that time.  Jacob had come through Shechem also.  Later, the Canaanite leader's son raped Jacob's daughter Dinah.  The brothers took revenge by killing all the male population while they were defenseless.  In Joshua 24 the site of Shechem was the site of covenant renewal.  This same city was the home of Gideon's concubine and she bore a son to Gideon, Abimelech.  His name meant 'my father is king.'

Abimelech had aspirations that were in line with his name.  As the son of a concubine, he wasn't considered a full son with any rights.  As one of 70 sons, he was just another of the forgotten offspring of Gideon.  Abimelech sought authority and power by approaching his mother's family in Shechem.  His question to the men there was posed to them on the heals of the death of Gideon.  It assumed there was a void to be filled.  Would be better for 70 sons from elsewhere reign over you or just one of your own?

The men of Shechem chose to follow Shechem.  Gideon was a judge and deliverer chosen by God.  There seems to be no consideration with the plan or calling of Yahweh.  Abimelech was not seeking to follow Gideon, but to use his association with him to place himself in a powerful position.  The men of Shechem chose him because of association and ambition; not out of need and qualification.  Their choice to support him came with his goal to assassinate all the others.  In this town of a thousand or so people, the idea of using their males as an army of assassins probably didn't set well with them. Instead, they paid him 70 shekels from the temple of Baal-Berith.   This Baal was central to their current apostasy.  The name meant 'lord of the covenant'.  It appears to be a blend of their Canaanite god with the idea of the covenant they knew from Yahweh. 

You have to something here about the value of life.  Leviticus established a fifty-shekel value to ransom males twenty to fifty years old.  Slaves were typically valued at twenty shekels.  A shekel per man for the sons of Gideon indicated a very low valuation on their life.  How easy would it be to find men to murder another for a shekel each?  Apparently, it wasn't too difficult.  Most mercenaries didn't work for pay but for the potential for plunder. 

Abimelech hired some 'worthless and reckless' men.  The word 'worthless' is used 14 times in the Old Testament and means ethically empty and idle minded.  These guys weren't noted for their morals and original thinking.  The word reckless is used only twice in the scriptures and means haughty and boastful.  These are men moved only by personal gain and don't operate within normal boundaries.  Isn't it fascinating that every generation is marked with these people.  It is the very picture of life ruled by the flesh, sin and the effects of sin. 

Abimelech had him an army that followed him to his father's house.  There, they killed all his brothers.  The fact that it was done on one stone means they were executed one at a time and no one was able to stop them.  The fact these men were executed on a stone means some consideration should be given to the idea that these were human sacrifices to Baal.  In 6:25 at the beginning of Gideon's adventure, the Lord had him tear down the altar of Baal.  It appears the based stone of the altar was then used as an altar to the Lord on which he sacrificed his father's bull.

Jotham means integrity of God.  He is a kind of remnant, preserved by God.  Jotham hides himself from the worthless men while his brothers were executed one by one.

The men of Shechem gathered and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree.  The terebinth tree was devoted to Yahweh.  To anoint Abimelech there was a particularly blasphemous thing.  It is here the Lord first met with Gideon and his adventure began.  While Abimelech was evil and sought only personal gain, God was not powerless nor surprised.  The Lord allowed it, for now. 

Beth Millo means 'house of rampart' and probably not a specific name but a general place.  Some see this as the elevated district of the temple district in Shechem.  These two groups named Abimelech as their king.  None of the other tribes were part of this. 

Judges 9:7-15

Israel had once stood on Mount Gerizim and shouted their loyalty to Yahweh's covenant (Josh 8:30-35).  This shows how far they had fallen.  This mount is adjacent to the city of Shechem.  Jotham stood alone on the mount and delivered his message to Shechem.  He equates listening to him as the key to have God listen to them.  The implication is that God doesn't hear them. 

There were existing works at the time detailing trees as speaking and arguing about their place and role.  This takes a similar idea and delivers a prophecy to them. 

• Two trees sought a king to rule.  They offered the job to:
  • The olive tree is offered the job.
    • The olive tree had the important job of giving oil that was used to honor God.
    • Why would it quit to go sway over trees?
  • The fig tree is offered the job.
    • The fig tree possessed sweetness and good fruit.
    • Why would it quit to go sway over trees?
  • The vine is offered the job.
    • The vine was the producer of new wine used to cheer God and men.
    • Why would it quit to go sway over trees.
  • The bramble is offered the job.
    • The bramble accepted the job and offered to bring them into its shade if they really wanted to anoint it king.
    • The bramble was a prickly solution to a problem the people never had.
    • If this was done 'in truth' they could enjoy the shade of a bramble.
    • If not in truth, for righteousness and justice, then fire would come from the brambles and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The worth of the trees was descending to the worthless. 

Judges 9:16-21

The trees sought a king – the offers were rejected because they did not want to 'sway' over the two.  This word doesn't mean rule over in any sense.  It has the sense to 'tremble' or 'shake' over the two.  Jotham implies that Abimelech is also a worthless and reckless man.

• If they had really made Abimelech king (pictured as crowding up under the thornbush to get shade) …..
• If they dealt with the house of Gideon justly….
• If they had in truth and sincerity

Then, the people of Shechem and Abimelech should rejoice in each other.

But, if not, then Jotham called for fire to come from Abimelech and consume them.  Thorns were good for nothing but setting fire.  They associated themselves with the thornbush and they would burn up with him.  The trees of value may represent the better options if they were seeking another to rule over them.  Those other choices were providing for God's ministry and worship and providing value. 

Verses 17 and 18 are parenthetical and characterize Gideon as their deliverer who at great risk delivered them from the Midianites.  In response, they had disrespected his name by what they had done. 

Judges 9:22-25

Abimelech ruled for three years; all indications are this was a regional reign, likely over the Canaanite population in the area.  Jotham predicted a fire and it appears to have smoldered for three years before God fanned it into a flame.  The Lord initiated a riff between the leaders and Abimelech.  He sent bad disposition among people of bad disposition.  The leaders had supported a man with no morals, sense of justice or fairness – who placed no value in the king's sons.  How did they think they could trust in Abimelech and rely on him?  In the same way, the Abimelech was empowered by ruthless men who could in turn be ruthless to him.  He had to live life one step ahead of all his sins and hope he could keep pace.  How is it we continue to allow leaders with no morals, ethics or sense of right and wrong – some of which can't define what a woman is?  Are we surprised when their true colors show? 

Jotham could be patient and know that their sins would find them out (Numbers 32:23).  The ways of sin may work for a time or season, but it will always come around.  The results will come calling and testify against you.  Whatever a man sows, that he will reap (Gal 6:7).  Those that once supported treachery to empower Abimelech were now plotting treachery against him.  They were desperate to get rid of him.  God moved to avenge the blood of Gideon's sons.

As a trade route and a place that lived off trade and the other incomed derived from it, the presence of robbers would drive trade away.  Their actions were designed to bring Abimelech running or to bring him to ruin.  Either way, he would be dealt with.    

Judges 9:26-29

From across the horizon, a new hombre' rides into town – and the town folks are hoping that Shechem isn't big enough for Gaal and Abimelech.  Gaal looks like the one to deliver them and they put their trust in him.  It was the grape harvest and the new wine must've been good.  In a drunken stupor they talk big against Abimelech and curse him.   Who was Abimelech that the people of Shechem should serve him?  Zebul was the ruler of Shechem.  Gaal suggests Abimelech serves him, rather than the other way around.  Zebul calls for Shechemites to be loyal to Hamor, Shechem's father. 

If only!!!  Gaal puts himself forward as an alternative to Abimelech.  His politicking doesn't sound much different than that of Abimelech.  Gaal appears to be another self-appointed leader cut from the same cloth as Abimelech.  They are worthless men who seek power.  They bring nothing, talk big and offer little.  They enslave others to keep themselves in power.  

It was a sign of the times.  Every man was doing whatever felt right to him. 

Judges 9:30-33

Zebul was Abimelech's man; his future was linked to Abimelech's power (at least until it became obvious there would be a change, then he'd switch sides).  Zebul reports the status of things and suggests a battle plan.  He provided the time and place for the confrontation and let Abimelech know he would be looking the other way.

Judges 9:34-38

Abimelech and his men lie in wait for Gaal.  When he comes to the city gate the men rose up and moved in.  Zebul suggested Gaal was seeing things (36) when he first saw them.  Gaal saw more evidence (37).  When Zebul couldn't hide the fact of Abimelech's presence he resorted to taunts (38).  As kids we used to say your mouth wrote a check you couldn't cash.  This is what Zebul is suggesting, Gaal's mouth wrote a check his sword couldn't cash. 

Judges 9:39-45

The battle must have been short.  Gaal was run off by Abimelech and the men of Shechem.  Zebul gets credit for dealing with Gaal and company.  Arumah was 5 mile southeast of Shechem.  Even with Gaal gone, the men of Shechem wanted done with Abimelech.  They went out to the field – this could be considered military move.  Another ambush was set by Abimelech.  He sprung it on these men and the city.  Everyone was killed and the city was sown with salt.  Sowing with salt may have had some ritual sense to it, but the salt ruined the land and crops could not be grown on it. 

Abimelech had made himself a king with no one to rule over.  A leader who has no one following him is just out for a lonely walk. 

Judges 9:46-49

The tower of Shechem was a stronghold attached to the city.  There is some archeological evidence of this temple.  Remains of a temple from this time were been found on the acropolis at Shechem.  It was 108 feet by 92 feet and had walls 18 feet thick.  This mount Zalmon is unknown.  Abimelech and his men went and cut firewood.  It took a lot of wood but they laid it out against the stronghold and set it on fire.  A thousand men and women in the tower died that day. 

Jotham was right.  Fire went out from this bramble and destroyed Shechem's leader who put him in power.  The lesson was learned.  Don't embrace a thornbush or you'll surely get burned!

Judges 9:50-55

Thebez was 10 miles or so northeast of Shechem.  Abimelech attacked this town and took control of it also.  It also had a tower, probably the only fortified location.  Abimelech knew how to handle these.  He fought he way to the tower with the intention of burning it to the ground.  A woman dropped a millstone on his head.  A mill had two stones, the lower was a base weighting a hundred pounds.  The upper was five pounds or so, shaped to the hand of the grinder.  A woman custom to grinding with it would be quite strong and used to handling that stone. 

What many could not accomplish, one determined woman did.  Abimelech was mortally wounded but his pride was intact.  Dying by the hand of a woman was a horror to him.  Somehow it must have been better to have your armor bearer stab you to death.  This can only be slightly better.  This was the equivalent of cutting the head off the snake.  When he was gone, the rest of his men scattered. 

Judges 9:56-57

It was over three years, not nearly soon enough for our taste.  We want to see God act quickly against the wicked and evil – unless of course it is us.  Then we'd like his long-suffering and grace.  God's timing is perfect and His justice sure.  The one who had killed his brothers on one stone was killed by a stone.  The vengeance was delivered on behalf of the sons of Gideon.    

The curse of Jotham played out against the men of Shechem.  The evil these men employed came back on them. 

It would have been a shameful death for Abimelech to die at the hands of a woman.  He felt it was better to be told he was killed by this young man.  Regardless, his evil was repaid and everyone knew why he died.  The curse of Jotham had come on the men of Shechem and Abimelech. 

© 2015, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater