Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem. And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them." God might be said to be "cheered" by it, when the sacrifices were accepted, as He is said also to be honored by oil ( Judges 9:9 ). Web3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, He is related to us. 4 They gave him seventy shekels[ a] of If you have the correct spirit (i.e. No way. In Him we may confide, who loves us to the end. of And go to sway over trees? All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the trees; or, as the margin reads exceedingly necessary for us to learn the fact that the dismally wretched condition that we have seen throughout all the Judges was true even from early days; and therefore the Spirit of God giving us this as a sort of supplement, or a conclusion, but with such marks of time as show that it was of a comparatively early date (and this can be proved before we have done with the book), is, I think, of considerable interest and importance. i. Abimelech, the son of his maidservant: Abimelechs mother is called a slave girl, a term usually referring to a wifes servant who is also a concubine, such as Hagar or Bilhah. (Wolf). Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? And go to sway over trees? The besieged city--the strong tower within--the men and women crowding its battlements--the fire applied to the doors, and even the huge fragments of stone dropping from the hands of one of the garrison on the heads of the assailants, are all well represented to the life--just as they are here described in the narrative of inspired truth [GOSS]. Jotham gave a curse against the people of Shechem and Abimelech, because they chose Abimelech, as the new Judge or King. (1.) It was bad enough when Gideon had only three hundred that God would employ. 6 The Lords spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. The writer of Judges used an interesting word to say that Abimelech had reigned over Israel. Whatever might have been his low state through unchecked animal nature, whatever his delinquencies before, so long as he kept his secret with God, strength never failed him from God, be the strain what it might. A certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelechs head and crushed his skull: At Thebez, a woman dropped a millstone on Abimelechs head and mortally wounded him. Then follows the story of his companions and the riddle a riddle which he was clever enough to put, but which he had little faith to understand or appropriate himself. (f) Abimelech will destroy the nobles of Shechem. Judges 9:8 ., p. But then, how can he claim that God will listen to the people if they listen to him (Jotham)? God's Word is the Truth see John 17:17). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, and lying there in wait. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. 2. 2. So dangerous is apt to be the reaction against one ever so honest; the more you have trusted, when you begin to doubt, the worse it is apt to be, even with poor erring man, who knows not what a serious thing it is. Before Abimelechs sole surviving brother went into hiding, he uttered a protest against Abimelech that predicted the effect of his rule. Judges 9 Commentary And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. But God was about to magnify Himself and His own ways. On them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal: God had warned the men of Shechem through Jotham. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. That's not an exaggeration. I have been reading/studying the Bible all my life; I am now 74 years old and in a wheelchair. It has been already said to have been an early fact in the history of the "Judges," and not chronologically near the close of the book. So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt. b. With the advantage of their superior position, Abimelech and his soldiers drove out Gaal and his men. And so they'd have their stone ground wheat by these millstones. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place. And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. This only gains the day; for it alone is as wise and holy as it is good. This certainly stimulated him though I am far from insinuating no better underneath. he fell, as did Adam at the beginning, and all since save one Christ. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. . It is at least certain that the whole business was heinously evil, and none the less because Micah settles down with the persuasion, "Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest" (ver. c. Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, A woman killed him.: Abimelech considered it manlier to be killed by his own armor bearer; but he was still dead afterward. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Through highway robbery, the Shechemites created an atmosphere of insecurity and disorder, at the same time robbing Abimelech of his taxes (22-25). Such hand-stones averaged ten to fourteen inches long and weighed five pounds or more. (Wood).
judges 9:8 15 explanation
