Abimelech’s Conspiracy (Part 1 of 2)
><> ><> Judges 9:1-21 <>< <><
1 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.
><> ><> COMMENTARY <>< <><
We begin our study in Judges 9:1-21, by looking at the context. As we saw in our previous day’s lesson, Abimelech was the son of Gideon by his concubine in the city of Shechem. Abimelech is a Hebrew name for ‘my father is king.’ Some scholars have said Abimelech could also be a title, like a prince, which is the son of the reigning king and queen. Other kings in the Bible were also named Abimelech. The name seems to be generic, or maybe a title, that was common even among the Philistines from the time of Abraham to King David. What is difficult to understand with the information we have, why did Gideon, who did great things for the Lord and did not want him or his sons to become king of Israel, would name his son by his concubine, Abimelech. According to Gideon, God was to be their king. Maybe Gideon wanted his son in Shechem to grow up with dignity and self-worth since he was not a legitimate heir! This is only a conjecture on our part, and on this side of heaven, we may never know. What makes this story very believable is Abimelech’s name which will play an important part in today’s passage. In addition to Abimelech’s name, the city of Shechem, Abimelech’s hometown, is also meaningful. Shemech was a City of Refuge that was in the tribal allotment for Manassa in Joshua 17:7. Joshua 21:21 says that Shechem and its pasturelands are in the hill country of Ephraim. Shechem was a City of Refuge that God gave to the Israelites in the land. If any man killed another without intent, they could escape the avenger of blood as long as they remain in the City of Refuge. One passage describes the list of cities allotted to Manassa. The other passage is describing the location of the city, which is in the hill country of Ephriam. Bible Study maps show Shechem in Manassa, but very close and in the hill country of Ephriam. It is like a town on the border between the two tribes. South of Shechem is Mount Gerizim and to the north is Mount Ebal. Moses gave the Israelites instructions when they enter the land in Deuteronomy 11:29, which says, “When your God יהוה brings you into the land that you are about to enter and possess, you shall pronounce the blessing at Mount Gerizim and the curse at Mount Ebal.” Shechem is the city that lies in the valley between the two mountains. With Shechem’s ancient history as a city of idolatry, it is not a coincidence that Moses chose these mountains to pronounce blessings for obedience and curses for not obeying the commandments of God. Shechem was in between hearing the witness of God’s Word. Oh, how mighty is the Word of God! It pierces the heart and convicts the ungodly of their unrighteousness. The citizens of Shechem stand guilty for their immoral acts of idolatry. We must remember that the people of Manassa did not drive the Canaanites out of this land. They dwelt among them. Additionally, Beth-millo is also important in today’s story. Beth-millo means ‘house of fulness.’ It is a fortress near the vicinity of Shemech and was used to protect the citizens. And finally, the House of Baal-berith is the temple, not for God, but for Baal, the false god of the Canaanites who lived in the city of Shechem. These important facts will play a great part in today’s story.
Our story today happens after the death of Gideon. Otherwise, Gideon, a man of God with good deeds and with flaws, would not have stood for what was to happen. His son by a concubine in Shechem, Abimelech, had selfish ambitions to become a king over Israel. We know that Gideon had no desire for him or his sons to become king over Israel. As Gideon said in his own words, “the Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23). Where Gideon had a call from God to lead, judge, and deliver His people, Abimelech, did not. Nor was there any occasion for God to choose a deliver. After all, Gideon has just died and more than likely, Abimelech was just returning from his father’s funeral. Abimelech, with selfish, ulterior motives, goes back home to seduce his relatives and townspeople with his vile cravings for recognition. First, he appealed to the citizens with ungrounded reasoning. He asked them why should they be ruled by the seventy sons of Gideon and whether it would be better to be ruled by just one man. The problem with this reasoning is that the seventy sons of Gideon were never given in to becoming a ruling king. Secondly, Abimelech appealed to his people and places a perverted, filial indebtedness into their hearts by saying in verse 9:2, “Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” The city and its officials were probably smitten by their own lustful desires and agreed to Abimelech’s offer. They said in regard to Abimelech’s offer, “He is our brother” (verse 9:3). After all, Shechem was now going to be the royal city of Israel. To sanction Abimelech’s offer, the city officials give Abimelech seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith in the city. Any man of God would not accept any offer of money from a temple to a pagan god. This act of support shows the depth of vileness of this ungodly and despicable deed. There was no mention of the Lord God of Israel who gave Gideon victory over the Midianites, who delivered them from the centuries of slavery in Egypt, and who rescued them from their wanderings in the desert to safely bring them into their promised land of rest, the land of Canaan. It was God who said he would drive out the inhabitants of Israel if they would remain faithful to Him. But they did not. Israel did not drive the Canaanites out of the land. Instead, they were pleased to live among them and the gods of Canaan became their gods. All the leaders of Shechem came together with those in Beth-milo, a nearby fortress, and announced Abimelech as king over Israel. Abimelech’s first order of business was to go back to his father’s home and kill his brothers, the seventy sons of Gideon. Fortunately and by divine providence (for God is still Lord overall even when the world rejects Him), one son, the youngest son named Jotham, escaped this devilish act.
In application, may we learn how to discern God’s call on our church leaders! Some, sad to say, have no call from God and are seeking to satisfy their own selfish ambitions. They are self-proclaimed servants who are empty and shallow. They have no depth of character and are not God’s chosen ones. It is a vile thing to set oneself up as God’s anointed. For example, God chooses men of God who will lead His people, the church of God. These men must have a call from God. They must have a Scriptural call. God gives His churches explicit instructions on who is qualified to be His leaders for His churches in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. They must have a call from the church as it said in Acts 13 when the church in Antioch met to pray, choose, call, and send out missionaries. Paul and Barnabus answered their call. Paul said that he was called an Apostle, meaning sent out one, from God. Oh, how awful when a man surpasses God’s design and promotes himself as a church pastor or elder! Additionally, in all matters, we also must never serve from our own selfish desires. We must trust and depend on Him. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Therefore, we come to Him, who leads us in the paths of righteousness that He has planned for us to follow.
><> ><> PRAYER <>< <><
My Lord Jesus Christ, You are my Lord God and Savior. I praise and worship You. You built Your church and purchased it with Your own blood. You loved and gave Your life for Your bride. Your are making Your bride pure and holy by Your Word. Lord Jesus, create in me a desire to love You and Your church. May I come to serve Your church, Your called-out people, in any capacity that You have planned for me! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
><> ><> HYMN <>< <><
He Leadeth Me, by Joseph H. Gilmore in 1862
