Judges 9: Abimelech

Judges 9: Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy / The Parable of the Trees / The Downfall of Abimelech

Abimelech is a judge who isn't so great at that whole "peace in Israel" thing. Oh, and he's prone to fratricide.

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy: Judges 9.1-6
Abimelech son of Gideon/Jerubbaal approaches his family with a proposition: It is better for him to rule over the family than all 70 sons of Jerubbaal. His family consents to this because of their kinship but it turns out this is a bad idea. Abimelech is given 70 pieces of silver from the temple, with which he hires an entourage of worthless and reckless men. He takes them to kill all 69 of his brothers at once - Jotham, the youngest, hides himself [remember that one of the characteristics of Hebrew scriptures is favoritism for the youngest]. Abimelech is then pronounced the king of Shechem.

The Parable of the Trees: Judges 9.7-21
Upon hearing that his brother is king, Jotham recites a parable to the lords of Shechem from the top of Mount Gerizim. The parable tells of trees that wish to anoint a king over themselves. The olive tree declines because it would stop producing oil. The fig tree declines because it would stop producing fruit. The vine declines because it would stop producing wine [well, grapes, but metonymy happens]. Finally, the bramble accepts, but only conditionally. If it is anointed king in good faith, then it offers its shade as refuge [which isn't much]. If not anointed in good faith, however, fire will come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The lesson of this parable is that even though many others may have more to offer, only lesser people seek kingship. And if this kingship is not granted in good faith...watch out. There will be blood.

Then Jotham runs and hides - his brother is after him, after all.

The Downfall of Abimelech: Judges 9.22-57
Abimelech rules over Israel three years before God sends "an evil spirit" between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem to avenge Jerubbaal's sons - both their slayer (Abimelech) and the men that gave him power (the lords of Shechem).

The lords of Shechem sets ambushes on the mountain tops and rob people as a way to undermine Abimelech. Then Gaal moves into town, and talks trash about Abimelech, adding that he should rule the city instead. When Zebul - the ruler of the city - hears this, he gets angry. He devises a plan to attack Gaal and his troops in the city: "and when he and the troops that are with him come out against you, you may deal with them as best you can."

Now, "as best you can" is not exactly what Abimelech has been doing to people. Abimelech is one for completely destroying. This shows how far he has fallen from the Lord's grace. And how different are Gaal and Abimelech anyway? Both are men who seek to change the social order and become king - certainly at the cost of others.

The next morning Abimelech and his army pour down form the mountain tops when Gaal appears at the city gates. When Gaal tells Zebul that he sees people coming, Zebul responds it is mere shadows. Gaal insists, and Zebul replies, "Where is your boast now?" and insists he should go to fight Abimelech. In the end Gaal flees, many people die, and Zebul rids himself of the obnoxious Gaal and his kinsfolk.

Abimelech then focuses on killing the common folk of the city, those who work in the fields. When they are dead he takes Shechem, kills all its inhabitant, razes it, and sows it with salt, so nothing will grow there.

Abimelech then turns his attention toward the lords of the Tower of Shechem, who have holed themselves up in the Tower (of Shechem). Abimelech slays them too by burning down the tower.

Abimelech then takes all of Thebez with the exception of the tower. He attempts to burn it down as he did the last tower, but an unnamed woman crushes his skull by throwing a millstone on his head. Abimelech, not wanting to die at the hands of a woman, has the young man who carries his armor kill him with his own sword.

At Abimelech's death, all of Israel returns home. So God repays Abimelech for the sin he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. God also repays Israel in accordance with Jotham's curse.

What a bloodbath. There is no peace in Israel.