The Books of Judges and Ruth Lesson 6 - Chapter 9:22 thru 9:57

Transcription

1 The Books of Judges and Ruth Lesson 6 - Chapter 9:22 thru 9:57 In the last lesson we saw how Gideon refused to be a King. After he had judged in Israel for forty years, he died leaving none of his 70 sons to succeed him. After his death, his illegitimate son from Shechem, Abimelech gathered together a band of mercenaries, paid for by the people of Shechem, and went to Gideon's home town and killed all but one of Gideon's seventy legitimate sons and proclaimed himself king. At that time Gideon's youngest, and only surviving son Jotham proclaimed a prophecy against Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem: Judges 9:19-20 "If then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too! But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!" Judges 9:22-24 After Abimelech had governed in [a] Israel three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech. God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. Although it took three years, Jotham's righteous prayer was answered. We have a tendency to think our prayers should be answered right away, but God's timetable is always perfect. 1 / 15

2 Judges 9:25-26 In opposition to him these citizens lords [b] of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, [c] and this was reported to Abimelech. Now Gaal [d] son of Ebed [e] moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens the lords of Shechem [f] put their confidence in him. In the course of time, the leaders of Shechem, who had showed their character by their complicity in the murder of Gideon's sons, decided to use their position to engage in banditry. It is evident from the text, that Abimelech, having gotten his original support from Shechem, had moved his court, probably to Beth Millo, [g] which was the other town that had proclaimed him king. Since Beth Millo means "house on a rampart," we can understand the reason for his move. It offered more security. This had to be big concern for a person who had succeeded in killing 69 of his brothers because they had not lived in a secure house. However, this move was probably a big reason for the disaffection of the Shechemites. Instead, they now began to support Gaal, who was probably the chief of the bandits they had hired. Judges 9:27 After they [h] had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes [i] and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. [j] While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech. 2 / 15

3 During a feast to their new gods, the lords of Shechem lost their inhibitions and spoke freely what they had been secretly thinking. Judges 9:28-29 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! [k] Why should we serve Abimelech? If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelech, Call out your whole army!'" Gaal used this discontent to promote himself. He painted Abimelech, not as the son of a Shechemite mother (Judges 9:1-2), but as the son of Gideon who was not a Shechemite. He boasted that he could defeat Abimelech and his whole army. Judges 9:30-31 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 3 / 15

4 Zebul was the deputy of Abimelech, who was supposed to govern Shechem in Abimelech's interest. He was present during Gaal's boasting and he knew his own position would be lost if the sedition succeeded. He secretly sent word to Abimelech. Judges 9:32-33 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do whatever your hand finds to do." Zebul's letter is very tactful. He doesn't presume to tell Abimelech what to do, but he suggests it. He knows the arrogance of his master. Judges 9:34-36 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate just as Abimelech and his soldiers came out from their hiding place. When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows [l] of the mountains [m] for men." 4 / 15

5 In the ancient world, it was the practice for the leaders of a town to gather at the city gate to hold court, answer questions and settle disputes. Since there was no electricity in those days, daylight was at a premium. This was evidently the scene depicted. Gaal, the new leader of the lords of Shechem and Zebul, Abimelech's governor have come to sit at the gate. It seems from the text that Abimelech's men have given away their presence too soon, certainly before Gaal and his men have left the city. Judges 9:37-38 But Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and a company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers' tree." [n] Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, Who is Abimelech that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!" At this point, Zebul uses taunts to get Gaal to abandon his protected position inside the city. Gaal certainly could have used more time to assess the situation and prepare his attack. Unfortunately for him, he suffers from arrogance. Judges 9:39 So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelech. This was a foolish tactic as the men of Shechem were totally untrained in fighting as a military unit and maneuvering in the field. On the other hand Abimelech was leading a well trained standing army. 5 / 15

6 Judges 9:40 Abimelech chased him, and many fell wounded in the flight--all the way to the entrance to the gate. The people of Shechem, under the leadership of Gaal were badly beaten. Judges 9:41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. After the battle, Abimelech retired from Shechem to another town called Arumah. Zebul, who was Abimelech's man, convinced the people of Abimelech to blame Gaal, and drive him out of town. No doubt he assured them that this was the way to get back into Abimelech's good graces. Judges 9:42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. 6 / 15

7 Thinking everything was now all right, the men of Shechem returned to the fields to finish the grape harvest. Someone reported this to Abimelech. He was not in a forgiving mood. The Shechemites should have known how brutal he was. After all, they had seen what he had done to his own family. Judges 9:43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. We know this was at least the second day they had gone out to the fields. They expected no trouble, having blamed the whole affair on Gaal and expelled him from the city. Judges 9:44 Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance to the city gate. Then two companies rushed upon those in the fields and struck them down. 7 / 15

8 Nearly all the men were out of the city in the fields and unarmed. Abimelech first captured the gate, the way back into the city and safety, and then proceeded to slaughter most of the men of Shechem who were outside the city. Judges 9:45 All that day Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it. Abimelech then captured the outer city and destroyed it and all the people. Judges 9:46 On hearing this, the citizens lords [o] in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. [p] Inside the city, as was common, there was a tower or stronghold with higher walls and firmer defenses. The leading men repaired to that and finally, to the strongest point in that, the temple of El-Berith [q] where they were accustomed to worship Baal. 8 / 15

9 Judges 9:47-49 When Abimelech heard that they had assembled there, he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. [r] He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do!" So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire over the people inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died. Here the people of Shechem showed their true colors. They literally fled to Baal for protection. All who were inside it suffered the same fate, they were consigned to the flames. We begin to see God using events to speak in symbolism here. Also, we see the prophecy of Gideon's son Jotham literally fulfilled. (Judges 9:20 - "let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem.") Judges 9:50 Next Abimelech went to Thebez [s] and besieged it and captured it. Having destroyed Shechem, Abimelech was consumed by blood lust. He attacked a town which had not offended him. It was called Thebez, [t] which denotes "white linen." In the Bible, white linen speaks of righteousness. This town did not have a temple to Baal, and evidently is intended to represent righteous Israel. Judges 9:51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women--all the people of the city--fled. They locked themselves in and climbed up on the 9 / 15

10 tower roof. [u] Abimelech knew just what to do. Shechem had tried the same tactic, but they had fled to the temple of Baal. These had fled to a different tower. The symbolism refers to that. Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Psalms 61:1-3 "Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe." Judges 9:52-53 Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. [v] Abimelech tried the same tactics as he did at Shechem. Here, it doesn't work. Abimelech was a murderer and a liar, who had set himself up as king and ruler against the authority of the LORD. [w] He is a clear symbol for Satan in this scene. How was he destroyed? A woman 10 / 15

11 dropped a stone for making bread on his head and crushed his head! If we have our hearts open to the fact that all the Old Testament speaks of Christ, we can hardly escape the parallels in this story. The woman represents Mary who would bring forth Jesus Christ who was the "seed of the woman." Jesus was also "the precious cornerstone" who was the "bread of life" from above (heaven) who would "bruise or crush the serpents head." That leaves aside the fact that a weak woman somehow was able to lift a millstone. Judges 9:54-55 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died. When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. So Abimelech the dreadful, was killed by the most unlikely of weapons and foes. A millstone thrown by a woman. I am reminded of an old story from the middle ages of a Christian who was imprisoned in a dungeon for his faith and waiting to be burned at the stake. Miraculously he found a place in his dungeon where the mortar had disintegrated. He was able pull down the wall with his hands and escape the dungeon, but as he was fleeing he heard the alarm sounded and heard his pursuers closing in. Fleeing along a narrow trail along a cliff, he was soon exhausted. He stumbled and fell into a shallow cave along the trail. As he lay there too exhausted to move he heard the pursuit coming up the trail. He was sure he would soon be captured or killed. As he waited, he prayed to the LORD. Then he saw a spider at the cave's opening beginning to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, he heard the pursuit come closer and closer. The spider managed to finish a few strands across the entrance of the cave. When the pursuit got to the entrance of the cave he was amazed to hear them stop for a moment and then move on. He realized that the spider's web had made the entrance to his cave look as if no one could have 11 / 15

12 gone in recently. He thanked the LORD and remembered the principal which is true for Christians in all ages: "With the LORD, a brick wall is no stronger than a spider's web, and a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall." Judges 9:56-57 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them. Thus, the fire of hatred and bloodlust that that the Shechemites kindled in Abimelech wound up killing Abimelech. As he went to set the fire at the tower of Thebez, he was killed. Very much like what happened to Satan when he engineered the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and wound up engineering his own destruction. [a] This is perhaps the better rendering. Almost certainly, Abimelech did not reign over anything but Manasseh, and possibly no more than the territory around Shechem. It is important to notice that the Hebrew word here is rr"c; {sür} which means govern, not fp'v; {shä fat'} which was applied to the "Judges" that the LORD raised up (Judges 2:16,17). Abimelech was not a judge. [b] The Hebrew word here is l['b&' {bah' al} which means owners or lords. These were the leading men of Shechem. [c] Shechem was on the major north-south highway through the lands of Israel and so was perfectly situated for banditry of passing caravans. [d] Gaal means "loathing." 12 / 15

13 [e] Ebed means "servant." This ancestor is not recorded elsewhere in scripture. [f] The literal translation. [g] Beth Millo means "house on a rampart." It was evidently in a well fortified position. It is also mentioned in 2 Kings 12:20 which puts Beth Millo close to Shechem in the territory of Manasseh. [h] The lords of Shechem. [i] Grape harvesting season in ancient Israel was usually in the late summer (August and September). [j] That is the temple to Baal-Berith in Shechem. [k] Shechem was the son of Hamor, a Hivite or Canaanite, who raped Dinah in Genesis 34:2. This indicates that the people of Shechem regarded themselves as at least partly descended from the Canaanites who founded Shechem. In this scene we see the warning of Moses and Joshua fulfilled: Exodus 23:33 "Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you." Joshua 23:12-13 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you." 13 / 15

14 [l] At dawn, the mountains would have cast long shadows. [m] Shechem (1,750 ft. elevation) is situated on the high plateau between two mountains, Mt Gerizem (2,849 ft. elevation) and Mt. Ebal (3,084 ft. elevation) that rise over 1,000 feet above the city. [n] Probably referring to the Tree of Moreh in Genesis 12:6 "Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem." "Moreh" means teacher. [o] Again, the Hebrew word here is l['b&' {bah' al} which means owners or lords. These were the leading men of Shechem. [p] No doubt means the temple of Baal-Berith which was the God they worshipped and was located in their city (Judges 9:4, Judges 8:33). [q] Since temples were usually where the portable wealth of the rich was kept, they were made as unassailable as possible. [r] Zalmon - means "shady." It was evidently a slope covered with dark forests, south of Shechem, from which Abimelech and his men gathered wood to burn that city (Judges 9:48). This would mean it was the northern slope of Mt. Gerazim. This would accord with the citation in Wikapedia about Mt. Gerazim: "The mountain is one of the highest peaks in the West Bank, as well as being higher than most mountain peaks in Israel, and rises to 2849 feet (881 meters) above sea level, some 228 feet (69.5 meters) shorter than Mount Ebal to the north. The mountain is particularly steep on the northern side, is sparsely covered at the top 14 / 15

15 with shrubbery, and lower down there is a spring with a high yield of fresh water." Remember, in ancient times ridges or shoulders of mountains or plateaus were often called "mountains." [s] Thebez means "conspicuous" from a root meaning "white linen." [t] Thebez is never mentioned elsewhere in the Bible except when David reminds Joab about this episode in 2 Samuel 11:21. We therefore know very little about this town. It was probably close to Shechem. [u] Some have seen a symbolic presentation of the Rapture here. [v] A potent symbol of Christ the stone, crushing the head of Satan. Notice the stone is also used to provide bread. Jesus is the bread that came down from Heaven. [w] John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him." 15 / 15