1 AND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal 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.
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 Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
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: notwithstanding yet Jotham 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 Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
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.
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.
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted 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, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted 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?
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, 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 his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 And ye are risen 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 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.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
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.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in 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.
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! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
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.
32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait 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: 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 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.
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.
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, 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.
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.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out 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.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait 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: 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.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold 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.
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, 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.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
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, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door 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. And 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 unto his place.
56 Thus God rendered 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.

1And Abimelech the sonne of Ierubbaal went to Shechem, vnto his mothers brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying;

2Speake, I pray you, in the eares of all the men of Shechem; Whether is better for you, either that all the sonnes of Ierubbaal (which are threescore and ten persons) reigne ouer you, or that one reigne ouer you? Remember also, that I am your bone, and your flesh.

3And his mothers brethren spake of him in the eares of all the men of Shechem, all these wordes, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech: for they said, He is our brother.

4And they gaue him threescore and ten pieces of siluer, out of the house of Baal-Berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vaine & light persons, which followed him.

5And hee went vnto his fathers house at Ophrah, and slewe his brethren the sonnes of Ierubbaal, being threescore and tenne persons, vpon one stone: notwithstanding, yet Iotham the youngest sonne of Ierubbaal was left; for he hid himselfe.

6And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech King, by the plaine of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 And when they told it to Iotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift vp his voice, and cried, and said vnto them, Hearken vnto mee, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken vnto you.

8The trees went foorth on a time to annoint a King ouer them, and they said vnto the Oliue tree, Reigne thou ouer vs.

9But the Oliue tree saide vnto them, Should I leaue my fatnesse, wherewith by mee they honour God and man, and goe to bee promoted ouer the trees?

10And the trees said to the Figge tree, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

11But the Figge tree saide vnto them, Should I forsake my sweetenesse, and my good fruit, and goe to be promoted ouer the trees?

12Then saide the trees vnto the Uine, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

13And the Uine said vnto them, Should I leaue my wine, which cheareth God and man, and goe to bee promoted ouer the trees?

14Then said all the trees vnto the Bramble, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

15And the Bramble said vnto the trees, If in trueth ye anoint me King ouer you, then come, and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the Bramble, and deuoure the Cedars of Lebanon.

16Now therefore, if yee haue done truely and sincerely, in that yee haue made Abimelech King, and if yee haue dealt well with Ierubbaal, and his house, and haue done vnto him according to the deseruing of his hands:

17(For my father fought for you, and aduentured his life farre, and deliuered you out of the hand of Midian:

18And yee are risen vp against my fathers house this day, and haue slaine his sonnes, threescore aud ten persons, vpon one stone, and haue made Abimelech the sonne of his maidseruant, king ouer the men of Shechem, because he is your brother.)

19If yee then haue dealt truely and sincerely with Ierubbaal, and with his house this day, then reioyce yee in Abimelech, aud let him also reioyce in you.

20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and deuoure 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 deuoure Abimeleeh.

21And Iotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there for feare of Abimeleeh his brother.

22 When Abimelech had reigned three yeeres ouer Israel,

23Then God sent an euill spirit betweene Abimelech & the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24That the crueltie done to the threescore and ten sonnes of Ierubbaal might come, and their blood be laid vpon Abimelech their brother which slew them, and vpon the men of Shechem which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25And the men of Shechem set lyers in wait for him in the toppe of the mountaines, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

26And Gaal the sonne of Ebed came with his brethren, and went ouer to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27And 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 eate and drinke, and cursed Abimelech.

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

29And would to God this people were vnder my hand; then would I remoue Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine armie and come out.

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the citie heard the wordes of Gaal the sonne of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31And he sent messengers vnto Abimelech priuily, saying, Behold, Gaal the sonne of Ebed, and his brethren, be come to Shechem, and behold, they fortifie the citie against thee.

32Now therefore vp by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field.

33And it shalbe, that in the morning assoone as the Sunne is vp, thou shalt rise earely, and set vpon the citie: and behold, when he and the people that is with him, come out against thee, then mayest thou doe to them as thou shalt finde occasion.

34 And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in foure companies.

35And Gaal the sonne of Ebed went out, and stood in the entring of the gate of the citie: and Abimelech rose vp, and the people that were with him, from lying in waite.

36And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people downe frō the top of the mountaines. And Zebul saide vnto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountaines, as if they were men.

37And Gaal spake againe, and said, See, there come people downe by the middle of the land, and another companie come along by the plaine of Meonenim.

38Then said Zebul vnto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherwith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that wee should serue him? Is not this the people that thou hast despised? Goe out, I pray now, and fight with them.

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

40And Abimelech chased him, and hee fledde before him, and many were ouerthrowen and wounded, euen vnto the entring of the gate.

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

42And it came to passe on the morrow, that the people went out into the field, and they tolde Abimelech.

43And he tooke the people, and diuided them into three companies, and laide waite in the field, and looked, and behold, the people were come forth out of the citie, and he rose vp against them, and smote them.

44And Abimelech, and the companie that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entring of the gate of the citie: and the two other companies ranne vpon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45And Abimelech fought against the citie all that day, and he tooke the citie, and slewe the people that was therein, and beat downe the citie, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entred into an holde of the house of the god Berith.

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

48And Abimelech gate him vp to mount Zalmon, hee and all the people that were with him, & Abimelech tooke an axe in his hand, and cut downe a bough from the trees, and tooke it, and laide it on his shoulder, and said vnto the people that were with him, What ye haue seene me doe, make haste, and doe as I haue done.

49And all the people likewise cut downe euery man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the holde, and set the holde on fire vpon them: so that all the men of the towre of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and tooke it.

51But there was a strong towre within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the citie, and shut it to them, and gate them vp to the top of the towre.

52And Abimelech came vnto the towre, and fought against it, and went hard vnto the doore of the towre, to burne it with fire.

53And a certaine woman cast a piece of a milstone vpon Abimelechs head, and all to brake his scull.

54Then hee called hastily vnto the young man his armour-bearer, and said vnto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slewe him: and his young man thrust him through, and he died.

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

56 Thus God rendred the wickednesse of Abimelech which hee did vnto his father, in slaying his seuentie brethren.

57And all the euill of the men of Shechem, did God render vpon their heads: and vpon them came the curse of Iotham the sonne of Ierubbaal.

I == Judg 8:31

 

 

II == Gen 29:14 ; Jidg 8:30

 

 

 

 

III == Gen 29:15

 

 

 

IV == Judg 8:33 ; 11:3 ; 2nd Chr 13:7 ; Prov 12:11 ; Acts 17:5

V -- Judg 6:24 ; 2nd Kings 11:1-2

 

 

 

VI == Josh 24:26

 

 

VII == Deut 11:29 ; 27:12 ; Josh 8:33 ; John 4:20

 

 

VIII == Judg 8:22-23 ; 2nd Kings 14:9

IX == Ps 104:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Ps 104:15

 

 

 

XV == Num 21:28 ; Judg 9:20 ; 2nd Kings 14:9 ; Ps 104:16 ; Isa 2:13 ' 30:2 ; 37:24 ; Dzek 19:14 ; 31:3 ; Dan 4:12 ; Hos 14:7

XVI == Judg 8:35

 

 

 

 

XVIII == Judg 9:5-6

 

 

 

XIX == Judg 9:15 , 56-57 ; Isa 8:6 ; Phil 3:3

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == 2nd Sam 20:14

 

 

 

XXIII == 1st Sam 16:14 ; 18:9-10 ; 1st Kings 12:15 ; 22:22 ; 2nd Chr 10:15 ; 18:19-34 ; Isa 19:2 , 14 ; 33:1

XXIV == 1st Kings 2:32 ; Esth 9:25 ; Ps 7:16 ; Matt 23:35-36

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == Judg 9:4 ; Isa 16:9-10 ; Jer 25:30

 

 

XXVIII == Gen 34:2 , 6 ; 1st Sam 25:10 ; 1st Kings 12:16

 

 

XXIX == 2nd Xam 15:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == 1st Sam 10:7 ; 25:8 ; Eccl 9:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVII == Deut 18:14

 

XXXVIII == Judg 9:28-29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLV == Deut 29:23 ; Judg 9:20 ; 1st Kings 12:25 ; 2nd Kings 3:25

XLVI == Judg 8:33

 

 

 

XLVIII == Ps 68:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIII == 2nd Sam 11:21

 

LIV == 1st Sam 31:4

 

 

 

 

 

LVI == Judg 9:24 ; Job 31:3 ; Ps 94:23 ; Prov 5:22

LVII == Judg 9:20

1 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal, went to his mother's kinsmen in Shechem, and said to them and to the whole clan to which his mother's family belonged,

2 "Put this question to all the citizens of Shechem: 'Which is better for you: that seventy men, or all Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' You must remember that I am your own flesh and bone."

3 When his mother's kin repeated these words to them on his behalf, all the citizens of Shechem sympathized with Abimelech, thinking, "He is our kinsman."

4 They also gave him seventy silver shekels from the temple of Baal of Berith, with which Abimelech hired shiftless men and ruffians as his followers.

5 He then went to his ancestral house in Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. Only the youngest son of Jerubbaal, Jotham, escaped, for he was hidden.

6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.

7 When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!

8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

9 But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'

11 But the fig tree answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'

12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

13 But the vine answered them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?'

14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'

15 But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

16 "Now then, if you have acted in good faith and honorably in appointing Abimelech your king, if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his family, and if you have treated him as he deserved - 

17 for my father fought for you at the risk of his life when he saved you from the power of Midian;

18 but you have risen against his family this day and have killed his seventy sons upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman - 

19 if, then, you have acted in good faith and with honor toward Jerubbaal and his family this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he in turn rejoice in you.

20 But if not, let fire come forth from Abimelech to devour the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come forth from the citizens and from Beth-millo to devour Abimelech."

21 Then Jotham went in flight to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.

22 When Abimelech had ruled Israel for three years,

23 God put bad feelings between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against Abimelech.

24 This was to repay the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and to avenge their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who encouraged him to kill his brothers.

25 The citizens of Shechem then set men in ambush for him on the mountaintops, and these robbed all who passed them on the road. But it was reported to Abimelech.

26 Now Gaal, son of Ebed, came over to Shechem with his kinsmen. The citizens of Shechem put their trust in him,

27 and went out into the fields, harvested their grapes and trod them out. Then they held a festival and went to the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

28 Gaal, son of Ebed, said, "Who is Abimelech? And why should we of Shechem serve him? Were not the son of Jerubbaal and his lieutenant Zebul once subject to the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we serve him?

29 Would that this people were entrusted to my command! I would depose Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Get a larger army and come out!'"

30 At the news of what Gaal, son of Ebed, had said, Zebul, the ruler of the city, was angry

31 and sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah with the information: "Gaal, son of Ebed, and his kinsmen have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

32 Now rouse yourself; set an ambush tonight in the fields, you and the men who are with you.

33 Promptly at sunrise tomorrow morning, make a raid on the city. When he and his followers come out against you, deal with him as best you can."

34 During the night Abimelech advanced with all his soldiers and set up an ambush for Shechem in four companies.

35 Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. When Abimelech and his soldiers rose from their place of ambush,

36 Gaal saw them and said to Zebul, "There are men coming down from the hilltops!" But Zebul answered him, "You see the shadow of the hills as men."

37 But Gaal went on to say, "Men are coming down from the region of Tabbur-Haares, and one company is coming by way of Elon-Meonenim."

38 Zebul said to him, "Where now is the boast you uttered, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men for whom you expressed contempt? Go out now and fight with them."

39 So Gaal went out at the head of the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.

40 But Abimelech routed him, and he fled before him; and many fell slain right up to the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech returned to Arumah, but Zebul drove Gaal and his kinsmen from Shechem, which they had occupied.

42 The next day, when the people were taking the field, it was reported to Abimelech,

43 who divided the men he had into three companies, and set up an ambush in the fields. He watched till he saw the people leave the city, and then rose against them for the attack.

44 Abimelech and the company with him dashed in and stood by the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and attacked them.

45 That entire day Abimelech fought against the city, and captured it. He then killed its inhabitants and demolished the city, sowing the site with salt.

46 When they heard of this, all the citizens of Migdal-shechem went into the crypt of the temple of El-berith.

47 It was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of Migdal-shechem were gathered together.

48 So he went up Mount Zalmon with all his soldiers, took his axe in his hand, and cut down some brushwood. This he lifted to his shoulder, then said to the men with him, "Hurry! Do just as you have seen me do."

49 So all the men likewise cut down brushwood, and following Abimelech, placed it against the crypt. Then they set the crypt on fire over their heads, so that every one of the citizens of Migdal-shechem, about a thousand men and women, perished.

50 Abimelech proceeded to Thebez, which he invested and captured.

51 Now there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and all the men and women, in a word all the citizens of the city, fled there, shutting themselves in and going up to the roof of the tower.

52 Abimelech came up to the tower and fought against it, advancing to the very entrance of the tower to set it on fire.

53 But a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech's head, and it fractured his skull.

54 He immediately called his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and dispatch me, lest they say of me that a woman killed me." So his attendant ran him through and he died.

55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left for their homes.

56 Thus did God requite the evil Abimelech had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.

57 God also brought all their wickedness home to the Shechemites, for the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, overtook them.

v 1-3. Jud. 8:31-35 is one of many instances in Scripture where having a concubine led into other family problems, and also shows how fickle people are in loyalty. They now quickly turn to Abimelech, and in three years turn against him, v 23.

 

 

 

v 4-6. Abimelech may have felt inferior and went to the extreme to achieve power, inferring that Gideon's sons were seeking it. After the great deliverance Gideon had given, the men of Shechem and Millo (the part of the city where the upper class lived, or specifically the tower) try to kill all 70 of his sons so their own relative can rule and give them political advantages. They even gave him a “political contribution” to hire worthless men to help him . His family were probably Canaanites and cared  little for the Jews anyway. It is ironic that they made him king by the pillar, probably the rock Joshua set up, Josh. 24:26, as a witness of the people’s promise to serve the Lord. In a separate study I will discuss the oak, or terebinth of Shechem, and the probability it might be the same old tree known to Abraham, Gen. 12:6 and Jacob, Gen. 35:4..

v 7-16. This is the first parable of the Bible, which might be termed a fable, as there are plants speaking. Gideon’s youngest son, Jotham, who had escaped, probably climbed onto a triangular cliff on Mount Gerizim overlooking Shechem, where his voice would carry all across the valley. He was probably pursued after this, but had at least a 20 minute head start and escaped to “Beer”, v 21. This “well” could have been to any number of places where he hid . The gist is that the trees were eager for a leader, and since everyone else was busy with their tasks, they decided on a worthless bramble. The shadow of a bramble, v 15, would not provide much security.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 17-21. Jotham strikes at their consciences for the injustice of forgetting all Gideon had done for them and killing his sons, just so a relative would rule over them. He does not use “if” as in doubt, but to shame them. Then he proceeds with a prophetic curse that the men of Shechem and Abimelech would destroy each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 22. Jotham reigned over that part of the country, but not of all the twelve tribes, just as many of the judges ruled over only their immediate part of the country. 

v 23-25.. God could have destroyed them supernaturally, but He chose to send dissatisfaction among them so that they unwittingly performed His judgment upon themselves for their cruelty to Gideon’s family. Highway robbery by Shechemites deprived Abimelech of revenues he would have been getting.

 

 

 

v 26--29. Gaal took advantage of Shechem’s revolt to suggest they quit serving a half breed Jew and serve a man of their own original household. He seals his bid for leadership by issuing a challenge to Abimelech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 30-33. Zebul, the city mayor, sent secretly to Abimelech for a surprise attack.

 

 

 

 

 

v 34-45. Zebul gave Abimelech more time by insisting Gaal was seeing things, then called his bluff by telling him to go out and fight. Many of the men of Shechem were killed, and Zebul prevented Gaal and others from coming back in. Abimelech laid in wait, took the city and sowed salt, symbolic of his desire that it be ruined forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 46-49. He burned 1,000 men and women in the tower of their god, Berith. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 50-57. Thebez, about 13 miles from Shechem had joined in the revolt so Abimelech went to burn that tower too, but a woman dropped a (20 pound?) millstone, mortally wounding him. Too save his honor, he had his armor bearer finish him, thus  completing the second part of Jotham’s curse.