Abimelech Murders His Brothers
9:1 Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives. He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family,
Abimelech was the son of Gideon by a Canaanite concubine. Jerub-Baal means “Baal Fighter." This was the name that was given to Gideon by his father. This name will be used throughout this chapter. Shechem was most likely still a Canaanite city, since there was no record in Scripture of its conquest. Abimelech first went to receive support from his mother’s Canaanite house.
9:2 “Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal’s sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.’”
No son of a judge had ever ruled Israel. Abimelech was attempting to be the first to do so. Abimelech’s argument was that it was better to have one of their own blood to rule over them than it was to have seventy sons of Gideon, who were not of Canaanite origin. Abimelech was half-Canaanite and half-Jewish.
9:3 His mother’s relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, “He is our close relative.”
The Canaanite blood tie convinced Shechem to support Abimelech.
9:4 They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers.
The satanic temple of Baal-Berith was going to fund the assassination of the seventy children of the Baal Fighter. Abimelech considered the lives of his seventy half-brothers as worth no more than one silver piece.
The Hebrew word for “lawless” is רֵק (rak), meaning empty, worthless, or foolish. These men hired by Abimelech possessed idle hands and empty stomachs. They had no desire to work or earn an honest living. They would accept any dirty deed which would earn them money.
The Hebrew word for “dangerous” was פָּחַז (pacaz), meaning “to boil up” or “to be violent." These were idle and worthless men who were devoid of wisdom and moral understanding. They would kill a man for one piece of silver and feel no remorse.
9:5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal’s youngest son, escaped, because he hid.
The execution took place one by one, but on a stone used for ritual purposes. This was a cold and calculating genocide of the Gideon family. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, survived.
9:6 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem.
The nobles of Shechem and Beth Millo coronated Abimelech as King.
Jotham’s Parable
9:7 When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!
Jotham stood on a platform of Mount Gerizim and told a parable to Shechem.
9:8 “The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
The trees were searching for a king. The trees represent the people of Shechem. They asked the olive tree to be their king.
9:9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!’
The olive tree denied the request. He was too busy producing oil which honored God and man. The olive oil honors God, because it was used for anointing the priesthood and for lighting the Menorah lampstand. The olive oil honors man by refreshment of the skin and for food. Why should the olive tree become king, reigning over all of the the trees, and abandon his more useful purpose?
9:10 “So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
The fig tree was next asked to be king.
9:11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!’
The fig tree denied the request. He was too busy making sweet fruits that were enjoyed by many.
9:12 “So the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king!’
The grapevine was asked to be king.
9:13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’
The grapevine denied the request. He was too busy making wine. The wine cheers God because of the wine offerings of the Mosaic Law. As stated in Psalm 104:15, “Wine gladdens the heart of man.”
9:14 “So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and be our king!’
The trees asked the thornbush to be king.
9:15 The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
The thornbush produces nothing of value. It is even worthless as timber. It is dangerous to the farmer, because if it catches on fire, it can destroy the whole crop. If the crop catches on fire, then it will burn all of the trees around it as well. It gives no shadow or shade. It can even burn an entire forest of cedars of Lebanon to the ground. The thorn bush was the lowest grade of plant life, but it was offered to become king.
9:16 “Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him –
Jotham gave the application of the parable. Gideon not only saved Israel from the Midianites, but he saved these Canaanites as well. Therefore, Shechem should have been loyal to the family of Gideon.
9:17 my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian’s power.
Gideon risked his life for Shechem.
9:18 But you have attacked my father’s family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative.
Jotham accused Shechem of murdering 69 of his brothers on one ritual stone. He accused them of making the son of a slave as their king, just because he was a Canaanite.
9:19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness!
Sarcasm was used often in the Bible, but unbelievers and immature Christians condemn mature believers for sarcasm. Sarcasm is a powerful weapon of language. Satan wants to save sarcasm as a weapon that only he can use. He does not want believers to use sarcasm, because it is too effective. However, Jehovah, the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles all used sarcasm.
Jotham’s use of sarcasm was as follows: if Shechem has shown loyalty and integrity to the house of Gideon, then Abimelech would bring them happiness.
9:20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!”
If Shechem was not loyal to the family of Gideon, then may Abimelech catch on fire and burn down the other trees of Shechem.
9:21 Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.
Jotham was a wanted man. Assassins were looking for him. He went into hiding for three years.
God Fulfills Jotham’s Curse
9:22 Abimelech commanded Israel for three years.
The Hebrew word for command is שׂוּר (sur), meaning to govern. Since the Holy Spirit did not recognize Abimelech as a king, the Hebrew word מֶ֛לֶךְ (melek) was not used. Abimelek governed Shechem and three other cities for a total of three years.
9:23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.
Since Shechem had violated the Abrahamic Covenant by killing seventy sons of a judge, Jehovah sent a demon to stir up hostility between Abimelech and Shechem. God is sovereign. He can use demons for His purposes. The demon may or may not know that he was being used by God.
9:24 He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them.
The purpose of sending the demon was for punishment, not reform. Abimelech was guilty of violent murder. Now, he and Shechem would have to pay for this murder. God is the only one who can avenge, because He is sinless and righteous.
9:25 The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it.
Abimelech forced his four cities to pay tribute. Once the royal treasures collected the tribute, then Shechem hired robbers to rob them. This bankrupted Abimelech’s government. It also showed the people that Abimelech could not keep the roads safe.
9:26 Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.
Gaal means “to be loathed or despised." Ebed means “slave." Gaal was “the despised one, the son of a slave.” Gaal gained the allegiance of Shechem.
9:27 They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
Shechem celebrated their Fall Feast by worshiping at the temple of Baal-Berith and cursing Abimelech. Baal-Berith means “the covenant of Baal."
9:28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?
Gaal emphasized not the Canaanite mother of Abimelech, but his Jewish father. The Jewish father of Abimelech was Gideon, or Jerub-Baal, which meant “Baal Fighter." Hamor was a Canaanite who founded the city. Why should the Canaanites in Shechem serve Zebul, who was appointed as a deputy by Abimelech, who was the Jewish son of the Baal Fighter? Wouldn’t it be better if the Canaanites followed one of the sons of Hamor, who was a Canaanite who founded the city?
9:29 If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, “Muster your army and come out for battle!”
Gaal boasted that if he was the leader of Shechem, he would get rid of this Jewish leader, who was the son of the Baal Fighter. He asked the citizens of Shechem to raise him an army and he will get rid of Abimelech.
9:30 When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.
Abimelech commissioned Zebul as the governor of Shechem.
9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, “Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.
Zebul sent a secret message to Abimelech, warning him of the rebellion.
9:32 Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city.
Zebul suggested a night march on the rebels.
9:33 In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him.”
Zebul suggested to wait for the rebel soldiers to leave the city, and then ambush them.
9:34 So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided into four units.
Abimelech began his night march. After he reached the city of Shechem, he divided his troops into four units.
9:35 When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city’s gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.
Gaal’s army began to leave the city. Abimelech’s men stood up, preparing to attack.
9:36 Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, “Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills – it just looks like men.”
Gaal saw the soldiers. He did not know that Zebul had betrayed him and sent a secret message to Abimelech. Zebul told him Gaal that he was only seeing shadows.
9:37 Gaal again said, “Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners.”
Gaal looked again and saw soldiers advancing from the Tree of Divination. This was a sacred place where the Canaanites communicated with their Canaanite gods. Their Canaanite gods were actually demons, disguising themselves as gods.
9:38 Zebul said to him, “Where now are your bragging words, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!”
Zebul mocked Gaal. Gaal boasted of attacking and killing Abimelech. Now that Abimelech was outside of the the city, Gaal was given the opportunity to make good of his boast.
9:39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech.
The battle began.
9:40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate.
Abimelech was winning the battle. Gaal ran for his life.
9:41 Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
Arumah was Abimelech’s capital. Shechem may have been angry that they made Abimelech king, but he chose another city for his capital. Zebul was appointed by Abimelech as governor of Shechem. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. Gaal was never heard from again.
9:42 The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,
Abimelech wanted to teach the citizens of Shechem a lesson for rebelling against him. The Shechemites came out into the open field.
9:43 he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down.
Abimelech divided his men into three units. He killed the Shechemites in the open field.
9:44 Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city’s gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down.
One of Abimelech’s units blocked the gate to the city. The other two units killed everyone in the field.
9:45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it.
Abimelech killed everyone in the city. He salted the ground to make sure that nothing would ever grow there again. This strategy would later be proven to be a failure.
9:46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.
The leaders hid in the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. El-Berith means “the Covenant of the Mighty God.”
9:47 Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.
All of the leaders of Shechem were at one place. They were most likely praying to their Canaanite gods for protection.
9:48 He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, “Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!”
Abimelech cut down timber. He asked his men to do the same.
9:49 So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died – about a thousand men and women.
Abimelech burned the leaders of Shechem alive in their own pagan temple.
9:50 Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it.
Abimelech moved against Thebez as well.
9:51 There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city’s leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
All of the citizens ran into the tower.
9:52 Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,
Abimelech set this tower on fire as well.
9:53 a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull.
A millstone weighed about 27 pounds. This stone cracked open the skull of Abimelech.
9:54 He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man stabbed him and he died.
The most ignoble death for a warrior was to die by the hands of a woman. He used his mother, a woman, to claim kingship. His kingship was taken away by another woman. He asked his armor-bearer to kill him.
9:55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
Notice that there were Israelite soldiers with Abimelech. This meant that Abimelech received some allegiance from Israel. Israel learned that an Israelite-Canaanite-confederate city state type of monarchy would not work. The Israelite soldiers returned home.
9:56 God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers.
Jotham’s curse was executed by God. Abimelech was executed by God for killing the seventy sons of the Baal Fighter.
9:57 God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them.
Shechem violated the Abrahamic Covenant by murdering all of the seventy sons of the Baal Fighter. Therefore, God executed every single person in the city. God used this historical event to show Israel what happens when they attempt to coexist with evil Canaanites.