Judges 9 - Introduction

9 Abimelech's kingdom and fall

This chapter seems to be derived from a single source, with the exception, perhaps, of Judges 9:26, the account of Gaal's revolt, which Moore proposes to assign to J. There are no traces of the Deuteronomic editor here, for the reason suggested above. Historically the chapter possesses great value as illustrating the relations between Canaanites and Israelites in one of the chief towns of the country. Ch. 1 made it clear that the Israelite conquest was very far from being complete. Here, at Shechem, the native Canaanites were in the ascendant, and yet there was a sufficiently strong Israelite element in the place to raise Abimelech to the position of ruler. But the time was not ripe for an Israelite monarchy; a reaction soon set in, and though the Canaanite revolt was unsuccessful it brought about Abimelech's fall and death.