The Tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, is named after Manasseh, the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, an Egyptian woman. This tribe held a significant place in the history of Israel, with its territory divided between the eastern and western sides of the Jordan River. Among the notable figures from the Tribe of Manasseh is Abimelech, a complex and controversial character in the biblical narrative.

Abimelech

Abimelech, whose name means "my father is king," was a son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) and his concubine from Shechem. His account is primarily found in the Book of Judges, chapters 8 and 9. Abimelech's life and actions are marked by ambition, violence, and a quest for power, which ultimately led to his downfall.

After the death of Gideon, who had refused kingship over Israel, Abimelech sought to establish himself as ruler. He approached the leaders of Shechem, his maternal relatives, and persuaded them to support his claim to leadership. Judges 9:1-3 recounts this pivotal moment: "Then Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 'Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, “Which is better for you: that seventy men—all the sons of Jerubbaal—rule over you, or that one man rule over you?” Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.'"

With the backing of the Shechemites, Abimelech orchestrated the murder of his seventy half-brothers, solidifying his claim to leadership. However, Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, escaped and later delivered a parable from Mount Gerizim, warning the people of Shechem about the consequences of their choice (Judges 9:7-21).

Abimelech's reign was marked by tyranny and conflict. His rule over Israel lasted three years, during which he faced internal strife and rebellion. The leaders of Shechem eventually turned against him, leading to a series of battles. In a dramatic turn of events, Abimelech met his end at the hands of a woman who dropped a millstone on his head from a tower in Thebez. Mortally wounded, he commanded his armor-bearer to kill him to avoid the disgrace of being slain by a woman (Judges 9:52-54).

Abimelech's account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of fratricide and betrayal. His life and actions are a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by the tribes of Israel during the period of the Judges. Despite his brief and tumultuous rule, Abimelech remains a significant figure in the history of the Tribe of Manasseh, illustrating the tribe's involvement in the broader narrative of Israel's struggle for identity and governance.Judges 9:1
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,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... the families which constituted the half-tribe of Manasseh ... Jerubbaal, being threescore
and ten persons, upon one ... the little kingdom of Manasseh, levying tribute ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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