Topical Bible: Conspiracy: Abimelech Against Gideon's Sons

◄ Conspiracy: Abimelech Against Gideon's Sons ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The account of Abimelech's conspiracy against the sons of Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, is a significant narrative found in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 9. This episode highlights themes of ambition, betrayal, and divine justice within the context of Israel's cyclical struggle with faithfulness to God.

Background

Gideon, a judge of Israel, had delivered the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites through divine intervention and leadership (Judges 6-8). After his victory, Gideon declined the offer to become king, stating, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Despite this, Gideon had many wives and seventy sons, and he also had a concubine in Shechem who bore him a son named Abimelech (Judges 8:30-31).

The Conspiracy

After Gideon's death, Abimelech sought to establish himself as ruler over Shechem and eventually over all Israel. He approached his mother's relatives in Shechem, appealing to their kinship and proposing a plan to eliminate his brothers, the seventy sons of Gideon, to secure his position. Abimelech argued, "Which is better for you: that seventy men—all the sons of Jerubbaal—rule over you, or that one man rule over you?" (Judges 9:2).

The men of Shechem, swayed by Abimelech's argument and their familial ties, supported his plan. They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire reckless and worthless men to assist in his plot (Judges 9:4).

The Massacre

Abimelech went to his father's house in Ophrah and murdered his seventy brothers on one stone, an act of brutal treachery and ambition. However, Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, escaped by hiding (Judges 9:5).

Jotham's Parable

After the massacre, the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered by the oak at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech as king. Jotham, having survived, stood on Mount Gerizim and delivered a parable to the people of Shechem, warning them of the consequences of their actions. He told the account of the trees seeking a king, ultimately choosing the bramble, a worthless plant, to rule over them. Jotham concluded with a curse, declaring that if they had acted in good faith, they would rejoice in Abimelech, but if not, fire would come from Abimelech to consume them and vice versa (Judges 9:7-20).

Divine Retribution

Jotham's curse foreshadowed the eventual downfall of Abimelech. After three years of Abimelech's rule, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, leading to mutual treachery and conflict (Judges 9:23). The leaders of Shechem turned against Abimelech, and a series of violent events ensued, culminating in Abimelech's death. During an attack on the city of Thebez, a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull. In his final moments, he commanded his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword to avoid the shame of being slain by a woman (Judges 9:53-54).

Theological Implications

The narrative of Abimelech's conspiracy against Gideon's sons serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of turning away from God's ordained order. It underscores the principle that God is just and will ultimately bring about retribution for acts of wickedness. The account also illustrates the instability and chaos that arise when human leaders usurp divine authority, as seen in Abimelech's illegitimate claim to power and the subsequent turmoil in Israel.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 9:1-6
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
Nave's Topical Index