In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
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In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
When The Judges Ruled Israel
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 The only “non-judge” leader
 Sometimes called “The Bramble King”
 From here on out, Israel will no longer enjoy
periodic seasons of God-given rest 8:28
 Another indication of deteriorating spirituality
 This story takes place in Manasseh
(Shechem and Thebez)
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 His description
vv. 1-4
 Son by Gideon’s Shechem concubine 8:31
 He goes to Shechem to convince them it is
better he rule over them than Gideon’s 70
sons…they agreed vv. 2-3
 His basis  he was their relative
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 His description
vv. 1-4
 To “seal the deal”…the men of Shechem gave
Abimelech 70 silver pieces from the house of
Baal-berith v. 4
 Abimelech used the money to hire worthless
(reckless) fellows to form a “gang”
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 His actions
vv. 5-6
 He took his “gang” to Ophrah and killed all
Gideon’s 70 sons except one (Jotham)
 He did this to remove all political rivals that
would threaten his rule
 Afterwards, the men of Shechem declared
Abimelech king
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 His actions
vv. 5-6
 What he was driven to do was in direct
contradiction to his father’s previous actions
8:22-23
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Jotham’s actions
vv. 7-21
 Hearing about Abimelech’s “coronation,” he
ascends Mt. Gerizim and utters a “parable” to
illustrate the foolishness of Abimelech being
made king vv. 7-15
 The trees & vine were “noble”…the bramble
was anything but “noble” (useless)
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Jotham’s actions
vv. 7-21
 He gave his “blessing” on Abimelech’s rule
only if he & the men of Shechem had behaved
with integrity and truth
 He knew they had not…he reminded all of
what his father had done re: Midian
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Jotham’s actions
vv. 7-21
 He also reminded them of how ruthlessly they
had treated Gideon’s house
 He concluded by pronouncing a judgment
(curse) upon Abimelech & the Shechemites
 Afterwards, he had to flee for safety
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech & the Shechemites
vv. 22-25
 Abimelech ruled for 3 years
 God then sent an “evil spirit” between them
 The Shechemites dealt treacherously with
their “king” v. 25 (to discredit him)
 It was a Divine judgment vv. 23-25
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech & the Shechemites
vv. 22-25
 A “pact” formed by ruthless men has no
principle
 Being a “pack of wolves,” it often implodes
because they eventually turn on one another
 God used this reality to accomplish His will
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Gaal’s actions
vv. 26-29
 The son of Ebed…he came to Shechem and
did what Abimelech had done
 After gaining the trust of Shechem, they all
had a drinking feast where they cursed
Abimelech in the house of their god
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Gaal’s actions
vv. 26-29
 He further scorned Abimelech, and exhorted
the Shechemites to officially revolt
 He suggested they now follow him…if he were
ruler, he would remove Abimelech
 Lastly, he called Abimelech out to battle
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Gaal’s actions
vv. 26-29
 Two character flaws on display…
 The men of Shechem show a willingness to
follow anybody 1 Cor 15:33
 Gaal is like many who proudly boast against
someone who is not there to answer
2 Cor 10:8-11
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Zebul’s actions
vv. 30-33
 The “ruler of the city” (mayor, etc.?)
 He was obviously still loyal to Abimelech…
he informed Abimelech of Gaal’s boasting
 He advised Abimelech to attack Shechem at
dawn to put down the rebellion
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Gaal
vv. 34-41
 Abimelech agreed…he arrived with his men
 When Gaal went out in the morning, the
ambush began
 Initially, Gaal wasn’t sure of what he saw
 Zebul reminded him of his boastful words
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Gaal
vv. 34-41
 Abimelech routed Gaal’s forces…Gaal fled
 Zebul drove Gaal and his relatives out from
Shechem so they could not return
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Shechem
vv. 42-49
 The next day, Abimelech killed all the field
workers
 He attacked the city, killed the city dwellers,
razed it to the ground, and sowed it with salt
 His judgment on Shechem for their rebellion
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Shechem
vv. 42-49
 Abimelech was informed the city leaders had
taken refuge in the tower (temple fortress)
 He gathered wood…told his men to do same
 He burned down the tower…about 1,000 men
& women were killed
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Thebez
vv. 50-55
 Apparently, Thebez had also rebelled
 He attacked the city and captured it
 Like Shechem, it had a tower…the leaders
went there for refuge
 His plans were to do the same as at Shechem
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 Abimelech vs. Thebez
vv. 50-55
 When approaching the tower to burn it, a
woman dropped an upper millstone on his
head…his skull was crushed
 To avoid the shame of being killed by a
woman, Abimelech asked his armor bearer to
kill him with his sword
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
Abimelech’s Ambition Judg 9:1-57
 God’s judgment
vv. 56-57
 God repaid Abimelech’s wickedness re: the
murder of Gideon’s 70 sons
 God also repaid the wickedness of the men
of Shechem for their willingness to follow
Abimelech’s treachery
 Jotham’s curse was fulfilled
In The Days When The Judges Ruled
Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth
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