The blessings of the LORD died with Gideon. Then one day, his son through a handmaid, Abimelech, declared himself king after soliciting the support of his mother’s family at Shechem. With seventy pieces of silver, he hired a gang of assassins and went to his father’s house and executed all seventy of his half brothers, Gideon’s sons. Only the youngest son, Jotham escaped. The people of Shechem made Abimelech king.
Judges 9:5-6 ESV 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.
When Jotham heard that Abimelech was made king, he shouted from the top of Mount Gerizim, down to the people of Shechem; a parable. The parable is a warning and a condemnation of both Abimelech and the people of Shechem:
Judges 9:7-15 ESV When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. (8) The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.' (9) But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?' (10) And the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.' (11) But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?' (12) And the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.' (13) But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?' (14) Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.' (15) And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
One of my favorite scriptures, that gives me hope in adversity is that God sees all and He will measure out justice ultimately.
Galatians 6:7 ESV Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Abimelech believed that he could get away with anything that he wanted. Jotham warned the people of the evil that would come and it did. Abimelech had ruled for only three years when the LORD sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the people. They revolted and set an ambush for Abimelech. At a local festival for one of their gods the people got drunk and spoke out freely against Abimelech cursing him in public. This led to more treachery and a conspiracy was formed against the people of Shechem and Abimelech moved his army by night and attacked the city at first light. There were a number of raids against the people of Shechem and in one raid, the people tried to hide in the tower at Shechem and Abimelech piled wood and burned alive about 1,000 men and women. He then attacked the town of Thebez and captured it. All of the men and women escaped to the tower of their town. But as Abimelech prepared to burn the people alive, a woman dropped a millstone down on him. He quickly asked his armor bearer to run him through with a sword because he did not want it to be known that he was killed by a woman.
Judges 9:52-57 ESV And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. (53) And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. (54) Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died. (55) And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. (56) Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. (57) And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, there is a consequence for every action. I thank you for your WORD that leads me into your righteousness. Keep me from evil, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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