Judges9

Abimelech, son of Gideon, conspires with the men of Shechem to make himself king, subsequently murdering his seventy half-brothers, save Jotham. Jotham prophesies mutual destruction upon Abimelech and Shechem for their treachery. God sends an evil spirit, leading to conflict, and Abimelech ultimately destroys Shechem before being fatally wounded by a woman at Thebez. His ignominious death fulfills Jotham's curse upon him and Shechem.

Abimelech Seeks Kingship in Shechem

1
Avimelekh the son of Yeruba'al went to Sh'khem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with the whole clan of his maternal grandfather. He said, ​
2
"Please ask all the men of Sh'khem, 'Which is better for you - that all seventy sons of Yeruba'al rule over you, or that one person rule over you? And remember that I am your blood relative.'" ​
3
His mother's brothers spoke to all the men of Sh'khem and said all this about him, so that they followed their feelings and supported Avimelekh, arguing, "After all, he's our brother."
4
They also gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Ba'al-B'rit; and he used these to pay good-for-nothing thugs to follow him. ​
5
He went back to his father's house in 'Ofrah and killed his brothers the sons of Yeruba'al, all seventy of them, on a single rock, except for Yotam Yeruba'al's youngest son, who stayed alive because he hid himself. ​
6
All the men of Sh'khem and all Beit-Millo got together and went and made Avimelekh king at the oak by the cult-pillar in Sh'khem. ​

Jotham's Fable and Curse

7
When they told this to Yotam, he went and stood on top of Mount G'rizim and shouted, "Listen to me, you leaders of Sh'khem; then God will listen to you! ​
8
Once the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Rule over us!' ​
9
But the olive tree replied, 'Am I supposed to leave my oil, which is used to honor both God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?'
10
So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You, come and rule over us!'
11
But the fig tree replied, 'Am I supposed to leave my sweetness and my good fruit just to go and hold sway over the trees?'
12
So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You, come and rule over us!'
13
But the grapevine replied, 'Am I supposed to leave my wine, which gives cheer to God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?' ​
14
Finally, all the trees said to the thorn bush, 'You, come and rule over us!'
15
The thorn bush replied, 'If you really make me king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the thorn bush and burn down the cedars of the L'vanon!' ​
16
"Here's the point. Have you been honest and straightforward in making Avimelekh king? Have you been fair with Yeruba'al and his household and treated him as he deserves?
17
My father fought on your behalf, risking his life, and rescued you from the power of Midyan;
18
and now you are rebelling against my father's household. You've killed his seventy sons on a single stone and made Avimelekh, the son of his slave-girl, king over the men of Sh'khem, because he's your brother.
19
I say this: if you are dealing honestly and righteously with Yeruba'al and his household today, then may you enjoy Avimelekh and may he enjoy you!
20
But if not, let fire come out from Avimelekh and burn up the men of Sh'khem and Beit-Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Sh'khem and Beit-Millo and burn up Avimelekh!" ​
21
Then Yotam fled, making his way to Be'er, and he lived there for fear of Avimelekh his brother.

God Sows Discord Between Abimelech and Shechem

22
Avimelekh was chief over Isra'el for three years. ​
23
But God sent a spirit of discord between Avimelekh and the men of Sh'khem, so that the men of Sh'khem dealt treacherously with Avimelekh. ​
24
This came about so that the crime against the seventy sons of Yeruba'al might be avenged and the responsibility for their bloody death be placed on Avimelekh their brother, who murdered them, and on the men of Sh'khem, who helped him kill his brothers. ​
25
So the men of Sh'khem sent out men to ambush him on the mountaintops. They robbed everyone who went past them, and Avimelekh was told about it.

Gaal Incites Rebellion Against Abimelech

26
Ga'al the son of a slave came with his brothers and went on to Sh'khem, and the men of Sh'khem put their trust in him.
27
They went out into the field, gathered their grapes and pressed the juice out of them. Then they held a feast and went into the house of their god to eat and drink, and there they insulted Avimelekh. ​
28
Ga'al the son of a slave said, "Who is Avimelekh? Think of the contrast with Sh'khem! Why should we serve Avimelekh? Isn't he the son of Yeruba'al? Isn't Z'vul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Sh'khem! Why should we serve Avimelekh? ​
29
If I were in control of this people, I'd get rid of Avimelekh!" Then, addressing his words to Avimelekh, he said, "Come out and fight! I don't care if you make your army even larger!"
30
When Z'vul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga'al the son of a slave, he was enraged. ​
31
He sent messengers to Avimelekh in Tormah with this message: "Ga'al the son of a slave and his brothers have come to Sh'khem, and they're inciting the city against you.
32
You and the men with you should come up now at night and lie in wait in the field.
33
In the morning, get up early, as soon as the sun rises; and attack the city. Then, when Ga'al and the men with him come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them."
34
Avimelekh and all the men with him came up by night and lay in wait against Sh'khem in four groups.
35
Ga'al the son of a slave went out and stationed himself at the entrance to the city gate. Then Avimelekh and his men rose from their ambush.
36
When Ga'al saw the men, he said to Z'vul, "Look, there are men coming down from the mountaintops." Z'vul answered, "You're seeing the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."
37
Ga'al said again, "Look, there are men coming down from the main hill in the land, and one group is coming on the road from the Fortuneteller's Oak.
38
Z'vul said to him, "Where's your mouth now? You said, 'Who is Avimelekh? Why should we serve him?' Aren't these the people you despise? Go on out and fight them!"
39
So Ga'al went out, leading the men of Sh'khem, and fought Avimelekh.
40
But Avimelekh gave chase, and Ga'al took to flight; many fell wounded, strewn all along the way to the city gate.
41
Then Avimelekh took up residence in Arumah, and Z'vul drove out Ga'al and his brothers, so that they could not live in Sh'khem.

Abimelech Destroys Shechem

42
But the very next day, the people went out into the field, and Avimelekh was told about it.
43
He took his men, divided them into three groups, and lay in wait in the field. When he saw the people going out of the city, he came out of hiding and slaughtered them.
44
Avimelekh and his group rushed forward and occupied the entrance to the city gate, while the other two groups attacked all those in the field and killed them.
45
Avimelekh fought against the city all that day; captured it, killed its people, destroyed its buildings and sowed its land with salt. ​
46
When all the men in the fortress at Sh'khem heard about this, they took refuge in the stronghold of the temple of El-B'rit. ​
47
Avimelekh was told that all the men from the Sh'khem fortress had gathered together;
48
so he led all his men up to Mount Tzalmon, where he took an axe in his hand, cut a branch off a tree, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to those with him, "Quick! Do just what you saw me do!"
49
They all did likewise, each man cutting off his branch; and they followed Avimelekh. They put the branches up against the stronghold, set them on fire, and burned down the stronghold; so that all the people from the Sh'khem fortress died, about a thousand men and women. ​

Abimelech's Death at Thebez

50
Then Avimelekh went to Tevetz, set up camp against Tevetz and captured it.
51
But there was a fortified tower inside the city; and all the men and women took refuge in it, everyone in the city. They shut themselves inside and went up onto the roof of the tower.
52
However, when Avimelekh approached the tower, attacked it, and then came up close to the tower's door in order to burn it down,
53
a woman dropped an upper millstone on Avimelekh's head, cracking his skull. ​
54
He quickly called out to the young man holding his armor, "Draw your sword, and finish me off, so that people won't say a woman killed me." So his attendant ran him through, and he died. ​
55
When the men of Isra'el saw that Avimelekh was dead, they all went back home.
56
This is how God paid back Avimelekh for the wrong he did to his father in murdering his seventy brothers. ​
57
God also repaid the men of Sh'khem for all the wrong they had done; on them came the curse of Yotam the son of Yeruba'al. ​

Study Notes for Judges 9

Verse 1

Shechem was a major city with strong Canaanite ties (indicated by the worship of Baal-Berith, v. 4). Abimelech appeals to his maternal lineage here, prioritizing political expediency over his father Gideon's anti-monarchical stance.

Verse 2

The appeal to 'your bone and your flesh' is a powerful tribal formula for kinship, designed to leverage Shechem's loyalty against Gideon's larger, potentially divided, family.

Verse 4

Baalberith means 'Baal of the Covenant.' The silver was taken from this temple treasury, illustrating how Abimelech's rule was rooted in Canaanite idolatry, directly contradicting Gideon’s legacy (Jerubbaal, 'Let Baal contend').

Verse 5

The mass execution 'upon one stone' emphasizes the brutality and planned nature of the coup. This act of fratricide demonstrates a complete rejection of Israelite covenantal morality.

Verse 6

The 'house of Millo' refers to a citadel or stronghold within Shechem. Making Abimelech king represents the first attempt at establishing an Israelite monarchy outside of divine appointment, a deeply corrupt beginning.

Verse 7

Mount Gerizim was the mountain of blessing (Deut 11:29). Jotham delivers his curse from this high, symbolic place, giving his words prophetic authority.

Verse 8

Jotham's Fable is the oldest known fable in the Bible. It functions as a sharp political critique, illustrating that those truly worthy of leadership (olive, fig, vine) refuse power, while the worthless (bramble) eagerly grasps it.

Verse 13

Wine is described here as cheering 'God and man.' This reflects its use in sacrificial offerings (libations) and communal worship, demonstrating its religious and social worth.

Verse 15

The bramble (a thorny bush, good only for burning) offers no true protection ('shadow') but demands absolute trust. The threat of fire symbolizes the destructive nature of Abimelech’s rule.

Verse 20

This is the curse proper. Jotham predicts mutual destruction, where the 'fire' (violence and ruin) will consume both the illegitimate king (Abimelech) and those who installed him (Shechem).

Verse 22

Abimelech's reign is brief (three years), suggesting its instability and illegitimacy in the eyes of the narrator.

Verse 23

God uses the 'evil spirit' (often translated as discord or mischief) as an instrument of divine justice, ensuring that the human wickedness leads to its own ordained punishment.

Verse 24

The narrator explicitly links the subsequent violence to the need for retribution for the blood of Gideon's sons, underscoring the theological theme of retributive justice operating throughout Judges.

Verse 27

Their feasting and cursing Abimelech while worshipping their own god (Baal-Berith) highlights the deep political and religious instability that marked Abimelech's rule.

Verse 28

Gaal challenges Abimelech's legitimacy, suggesting loyalty should instead lie with the ancient Canaanite ruling family of Shechem ('men of Hamor'), reflecting a desire to return to pre-Israelite leadership.

Verse 30

Zebul, the ruler of the city, remains loyal to Abimelech, perhaps fearing the consequences of Gaal's ambition. This internal division within Shechem weakens the city significantly.

Verse 45

Sowing a captured city with salt was a symbolic act, intended to curse the land and ensure it remained barren and uninhabitable, signifying total destruction and desecration.

Verse 46

The fortress ('hold') of the house of Berith (Baal of the Covenant) served as a sanctuary. Fleeing there indicates they sought protection from their pagan deity, which ultimately failed.

Verse 49

Abimelech's use of fire to burn the refuge echoes the fire predicted in Jotham's curse (v. 15, 20), fulfilling the first half of the prophecy against Shechem.

Verse 53

The use of a millstone—a common, domestic object—and the agent being a nameless woman highlights the ignominy of Abimelech's fate.

Verse 54

Abimelech’s concern about being killed by a woman reveals the extreme patriarchal shame associated with such a death in ancient warfare, driving his final desperate command.

Verse 56

This concluding statement provides the theological summation of the story. Abimelech’s entire career, from the fratricide to his death, is presented as God’s judgment (rendering wickedness) upon him.

Verse 57

The chapter concludes by confirming that Jotham's curse (v. 20) was fully executed by God, serving as a powerful warning against illegitimate rule and covenant infidelity.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options