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Texts -- Judges 9:1-36 (NET)

Context
Abimelech Murders His Brothers
9:1 Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives . He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family , 9:2 “Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want to have seventy men , all Jerub-Baal’s sons , ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler ? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood .’” 9:3 His mother’s relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal . The leaders were drawn to Abimelech ; they said , “He is our close relative .” 9:4 They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith . Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless , dangerous men as his followers . 9:5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers , the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal , on one stone . Only Jotham , Jerub-Baal’s youngest son , escaped , because he hid . 9:6 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem .
Jotham’s Parable
9:7 When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim . He spoke loudly to the people below, “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem , so that God may listen to you! 9:8 “The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree , ‘Be our king !’ 9:9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil , which is used to honor gods and men , just to sway above the other trees !’ 9:10 “So the trees said to the fig tree , ‘You come and be our king !’ 9:11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit , just to sway above the other trees !’ 9:12 “So the trees said to the grapevine , ‘You come and be our king !’ 9:13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine , which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees !’ 9:14 “So all the trees said to the thornbush , ‘You come and be our king !’ 9:15 The thornbush said to the trees , ‘If you really want to choose me as your king , then come along , find safety under my branches ! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon !’ 9:16 “Now , if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king , if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family , if you have properly repaid repaid him– 9:17 my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian’s power . 9:18 But you have attacked my father’s family today . You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech , the son of his female slave , king over the leaders of Shechem , just because he is your close relative . 9:19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today , then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness ! 9:20 But if not , may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo ! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech !” 9:21 Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother .
God Fulfills Jotham’s Curse
9:22 Abimelech commanded Israel for three years . 9:23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem . He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech . 9:24 He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech , their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood , along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them . 9:25 The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills , who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road . But Abimelech found out about it. 9:26 Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers . The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. 9:27 They went out to the field , harvested their grapes , squeezed out the juice, and celebrated . They came to the temple of their god and ate , drank , and cursed Abimelech . 9:28 Gaal son of Ebed said , “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem , that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal , and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor , the father of Shechem ! But why should we serve Abimelech? 9:29 If only these men were under my command , I would get rid of Abimelech !” He challenged Abimelech , “Muster your army and come out for battle !” 9:30 When Zebul , the city commissioner , heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed , he was furious . 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech , who was in Arumah , reporting , “Beware ! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you. 9:32 Now , come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. 9:33 In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city . When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him.” 9:34 So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided into four units . 9:35 When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city’s gate , Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places. 9:36 Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul , “Look , men are coming down from the tops of the hills .” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills – it just looks like men .”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Shechem

    [isbe] SHECHEM - she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Gen 12:6; and "Sychem" in Acts 7:16): 1. Historical: This place is first mentioned in connection with Abra...
    [smith] (back or shoulder). An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus , is a corruption of Neapolis,...
    [nave] SHECHEM 1. Called also Sichem and Sychem, a district in the central part of the land of Canaan. Abraham dwells in, Gen. 12:6. Jacob buys a piece of ground in, and erects an altar, Gen. 33:18-20. The flocks and herds of Jac...

  • Abimelech

    [ebd] my father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as "Pharaoh" was of the Egyptian kings. (1.) The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen. 20:1-18). By an interposition of Providence...
    [isbe] ABIMELECH - a-bim'-e-lek ('abhimelekh, "father of a king"): A name borne by five Old Testament persons. (1) The name of two kings of Philistia; the first was a contemporary of Abraham, the second, probably son of the former,...
    [nave] ABIMELECH 1. King of Gerar, Gen. 20; 21:22-32. 2. King of Gerar, Gen. 26. 3. Son of Gideon, Judg. 8:31; 9; 2 Sam. 11:21. 4. See: Achish; Ahimelech.

  • Jotham

    [ebd] Jehovah is perfect. (1.) The youngest of Gideon's seventy sons. He escaped when the rest were put to death by the order of Abimelech (Judg. 9:5). When "the citizens of Shechem and the whole house of Millo" were gathered toge...
    [isbe] JOTHAM - jo'-tham (yotham, "Yahweh is perfect"; Ioatham): (1) The youngest son of Gideon-Jerubbaal, the sole survivor of the massacre of his seventy brothers by Abimelech (Jdg 9:5), and (by Jdg 8:22) the legitimate ruler of ...
    [smith] (Jehovah is upright). The youngest son of Gideon, (Judges 9:5) who escaped from the massacre of his brethren. (B.C. after 1256.) His parable of the reign of the bramble is the earliest example of the kind. The son of King Uz...
    [nave] JOTHAM 1. Son of Gideon, Judg. 9:5, 57. Rebukes the Shechemites in the parable of the trees, Judg. 9:7-21. 2. Son of Azariah, king of Judah, 2 Kin. 15:5-7, 32, 38; 1 Chr. 3:12; 2 Chr. 26:21-23; 27. Piety of, 2 Chr. 27. T...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Judge

    [nave] JUDGE Appointed by Persians, Ezra 7:25. Kings and other rulers as, 2 Sam. 8:15; 15:2; 1 Kin. 3:16-28; 10:9; 2 Kin. 8:1-6; Psa. 72:1-4; Matt. 27:11-26; Acts 23:34, 35; 24; 25:11, 12. Priests and Levites as, Deut. 17:9; 2 Ch...

  • Zebul

    [ebd] habitation, the governor of Shechem under Abimelech (Judg. 9:28, 30, 36). He informed his master of the intention of the people of Shechem to transfer their allegiance to the Hivite tribe of Hamor. This led to Abimelech's de...
    [isbe] ZEBUL - ze'-bul (zebhul, perhaps "exalted"; Zeboul): In Jdg 9:26 ff. He is called in 9:30 sar ha-`ir, "the ruler of the city," a phrase translated "the governor of the city" in 1 Ki 22:26 = 2 Ch 18:25; 2 Ki 23:8; 2 Ch 34:8; ...
    [smith] (habitation), chief man (Authorized Version "ruler") of the city of Shechem at the time of the contest between Abimelech and the native Canaanites. (Judges 9:28,30,36,41) (B.C. 1209.)
    [nave] ZEBUL, an officer of Abimelech, Judg. 9:28-41.

  • Gaal

    [ebd] loathing, the son of Ebed, in whom the Shechemites "placed their confidence" when they became discontented with Abimelech. He headed the revolution, and led out the men of Shechem against Abimelech; but was defeated, and fle...
    [isbe] GAAL - ga'-al (ga`al, "rejection," or "loathing"; according to Wellhausen, "beetle," HPN, 110): A man of whose antecedents nothing is known, except that his father's name was Ebed. He undertook to foment and lead a rebellion...
    [smith] (contempt), son of Ebed, aided the Shechemites in their rebellion against Abimelech. (Judges 9:1) ... (B.C. 1206.)
    [nave] GAAL, conspires against and is defeated by Abimelech, Judg. 9:26-41.

  • Ebed

    [ebd] slave, the father of Gaal, in whom the men of Shechem "put confidence" in their conspiracy against Abimelech (Judg. 9:26, 26, 30, 31).
    [isbe] EBED - e'-bed (`ebhedh, "servant"): (1) Father of Gaal, who rebelled against Abimelech (Jdg 9:26-35). (2) A companion of Ezra in his return (Ezr 8:6) = Obeth (1 Esdras 8:32).
    [smith] (a servant). (Many MSS. have EBER.) Father of Gaal, who with his brethren assisted the men of Shechem in their revolt against Abimelech. (Judges 9:26,28,30,31,35) (B.C. 1206). Son of Jonathan; one of the Bene-Adin who return...
    [nave] EBED 1. Father of Gaal, Judg. 9:26-35. 2. A captive returned from Babylon, Ezra 8:6.

  • Conspiracy

    [nave] CONSPIRACY. Law Against Ex. 23:1, 2 Instances of Joseph's brethren, against Joseph, Gen. 37:18-20. Miriam and Aaron, against Moses, Num. 12; 14:4; 16:1-35. Abimelech, against Gideon's sons, Judg. 9:1-6. Gaal, against ...

  • FABLE

    [ebd] applied in the New Testament to the traditions and speculations, "cunningly devised fables", of the Jews on religious questions (1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16). In such passages the word means anything...
    [isbe] FABLE - fa'-b'-l (muthos): (1) Primitive man conceives of the objects around him as possessing his own characteristics. Consequently in his stories, beasts, trees, rocks, etc., think, talk and act exactly as if they were hum...
    [smith] A fable is a narrative in which being irrational, and sometimes inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and speak with human interests and passions. --Encyc. Brit. The fable differs from the parab...

  • Hamor

    [isbe] HAMOR - ha'-mor (chamor, "an ass"; Emmor): Hamor was the father of Shechem from whom Jacob bought a piece of ground on his return from Paddan-aram for one hundred pieces of silver (Gen 33:19), and the burial place of Joseph ...
    [nave] HAMOR, father of Shechem. Jacob buys ground from, Gen. 33:19; Josh. 24:32; Judg. 9:28. Murdered by the sons of Jacob, Gen. 34:26; 49:6. Called Emmor, Acts 7:16.

  • Sarcasm

    [nave] SARCASM. Instances of Cain's self-justifying argument when God asked him where Abel was, Gen. 4:9. Israelites reproaching Moses, Ex. 14:11. God reproaching Israel, Num. 11:20; Judg. 10:14. Balak reproaching Balaam, Num....

  • Ambush

    [ebd] Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Josh. 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner (Judg. 9:30-45. Comp. Jer. 51:12).
    [nave] AMBUSH. Instances of At Ai, Josh. 8:2-22; Shechem, Judg. 9:25, 34; Gibeah, Judg. 20:29-41. Near Zemaraim, 2 Chr. 13:13. By Jehoshaphat, 2 Chr. 20:22. See: Armies. Figurative Jer. 51:12.

  • ACCOMMODATION

    [isbe] ACCOMMODATION - a-kom-mo-da'-shun: I. INTRODUCTORY 1. Three Uses of the Term 2. The Importance of the Subject II. ACCOMMODATED APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE PASSAGES 1. Interpretation a Science 2. Scientific Accommodation III. DO...

  • REIGN

    [isbe] REIGN - ran: The Hebrew word malekhuth, may be rendered "kinghood," "royal dignity," "kingdom," "government" ("reign"). The verb is malakh, "to be king" ("to reign as king"), "to become king," "to accede to the throne," "to ...

  • Allegory

    [nave] ALLEGORY Of the trees seeking a king, Judg. 9:8-15. Messiah's kingdom represented under, of the wolf and the lamb dwelling together, Isa. 11:6-8. Wilderness to blossom as the rose, Isa. 35. The two covenants, Gal. 4:24. ...

  • Parables

    [nave] PARABLES Of the trees, Judg. 9:8-15. Of the lamb, 2 Sam. 12:1-6. Of the woman of Tekoa, 2 Sam. 14:5-12. Of the garment torn in pieces, 1 Kin. 11:30-32. Of the prisoner of war, 1 Kin. 20:39-42. Of the thistle and cedar, ...

  • Orphan

    [nave] ORPHAN. Ex. 22:22-24; Deut. 10:18; Deut. 14:28, 29; Deut. 16:11, 14; Deut. 24:17-22; Deut. 26:12, 13; Deut. 27:19; Job 6:27; Job 22:9; Job 24:3, 9; Job 29:12, 13; Job 31:16-18, 21; Psa. 10:14, 17, 18; Psa. 27:10; Psa. 68:5;...

  • Ambition

    [nave] AMBITION Falsely charged against Moses, Num. 16:13. Parable of the thistle, illustrating, 2 Kin. 14:9. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Job 20:6, 7; Psa. 49:11-13; Isa. 5:8; Hab. 2:5, 6, 9; Matt. 4:8-10 Luke 4:5-8. Mat...

  • Millo

    [ebd] (Heb. always with the article, "the" Millo). (1.) Probably the Canaanite name of some fortification, consisting of walls filled in with earth and stones, which protected Jerusalem on the north as its outermost defence. It is...
    [isbe] MILLO - mil'-o. (millo generally interpreted to mean a "filling," e.g. a solid tower or an earth embankment; in Jdg 9:6,20; 2 Ki 12:20, we get beth millo', translated in English Versions of the Bible "House of Millo," which ...
    [nave] MILLO 1. The house of Millo, possibly a clan at Shechem, Judg. 9:6, 20. 2. A name given to part of the citadel of Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 5:9; 1 Chr. 11:8. King Solomon raises a levy to repair, 1 Kin. 9:15, 24; 11:27. Repaired ...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • All was not well in Abraham's household. Ishmael was a potential rival to Isaac's inheritance. This section records another crisis in the story of Abraham's heir.Normally the son of a concubine became the heir of his mother b...
  • 3:1-12 Horeb is another name for Sinai (v. 1). It probably indicates a range of mountains rather than a particular mountain peak. The writer called it "the mountain of God"because it was the place where God later gave the Mos...
  • I. The reason for Israel's apostasy 1:1-3:6A. Hostilities between the Israelites and the Canaanites after Joshua's death 1:1-2:51. Initial successes and failures ch. 12. The announcement of God's discipline 2:1-5B. Israel's c...
  • The first major section in the book (1:1-3:6) explains very clearly why the period of the judges was a dark chapter in Israel's history. God revealed the reasons for Israel's apostasy and consequent national problems in terms...
  • Israel's JudgesJudgeScriptureIsrael's OppressorsLength in YearsNation(s)King(s)OppressionJudgeshipPeaceOthniel3:7-11MesopotamiaCushan-rishathaim8(ca. 1358-1350 B.C.)40(ca. 1350-1310 B.C.)Ehud3:12-30Moab (with Ammon & Amal...
  • The writer of Judges structured this book so the story of Gideon would be its focal center."Within the main body of the book, seven major narrative blocks can be noted. Moreover, there are certain parallel features between th...
  • Tanner also pointed out that the Gideon narrative consists of five primary structural sections."The first section (6:1-10) provides the introduction and setting before Gideon's debut, the second section (6:11-32) gives the co...
  • These verses wrap up the story of Gideon and introduce the story of Abimelech that follows (ch. 9).Gideon enjoyed the fruits of his heroism for the rest of his life. He was wealthy enough to afford many wives who bore him 70 ...
  • Though Gideon had rejected kingship officially (8:23), though not practically, Abimelech desired it for himself. He also hated his half-brothers, presumably because he was the son of a concubine rather than the son of one of ...
  • Before Abimelech's sole surviving brother went into hiding he uttered a protest against Abimelech that predicted the effect of his rule. Jotham (lit. Yahweh is perfect, honest) stood on the same mountain where six of Israel's...
  • Abimelech's rule over Israel appears to have been very small in scope as well as short in duration. He was only the ruler of Shechem and its surrounding territory. He evidently lived in Arumah about five miles to the southeas...
  • Abimelech suffered an ignominious death suitable to a man of his character. Thebez (v. 50) was probably another name for Tirzah northeast of Shechem.204The upper millstone the woman threw down on Abimelech was probably about ...
  • Verses 1-3 provide information about Jephthah's personal background. His name means "He [an unspecified deity] has opened [the womb]."Jephthah lived on the east side of the Jordan River. Unlike Gideon he was a courageous and ...
  • Verses 1-33 record Jephthah's success. The rest of his story (11:34-12:7) relates his failure. The writer likewise recorded Gideon's success first (6:1-8:23) and then his failure (8:24-9:57). We shall find a similar pattern w...
  • The writer's emphasis now shifts from Jephthah's foolishness to Ephraim's arrogance.The Ephraimites were the Gileadites' neighbors to the west. They resented the fact that Jephthah had not requested their assistance in the wa...
  • The following two extended incidents (ch. 17-21) differ from the records of the judges just completed (chs. 3-16). They are not accounts of the activities of any of Israel's judges. They are the record of events that took pla...
  • The Danites' defeat of the inhabitants of Laish appears cruel and unjustified (cf. 9:45-49). The town that seemed so desirable to the spies was really vulnerable and isolated. Its advantages proved to be weaknesses. Since God...
  • Verses 29-36a give an overview of the battle, and 36b-48 provide a more detailed explanation.Israel's strategy was similar to what God had specified against Ai (Josh. 8:1-29) and what Abimelech used against Shechem (9:33-44)....
  • The Book of Joshua recorded Israel's victory over her enemies through trust in and obedience to God. The Book of Judges shows the defeat of the nation by its enemies from without and within due to refusal to trust and obey Go...
  • Aharoni, Yohanan. Land of the Bible. Phildelphia: Westminster Press, 1962.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977.Albright, William Foxwell. The...
  • "In addition to being the middle chapter of 1 Samuel, chapter 16 is pivotal in another way as well: Its first half (vv. 1-13), ending with a statement concerning David's reception of the Spirit of God, describes David's anoin...
  • God blessed Amaziah by allowing him to subdue the Edomites who had revolted from Judean control during the reign of Judah's king Jehoram (cf. 2 Chron. 25:5-16). The Valley of Salt lay south of the Salt (Dead) Sea in the Araba...
  • 10:9 The Israelites had sinned consistently since the days of the atrocity at Gibeah (Judg. 19-20; cf. 9:9; Isa. 1:10). The prophet visualized them as warriors standing at Gibeah. He asked rhetorically if the Lord's battle ag...
  • 11:1 The prophet announced in vigorous poetic language that Lebanon's famous cedars would perish. The Israelites referred to the royal palace in Jerusalem as Lebanon because it contained so much cedar from Lebanon (Jer. 22:23...
  • The mustard seed was so small that the Jews used it proverbially to represent a very small thing.544When mature, the mustard plant stood 10 to 12 feet tall as "the largest of garden plants"(NIV).545Consequently it became a pe...
  • The kingdom of God is the messianic kingdom that the Old Testament predicted. It would be an earthly kingdom over which Messiah would rule for 1, 000 years (Rev. 20:4-6). It is similar to a mustard seed in that it had a small...
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