The servants of Abimelech are depicted in the Book of Judges as participants in the violent and treacherous acts of their master, Abimelech, who was a son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). Abimelech's account is a cautionary tale of ambition, betrayal, and divine retribution, and his servants play a significant role in the unfolding of these events.

Abimelech, after the death of his father Gideon, sought to establish himself as ruler over Shechem and its surrounding areas. To achieve this, he conspired with the leaders of Shechem, leveraging his familial connections through his mother, who was a Shechemite. The leaders of Shechem provided him with seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, which Abimelech used to hire reckless and worthless men as his followers. These men, described as "worthless and reckless" in Judges 9:4 , were instrumental in carrying out Abimelech's ruthless plan to eliminate his competition.

The servants of Abimelech, acting under his orders, participated in the massacre of his seventy brothers, the sons of Gideon, on a single stone. This act of fratricide was a direct violation of the familial and covenantal bonds that were meant to be upheld among the Israelites. The brutality of this act is underscored in Judges 9:5 : "He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on a single stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself."

The actions of Abimelech's servants reflect a broader theme of moral corruption and the consequences of aligning with unrighteous leaders. Their participation in the slaughter of Gideon's sons highlights the dangers of following a leader who acts in opposition to God's commandments and the established order of justice and righteousness.

The narrative of Abimelech and his servants culminates in divine retribution. After three years of Abimelech's rule, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, leading to discord and ultimately to Abimelech's downfall. The servants' earlier actions contributed to the cycle of violence and betrayal that characterized Abimelech's reign. In Judges 9:56-57 , it is noted: "In this way 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."

The account of Abimelech and his servants serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of aligning with unrighteousness and the inevitable justice that follows such actions. Their legacy is one of infamy, illustrating the destructive power of ambition unchecked by moral and divine law.Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

How David Fell in Love with Bathsheba, and Slew Her Husband Uriah ...
... had before their eyes the example of Abimelech, the son ... former wars, and what good
or bad success had ... food for seven days, although his servants almost forced ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how david fell.htm

Chapter xxi
... The Hebrew idiom here says: "the thing was very bad in the ... And Abraham reproved
Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxi.htm

Two Ancient Proverbs
... "Yes," you say, "those two were bad men who ... priest's palace, and first one of the
maid-servants, and then ... did he look when he said to Abimelech concerning his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/two ancient proverbs.htm

Chapter xxvi
... relatively permanent residence is involved, he has servants dig a ... As "Abimelech"
is the standing title of the Philistine ... think it safe to be on bad terms with ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxvi.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... Then, again, with Abimelech, he is reduced to the ... is compelled, by the constant
quarrelling of servants to part ... which not only brought him into bad odour with ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... Is what is good for the one, bad for the ... him, will acknowledge themselves as his
servants, and, far ... Abimelech required Abraham to enter into a covenant with him ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... from the capture of Jerusalem, and Abimelech from sin ... was prevented by Abram with
his servants, attacking the ... speaking "to Jacob either good or bad," for, he ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... course of life, the leaving off of bad habits and ... Gen.20:6). Had not God interposed,
Abimelech would have ... His people, to deal subtly with His servants" (Psa.105 ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

Psalm XXXIV.
... when he changed his countenance before Abimelech, and he ... and wine, of gold and silver,
of servants and cattle ... is written, brethren, not as some bad copies have ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxxiv.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... To the old and the young.5. To servants and masters ... wrath and hatred do not seem
so very bad when they ... 7); and the households of Pharaoh and Abimelech were made ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Vineyard? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? | GotQuestions.org

Is the distinction between clergy and laity biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Servants: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus