Topical Bible: Rulers: Wicked: Abimelech, Killing his Seventy Brothers

◄ Rulers: Wicked: Abimelech, Killing his Seventy Brothers ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Abimelech, a son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), is a prominent figure in the Book of Judges, known for his ruthless ambition and wickedness. His account is primarily found in Judges 9, where he emerges as a cautionary example of the destructive nature of unchecked power and ambition.

Background and Rise to Power

Abimelech was the son of Gideon by a concubine from Shechem (Judges 8:31). After Gideon's death, Abimelech sought to establish himself as ruler over Shechem and its surrounding areas. He appealed to his maternal relatives, leveraging his connection to them to gain support. Abimelech's argument was pragmatic and self-serving: "Remember that I am your own flesh and blood" (Judges 9:2).

With the backing of the Shechemites, Abimelech hired reckless and worthless men to assist him in his quest for power. He then went to his father's house in Ophrah and committed a heinous act to secure his position.

The Massacre of His Brothers

In a brutal display of ambition and treachery, Abimelech murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Gideon, on a single stone (Judges 9:5). This massacre was an attempt to eliminate any potential rivals to his claim to leadership. However, one brother, Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, managed to escape.

Jotham's Parable

Jotham, having survived the slaughter, delivered a parable from Mount Gerizim, which served as both a curse and a prophecy against Abimelech and the men of Shechem. In his parable, Jotham likened Abimelech to a thornbush, chosen by the trees to be king, highlighting the folly and danger of their choice (Judges 9:7-15). Jotham concluded with a warning: "If you have acted in good faith and integrity in making Abimelech king... then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you. But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech" (Judges 9:19-20).

Abimelech's Downfall

Jotham's curse eventually came to fruition. Abimelech's reign was marked by treachery and violence, leading to discord between him and the people of Shechem. God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, causing them to act treacherously against each other (Judges 9:23).

Abimelech's downfall came during a campaign against the city of Thebez. As he attempted to burn down a tower where the city's inhabitants had taken refuge, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, crushing his skull. In his final moments, Abimelech commanded his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword to avoid the disgrace of being slain by a woman (Judges 9:53-54).

Legacy

Abimelech's account serves as a stark reminder of the perils of ungodly ambition and the inevitable judgment that follows wickedness. His actions brought about his own destruction and fulfilled Jotham's prophetic curse, illustrating the biblical principle that "whatever a man sows, he will reap in return" (Galatians 6:7).

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 9:1-5
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