Introduction:
Abimelech, a son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), is a significant figure in the Book of Judges. His account, primarily found in Judges 9, illustrates themes of ambition, betrayal, and divine retribution. Abimelech's rise to power and subsequent downfall serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of fratricide and tyranny.

Background:
Abimelech was one of the seventy sons of Gideon, born to a concubine in Shechem (Judges 8:31). After Gideon's death, Abimelech sought to establish himself as king, despite Israel's lack of a centralized monarchy at the time. His ambition led him to exploit his maternal connections in Shechem to gain support for his claim to leadership.

Rise to Power:
Abimelech's ascent began with a cunning and ruthless plan. He approached the leaders of Shechem, appealing to their kinship and proposing that it would be better for them to be ruled by one man rather than the seventy sons of Gideon. He said, "Remember that I am your own flesh and blood" (Judges 9:2). Persuaded by his argument, the leaders of Shechem provided him with seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire reckless adventurers to support his cause (Judges 9:4).

Abimelech then went to his father's house in Ophrah and murdered his seventy brothers on a single stone, sparing only the youngest, Jotham, who managed to hide (Judges 9:5). With his brothers eliminated, the men of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered and crowned Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar in Shechem (Judges 9:6).

Jotham's Parable:
Jotham, the sole surviving son of Gideon, delivered a prophetic parable from Mount Gerizim, warning the people of Shechem about the consequences of their actions. He likened Abimelech to a bramble, a worthless plant, and foretold that fire would come from Abimelech to consume the leaders of Shechem and vice versa (Judges 9:7-15). Jotham's parable served as a foreshadowing of the mutual destruction that would later occur.

Conflict and Betrayal:
Abimelech's rule was marked by treachery and conflict. After three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, causing distrust and animosity (Judges 9:23). The leaders of Shechem set ambushes against him, and a man named Gaal son of Ebed incited rebellion by questioning Abimelech's legitimacy and rallying the people against him (Judges 9:26-29).

Zebul, the governor of the city and an ally of Abimelech, informed him of Gaal's plot. Abimelech responded by setting an ambush and defeating Gaal and his followers, driving them out of Shechem (Judges 9:30-41).

Destruction of Shechem:
In retaliation for the betrayal, Abimelech attacked Shechem. He captured the city, killed its people, and sowed it with salt, symbolizing its utter destruction (Judges 9:45). The leaders of the Tower of Shechem sought refuge in the temple of El-berith, but Abimelech set it on fire, killing about a thousand men and women (Judges 9:46-49).

Abimelech's Death:
Abimelech's downfall came during his assault on the city of Thebez. As he attempted to burn down its tower, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, crushing his skull (Judges 9:53). Mortally wounded, Abimelech called to his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword to avoid the disgrace of being slain by a woman. The young man complied, and Abimelech died (Judges 9:54).

Divine Retribution:
The narrative concludes with a reflection on divine justice: "Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads" (Judges 9:56-57). This statement underscores the biblical theme of retribution and the fulfillment of Jotham's curse.