JUDGES CHAPTER 9, “Father’s
Day And The Conspiracy Of Abimilech”
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.
In our last study, we looked at chapter 8 of Judges and how that Gideon
stumbled in the later days of his life, and that in his stumbling Gideon also
caused all
1.1.1. We saw in that chapter that
Gideon now had great challenges to face because of his success in battle, and
that there is always more danger in God’s people’s lives when they have had
great successes than when they were struggling.
The greatest temptations come to God’s people when they have been
successful.
1.1.2. We saw that Gideon could
have not only led the children of Israel in conquering their oppressors, the
Midianites, but he also could have led them to spiritual renewal in the
Lord. However, after defeating Midian,
Gideon instead caused the children of
1.1.2.1. Sadly, we saw that all of
the good things that Gideon accomplished by his conquering of the Midianites
were overturned by his subsequent failure in causing the sons of
1.2.
In our study today, we are going to look at the story of the conspiracy
of Abimilech, the son of Gideon through his concubine from the city of
1.3.
Previously, in observing the spiritual decline of this man Gideon who
had been used by the Lord to conquer the Midianite oppressors of
1.3.1.
Initially Gideon had been a cowardly man and required reassurance after
reassurance before he was able to boldly lead his people to go up against the
army of 135,000 Midianites and conquer them in battle.
1.3.2.
The Lord though wanted Gideon to be totally dependent upon Him for the
victory so that the Lord would get the glory for the battle, and thus the Lord
required Gideon through two different tests to reduce his army of 32,000 men
down to just 300.
1.3.3.
When Gideon finally placed himself in total dependence upon the Lord
for victory in battle over the Midianites and had his fears quelled by the
Lord, he came up with an incredible war plan that relied completely upon the
Lord for the victory. He had each of the
300 men with him carry only a trumpet, a clay pot, and a torch. He instructed the men to form three groups
and in the middle of the night they descended the hillsides into the valley
where the army of Midian was camped. At
Gideon’s signal, each of the men were to stay stationary and blow his war
trumpet, break his clay pot, light his torch, and yell, “For the Lord and For
Gideon.” When they did this, the men of
Midian woke up imagining that multitudes of the sons of
1.3.4.
Gideon then called the men of the tribes of
1.3.5.
Gideon and his men then pursued the fleeing kings of Zeba and Zalmunna,
who had 15,000 warriors with them.
Finally, all of the men of Midian, and their kings were killed by Gideon
and his men.
1.3.6.
After these great victories over Midian, we saw a heart attitude had
developed for Gideon and the men of
1.3.7.
The tests from the Lord that Gideon began to fail:
1.3.7.1.1.
Gideon first failed when he began to take personal vengeance out upon the
men of Penuel and then upon the kings, Zeba and Zalmunna. Gideon’s actions revealed that he had an
exaggerated sense of his own self-importance.
1.3.7.1.2.
Gideon had great popularity after the great victory over the
Midianites, when he was used to deliver the Israelites from their
oppressors. Therefore, the people of
1.3.8.
Acting like he was a king, Gideon sought to demonstrate his power,
wealth, and might by accumulating wives to himself, and he obtained 70
wives. However, this wasn’t enough for
him, so he also obtained a concubine from the tribe of Shechem. She bore a son to him whom he named
“Abimilech,” which means, “son of a king.”
Thus, everywhere that this son went he declared by his very name what
Gideon had formally denied in rejecting kingship over
1.3.9. We will see in this study
how that Abimilech’s actions are really the result of having a neglectful and
unloving father in Gideon.
1.3.9.1. Abimilech was an
illegitimate son born of a woman that was not a wife but just a slave. She provided sex just as a convenience for
her master, not because she was any kind of a help mate or partner for Gideon
1.3.9.2. If a person has children,
whether legitimately or illegitimately, he/she is responsible to be a parent to
them and should raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
1.3.9.3. Gideon apparently never
acted like a father to Abimilech, and never gave Abimilech the love he longed
for from his father, the love that a father is obliged to give to sons and
daughters.
1.3.9.4. Gideon apparently also was
very neglectful and never trained up his son in the ways of the Lord.
1.3.9.4.1.
In Ephesians 6:4, the apostle Paul gave us fathers a charge as to how
we are to raise up our children, “4 Fathers, do not provoke your
children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord.”
1.3.9.5. There is a principle that is
always at work in families and, by the way, also in the church. This principle is that “like produces
like.”
1.3.9.5.1.
Our children normally grow up to be like we are not like we tell them
they ought to be.
1.3.9.5.2.
We as parents cannot bring our children to a place where we ourselves
have never been, its impossible. We
cannot expect them to do what we ourselves will not do.
1.3.9.5.3.
Larry Christenson has written, "It is unreasonable [for a
father] to expect moral success with [his] children without submitting to the
laws of morality."
1.3.9.5.3.1.
Our society today is filled with children with attitudes and character
like this man Abimilech, and this has occurred because of parents and
particularly fathers having abdicated their parental role. This is the primary reason I believe that we
have so much crime in our country today.
1.3.9.6. By his parental neglect as
well as giving Abimilech a name which means, “son of a king,” Gideon created in
his son a heart that was egotistical, greedy, lawless, and ambitious and which
desired all of the wrong things in life, including power and wealth to be
obtained at any cost.
1.3.10.
We will see in this chapter two firsts in the Old Testament:
1.3.10.1. The first king.
1.3.10.2. The first parable.
1.3.10.2.1. Jesus taught many parables,
however in the Old Testament we see that there are also found a few parables.
1.3.11.
We will see that Abimilech desired to be king of
1.3.12.
In this study we will observe and interpret the first of the parables
that are found in the Old Testament.
1.3.13.
We will see justice in this study that Abimilech is treated just as he
had done to others, and, the men of the city of
1.3.13.1. In Gal. 6:7, Paul wrote
about how that the Lord will see to it that what a man sows, that, shall he
also reap, “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, this he will also reap.”
1.3.13.2. In Matt. 26:52, Jesus taught
that those who live by the sword will also die by the sword, “52 Then
Jesus said to him, “ Put your sword back into its place ; for all those who
take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”
2. VS 9:1-6 - “1 And Abimelech the
son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them
and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak,
now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you,
that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man
rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.” 3 And
his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of
all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for
they said, “He is our relative.” 4 They gave him seventy pieces of
silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and
reckless fellows, and they followed him. 5 Then 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 All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled
together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which
was in Shechem.” - Abimilech conspires to be
made king of
2.1.
We see here that Abimilech is very ambitious for power. When Gideon named Abimilech the name that
means, “son of a king,” but refused to make himself king, Abimilech saw this as
a spoiled opportunity. Thus, Abimilech
sought to capitalize on the situation and make himself king, and he was so
greedy and ambitious that he would have power no matter what it would require
in terms of human lives and suffering.
Abimilech was a lawless man with no scrupples for he would not allow
anyone or anything to get in his way from obtaining what he desired for himself.
2.2.
Abimilech’s mother was from the city of Shechem, so Abimilech correctly
reasoned that if he went to this city that with the help of his mother’s
relatives that he would be able to rally the people together to make him king
over Israel.
2.3.
Abimilech uses some psychology on the men of Shechem in order to get
them to rally together around him:
2.3.1. He asks the men if they
would rather have 70 sons of Gideon rule over them, or just one? In other words is one king who rules better
than 70 kings all who are trying to rule?
How could you satisfy all?
2.3.2. Then he asks them if they
would rather have someone rule over them who was a stranger or one of them, one
who was bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh?
2.3.2.1. Remember, his mother was
from the city of
2.4.
It appears that since the men of Shechem determined that they would
side with Abimilech and accept him as their king, that Abimilech next required
that they pay him a kingly tribute. The
men of the city then gave him 70 pieces of silver.
2.4.1. This bribing of the men of
Shechem and making them pay tribute may have been the first part of the wedge
that was eventually driven between them and Abimilech, for soon (in three
years) they change their mind about who they would rather have reign over them
and they mutiny against Abimilech.
2.5.
Abimilech takes the 70 pieces of silver the men of Shechem give him to
hire some ‘worthless and reckless fellows’ whom Abimilech takes over to Ophrah
to kill the rest of Gideon’s 70 sons.
This mass murder was one of the most horrific acts anyone could commit.
2.6.
By killing off his brothers, Abimilech put himself in the same camp as
some rather infamous Bible characters, including Cain (Gen. 4), Absalom (2 Sam. 13), and Jehoram (2 Chron.
21).
2.7.
These ‘worthless and reckless’ men hired by Abimilech kill every one of
the 70 legitimate sons of Gideon except for Jotham, who escapes.
2.8.
Next, the men of Shechem assembled together and officially make
Abimilech king.
3. VS 9:7-21 - “7 Now when they told
Jotham, he went and stood on the top of
3.1.
Mt. Gerizim, where Jotham makes this speech, was mentioned previously
in Joshua chapter 9. In that chapter we
saw that the children of
3.1.1. The implication in the
Joshua chapter 9 story was that we as God’s people are going to walk through
this valley in our lives, and all of us are going to encounter the law of
God. Though we are free from the
condemnation of the law through Jesus’ death upon the cross for our sins, we
still will suffer the consequences for obedience (blessing) or disobedience
(curses) to the law. No person, you see,
can escape God’s law.
3.2.
Here in this parable spoken by Jotham, we see that there were a group
of trees that decided that they wanted to anoint a king to rule over them. This group of trees represent the men of the
city of
The group of trees then went to each of the
different trees and asked them to come and reign over them. Each of them in turn refused the offer to
reign over the trees.
Each of these trees, olive, fig, and vine, produce
fruits that are valuable and enjoyable to man.
However, none of these legitimate fruit bearing trees would accept the
offer to reign over the trees. These
various trees represent the 70 legitimate sons of Gideon who could have been
chosen to reign over
Finally, the trees went to something that was
illegitimate in tree terms, a “thorn bush,” to see if it would reign over
them. This “thorn bush” bore no fruits
but only lousy thorns good for nothing but to be burned in a fire. The thorn bush symbolized Abimilech the
illegitimate and lawless son of Gideon born of his concubine (slave).
What a foolish and inappropriate thing it was for
these trees to accept this worthless “thorn bush” to reign over them as
king.
The thorn bush then told the trees that if in fact
he would reign over them then they should come and take cover in the shade
which he provided. Yet, a thorn bush is
a very poor provider of any shade so even his boast was an empty one. However, if they refused to take their shade
from under the thorn bush then fire would come out from the thorn bush and
consume them.
3.3.
Then, Jotham told the men of Shechem that if in truth they had dealt
properly and with integrity towards Gideon and his sons in making Abimilech
their king then may they enjoy Abimilech, however they had not done so but
rather they had acted treacherously towards Gideon in killing off his
legitimate sons for this poor excuse for a king, therefore fire would come out
from Abimilech and destroy them, and, fire come forth from them and destroy
Abimilech.
3.4.
Not only did Jotham tell a very worthy parable on this day, but his
word also proved to be prophetic, for in the end both Abimilech and the men of
Shechem were destroyed, and the men of Shechem were burned alive in a fire set
by Abimilech.
3.5.
This parable of the “Thorn Bush” told by Jotham has wide spread application,
and is very interesting when analyzed carefully:
3.5.1. Clarence Edwards Macartney
published a book in 1955 titled, “The Parables Of The Old Testament,” and I was
given a copy of the book over 25 years ago.
However, I only read part of it recently as I was studying this
parable. I found it very rich and
insightful. In interpreting this parable
Macartney points out:
3.5.1.1. We as people tend to think
that we are victims of our circumstances.
We blame our genetics, our environment, our upbringing, our culture and
nationality, and a million other things for our faults and short-comings. However, in fact we are really the product of
our own choices, whether good or bad.
3.5.1.2. Our life is largely what we
make of it because we choose who will be are king.
3.5.1.3. We are really the architects
of our own miseries for the many choices that we make in life determine more
about what we will do and what we will be than anything else.
3.5.2. This parable reminds me also
of the fact that there is a civil war going on within the heart of every
Christian between the Holy Spirit, who dwells within him, and the old sinful
nature. This war is over who will reign
over our heart and life. Paul described
this battle in Gal. 5:16-21, “16 But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh
sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these
are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you
please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the
Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as
I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
3.5.3. There is a throne in each
person’s life. We determine who is going
to sit upon that throne:
3.5.3.1. The unsaved person:
Before a person comes into a personal relationship
with the Lord, it is self and the sinful nature that sits upon that
throne. As a result of self and the
sinful nature sitting upon that throne, the life of a non-Christian is in
disharmony with God, the people of this world, and nature itself. There is much frustration, unhappiness, and
discord that is experienced by those for whom self and the sinful nature sit
upon the throne.
Gal. 5:19-21 above described the deeds that come as
a result of having self and the sinful nature on the throne of one’s life: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, and carousing.
3.5.3.2. The Spirit-filled Christian:
When a person comes into a personal relationship
with Christ it is when he invites Christ to come into his life and to sit upon
the throne of his life. Christ enters a
person’s life as king over his life and initially sits upon the throne. Self and the sinful nature are not destroyed
but they are rendered powerless while Christ sits upon the throne reigning.
When Christ is sitting upon the throne of a person’s
life the fruits of the Spirit are flowing out of him and thus his life is
characterized by those fruits (see Gal. 5:22 above): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, and self-control.
3.5.3.3. The carnal Christian:
Christians though have a battle for control of that
throne for the flesh and the Spirit are constantly warring. We often kick Christ off of the throne
through sin and willful disobedience, and the old sinful nature again takes the
throne of our life. Christ remains in
our life when we kick Him off of the throne, but He is not allowed to reign in
our life. The result of kicking Christ
off of the throne of our life is again frustration, unhappiness, and discord.
3.6.
My question to you today is this, which of these three lives most
symbolizes your life, The non-Christian, Spirit-filled Christian, or the carnal
Christian?
3.6.1. Have you ever asked Christ
to come into your life as Lord and reign supreme over your life as you are
yielding your life up to Him?
3.6.1.1. If not, then you are not
saved but rather after this life you are headed not to heaven but rather to
hell…
3.6.2. If you have asked Christ to
come in and to reign as Lord in your life, does your life resemble the
“Spirit-filled” life and the fruits of the Spirit that it produces? Or are you on the throne of your life and you
see more of the deeds of the flesh being produced in your life?
3.6.2.1. Do you want the illegitimate
thorn bush that produces no fruit but only worthless thorns, contentions and strife,
to be in control of your life?
3.6.2.2. Or, do you want the Lord of
life to reign in you?
3.6.2.3. I am always amazed at what
people will allow to rule their lives instead of the Lord, what they will
accept as a substitute for the Lord.
3.6.2.3.1.
Jesus taught His disciples in John 8:34 that if we allow sin in our
lives that we shall be slaves to sin, “…everyone who commits sin is the
slave of sin.”
3.6.3. If you’re on the throne of
your life having kicked Christ off of the throne, then I would encourage you to
abdicate the throne to Christ and ask Him in faith to sit upon that throne and
take control of you and your choices and life!
4. VS 9:22-49 - “22 Now Abimelech
ruled over
4.1.
Israel’s first king was Abimilech, as we see here in verse 22. However, it is doubtful that the whole nation
recognized him as such.
4.2.
Note here that the “wedge” that was driven between Abimilech and the men
of the city of
4.3.
Abimilech was requiring tribute to travelers and those shipping their
goods, however men from Shechem began to rob all who traveled the highways and
byways. Abimilech was losing much money
then from these robberies.
4.4.
Note here that the same kind of treachery that Abimilech created in
order to be able to be made king over
4.5.
Note though that not only did Abimilech get what he deserved in this
chapter, but the men of Shechem, who had allowed Abimilech to get into power
and by doing nothing gave approval to Abimilech when he had his hired thugs to
go and kill all of the remaining 70 sons of Gideon (excepting Jotham of
course), that they also get their just desserts.
4.5.1. Just as Jotham had
prophesied, the men of Shechem had a literal fire come out from Abimilech when
he had them burned alive as they took refuge in a tower.
4.5.2. Abimilech had his men each
cut down a branch and place it on the
4.6.
We as people ought to be wise and realize that we will never get away
with any rebellion against the Lord, or any sin that we commit that is against
anyone. There is not a deed for which
the Lord does not take notice. Justice
will eventually be served upon all of those who are unrepentant.
5. VS 9:50-57 - “50 Then Abimelech
went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But
there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women
with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they
went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower
and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with
fire. 53 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s
head, crushing his skull. 54 Then he called quickly to the young
man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that
it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’ ” So the young man pierced him
through, and he died. 55 When the men of
5.1.
Here, we see that after killing the men of Shechem that Abimilech came
against another city, Thebex. Evidently,
the men of Thebez had also rejected Abimilech from being king and thus he was
going to destroy them also for their rebellion against him.
5.2.
God saw to it though that not only the men of Shechem were judged for
their murdering of Gideon’s 70 sons and making Abimilech king, but Abimilech
also was judged and killed by a woman who dropped an upper millstone upon his head.
5.3.
As he was lying there dying, instead of Abimilech calling out to the
Lord for help or humbling himself before God, instead he was still filled with
so much pride that he was concerned that he not be known as a man who was
killed by a woman, so he asked his armor bearer to pierce him through so that
he would die, and thus he is killed.
6. CONCLUSION:
6.1.
Who have you been making king of your life?
6.2.
Have you been saved by Christ?
Have you truly repented of your sins and going your own way apart from God
and asked Jesus to come into your life and rule as king on your throne?
6.2.1. If not, I urge you to yield
your will up to the Lord and vow to believe in Him, obey Him, and follow Him
all the days of your life as you invite Him to come in and sit upon the throne
of your life.
6.3.
If you have asked Christ to come into your life and rule as king over
you, is He still sitting on the throne, or have you kicked Him off?
6.3.1. Are you calling the shots or
are you seeking the will of the Lord in everything you do in your life?
6.3.2. I encourage you today to
abdicate the throne immediately as a child of God purchased by the pure and
holy blood of the Lamb upon