College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Judges 9 - Introduction
A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 9
Abhnelech made king. Gideon refused the office when the people of Israel came to him and offered to make him their king. At that time, he said God was to be their ruler. Gideon's son, Abimelech, born of a concubine of Gideon'S, accepted the opportunity to usurp the role of leadership in Israel. He slew the seventy sons of Gideon so that no one could dispute his being Gideon's sole heir. It was an abortive attempt to establish a monarchy in Israel and was ill-fated.
Jotham's fable. Jotham told a story in the form of a fable which illustrated the folly of the people in making Abimelech their king. He pronounced judgment on them, and then ran away to hide to escape the fate of the other sons of Gideon. He was the sole survivor out of a total of seventy sons whom Abimelech had tried to exterminate. Jotham was Gideon's youngest son, and had been hid from the slaughter performed by Abimelech.
Gaal's plot against Abimelech. The wicked men of Shechem who had accepted Abimelech's proud offer to be their king soon tired of his rule. They entered into a plot with Gaal, who had challenged them to overthrow the government of Abimelech.
The slaughter of the Shechemites. The men who revolted against Abimelech in Shechem found refuge in the house of Baal-berith. Abimelech led in the cutting down of branches of trees, and all who were with him followed his leadership as they set fire to the tower where the Shechemites had hid. In this way, they destroyed the thousand men and women.
The death of Abimelech. Abimelech fled to Thebez. At this citadel a woman cast a piece of a millstone off the top of the tower and struck Abimelech on the head. Mortally wounded, he called for his armourbearer to slay him so that it would not be recorded that a woman had killed him.
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
1.
Love is not puffed up. Abimelech was not a man who loved his people. He loved himself. He was puffed up in his own conceit; and like the brier of the fable, he considered himself to be worthy of ruling over his fellows, Gideon, Abimelech's father, had demonstrated more love for his people as he had refused to take the exalted office of king over Israel.
2.
Uneasy is the head that wears the crown. Any person in a place of leadership is constantly a target for the attacks of those whom he attempts to lead. A king is quickly toppled from his throne by a rebellious people. For that reason, it has been said again and again that the head is uneasy that wears the crown. This is especially true when the crown has been secured by foul means. For this reason, we are not surprised to read that the men and women of Shechem soon turned their backs on Abimelech and that the people of Thebez finally slew the short-lived king of Israel,
3.
Vengeance belongs to God. The Apostle Paul urged the Christians in Rome not to avenge themselves. At that time, he stated a principle which was laid down in the Law where it is written, Vengeance belongeth to me; I will recompense, saith the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35). Jotham did not try to organize a military force to oppress his wicked brother, Abimelech. He stated an eternal truth in the form of a fable and prayed that Abimelech and the Shechemites would come to destruction by the hand of God. This did occur, and the truth which Jotham had espoused was vindicated.
TEN QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 9
1.
Where did Abimelech's mother live?
2.
How many sons of Gideon did Abimelech slay?
3.
What was the name of the one son who escaped?
4.
What tree was first asked to rule over the trees in the fable?
5.
What other tree was asked to be the ruler?
6.
What kind of a plant was the third to be asked?
7.
To what plant was Abimelech compared in the fable?
8.
Who led the men of Shechem in their revolt against Abimelech?
9.
What was the name of the god in whose house the men of Shechem hid?
10.
How many men and women were killed when the tower of Shechem was burned?