Setting – Abimelech exulted himself to king of Shechem and killed his seventy stepbrothers.
Content – Abimelech convinced the people to be ruled by him over Gideon’s other seventy sons. Upon their agreeing to have him rule, he with the hired solders killed Gideon’s seventy sons, except Jotham who escaped.
From Mount Gerizim Jotham gave the people of Shechem an analogy of Abimelech being king. He questioned the people of Shechem (v. 16), “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated my father with the honor he deserves?” Obviously not, since they allowed Abimelech to kill of all but one of Gideon’s sons (Jotham). He went on further (v. 19-20), “If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you. But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!” – Abimelech used fire killed the people in the Tower of Shechem.
God stirred up trouble between the people and Abimelech because he killed the seventy sons. Gaal coup attempt failed. Abimelech killed him and his followers along with the people in the Tower of Shechem.
It wasn’t until the city of Thebez where a woman dropped a stone from the tower and hit Abimelech on the head. Abimelech had his armor bearer kill him not wanted to die from a women. Abimelech’s followers disbanded after his death.
Verse 56, “Thus, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.”
Application – God’s judgment on sins is sure, but not always in our timing. God didn’t appoint Abimelech and Jotham’s analogy indicates that Abimelech (represented by the thorn bush) was an inferior leader to the olive tree and grapevine. God eventually had Abimelech killed because of him killing of Gideon’s sons.
We might not always see Gods judgment in our lifetime, but God does and will judge sin. Sometimes we see it within our lifetime and we can request, as David did (seen in Psalm’s), that God’s judgment on sin would be swift.
We need to remember though, that God’s judgment has been spared on us. If we were in the shoes of those who God will be judging, as apostle Paul was when he was Saul the persecutor, we would want to have God’s mercy extended to us. So we want God’s judgment on the sin but not always the sinner, as we still are, but forgiven in Christ.
Content – Abimelech convinced the people to be ruled by him over Gideon’s other seventy sons. Upon their agreeing to have him rule, he with the hired solders killed Gideon’s seventy sons, except Jotham who escaped.
From Mount Gerizim Jotham gave the people of Shechem an analogy of Abimelech being king. He questioned the people of Shechem (v. 16), “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated my father with the honor he deserves?” Obviously not, since they allowed Abimelech to kill of all but one of Gideon’s sons (Jotham). He went on further (v. 19-20), “If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you. But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!” – Abimelech used fire killed the people in the Tower of Shechem.
God stirred up trouble between the people and Abimelech because he killed the seventy sons. Gaal coup attempt failed. Abimelech killed him and his followers along with the people in the Tower of Shechem.
It wasn’t until the city of Thebez where a woman dropped a stone from the tower and hit Abimelech on the head. Abimelech had his armor bearer kill him not wanted to die from a women. Abimelech’s followers disbanded after his death.
Verse 56, “Thus, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.”
Application – God’s judgment on sins is sure, but not always in our timing. God didn’t appoint Abimelech and Jotham’s analogy indicates that Abimelech (represented by the thorn bush) was an inferior leader to the olive tree and grapevine. God eventually had Abimelech killed because of him killing of Gideon’s sons.
We might not always see Gods judgment in our lifetime, but God does and will judge sin. Sometimes we see it within our lifetime and we can request, as David did (seen in Psalm’s), that God’s judgment on sin would be swift.
We need to remember though, that God’s judgment has been spared on us. If we were in the shoes of those who God will be judging, as apostle Paul was when he was Saul the persecutor, we would want to have God’s mercy extended to us. So we want God’s judgment on the sin but not always the sinner, as we still are, but forgiven in Christ.
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