We are in the section of Judges that is focused on Gideon, the fifth judge of Israel. We have seen how Gideon has been transformed from a fearful man to one that seems more confident and even prideful, but the end of Judges 8:20.
Now with Israel delivered from the Midianites, the people of Israel also offer Gideon kingship. How will he respond to power?
(A) Rightful Rule (Jdg 8:22-35)
The men of Israel think that Gideon, his son and his grandson saved them from the hand of Midian (Jdg 7:22). However, earlier in Judges 7:2, we read of how God declared that He will save them. The people forgot what the Lord said and now attributed the nation’s victory to one man. They also approach Gideon to take on a dynastic rule (“rule over us”).
Deuteronomy 7:14-15 records for us God’s provision for a king when they enter the land. This is one that the Lord Himself will choose, not on that they choose base on their own criteria. Thus, Israel is disobeying God by choosing to reward Gideon with this dynastic rulership over Israel.
How did Gideon respond? He rejected this request by declaring that he nor his son will rule over them and only the LORD will rule over them (Jdg 7:23). However, though he professed that he will not rule over them, his next request seems to contradict his words. He requested that the people give him the earrings from the spoils of their conquests (Jdg 7:24). The total weight of the earrings was 1,700 shekels of gold and he also received the crescent ornaments, pendants, purple garments and collars worn by the camels (Jdg 7:26).
Gideon made an ephod of these items (Jdg 7:27). Now the ephod was worn by the high priest, and upon which the breastplate containing the Urim and Thummin rested. Gideon made this ephod and placed it in his hometown (Jdg 7:27). By doing so, Gideon could be setting up an alternative place of worship that drew the people away from God’s intended place and design of worship. Israel also “whored after it there” and “it became a snare to Gideon and to his family” (Jdg 7:28).
Despite His actions, God also brought rest to the land of Israel for forty years (Jdg 7:28). However, this is the last time that we are told that the land had rest.
Judges 8:29-30 also describes for us Gideon’s life. Gideon had seventy sons — a household that required a lot of resources to sustain. This is a mark of a powerful and prestigious house. He also names one of his sons, Abimelech, which means, “My father is king” (Jdg 7:31). This is clearly ironic as earlier, he refused to rule over the nation but yet, he names his son after this desire to be king. He builds for himself a king-like household.
In Judges 7:32, we are told that Gideon died in a good old age, a description used only to describe Abraham, David and Gideon. Clearly Gideon had done good for Israel! Thus, Gideon’s story forces us to wrestle with the complexity of the human characters in the book of Judges. None of the judges in this book are perfect. No one is Christ, and no one is Satan. Each person that God raises as judge is flawed and sinful.
So it is with us! We say that God provides, but do we measure security by our personal wealth, possessions, savings. We desire to honour God through our work, but are we resentful when others take credit for our work. It is easy to acknowledge God with our words, but we can also easily live in a way that does not seem to recognise Him. If no one recognised your contributions, would you still be content to live faithfully for Christ?
Through Gideon, Israel was delivered, but notice how after he died, they turned again and whored after the Baals (Jdg 7:33). Israel needed a judge and deliverer greater than Gideon, one that we find in Christ.
(B) Illegitimate Rule (Jdg 9:1-21)
Abimelech sought to seize kingship (Jdg 9:1-6). He went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and leverages his family connections. He puts forward a false dichotomy before them to pick — do they want him to rule, or have seventy others rule (Jdg 9:2)? Abimelech is the main actor here, and we clearly see his ambition driving his actions, instead of God appointing a king over Israel (Jdg 9:1-2).
He also obtains 70 pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, from the worship of Baal (Jdg 9:4). His campaign was funded by idol worship. And he goes on to eliminate his opposition by hiring worthless and reckless fellows (Jdg 9:4-5).
The leaders of Shechem also played their part, as they went out to spread the word on his behalf to rally the people around Abimelech (Jdg 9:3). They favoured him because of his family ties and also financed his violent ambitions. When his opposition had been eliminated, they gathered and crowned Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar at Shechem (Jdg 9:6).
Abimelech’s rise to power is illegitimate, seizing power through violence while Shechem’s leaders support and aid his rise.
However, Jotham survived (Jdg 9:5b). When he was told of Abimelech’s rise to kingship, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried out (Jdg 9:7). He speaks a fable that tells of three trees — the olive, fig and vine — that reject kingship (Jdg 9:8-13). Finally, when the trees come to a bramble, the bramble offers shade but if not, fire is threatened (Jdg 9:14-15).
Now, a bramble is unlikely to bear fruit and also does not provide much shade for trees! This is the irony in the fable.
Jotham stops the fable and addresses the leaders directly in Judges 9:16. He exposes treachery through his speech and points out how they chose Abimelech out of family loyalty and this will likely backfire (Jdg 9:16-20). Shechem is culpable of choosing and supporting an unworthy king. They willingly financed his wicked ambition without consulting or seeking God’s plan. They pursued what was good for themselves instead of what was right before God.
We, too, are tempted to do what we think is right for ourselves. We know what God’s word says but when obedience comes into conflict with what we want, how ready are we to submit ourselves under the authority of God’s word? Are we willing to love others enough to speak a difficult truth? Are we willing to serve others who are unable to benefit us? Do we truly believe that His ways are better than our own? Do we trust that God’s rule is good and His words are the loving instruction of a king who knows what is best for His people? Let us acknowledge His authority and gladly submit to His word, even when obedience is costly.
(C) Sovereign Rule (Jdg 9:22-57)
Judges 9:22-25 and Judges 9:56-57 is the key to interpreting and understanding this section. God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Jdg 9:23). God is using this war to judge Abimelech for his earlier violent rise to power. None of his actions, as well as the support of Shechem’s men, go unnoticed by God. This is also a section without any mention of a judge or deliverer. God is clearly the actor here and everything is done for His purposes.
We are all introduced to Gaal in Judges 9:26. He moves in to Shechem and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him (Jdg 9:26). He is not from Shechem and appeals to them to support him based on rejecting Abimelech, and instead supporting their ancestral identity (Jdg 9:28-29). The men of Shechem seem to be easily swayed and convinced by different men, first Abimelech, then Gaal.
When Zebul heard the words of Gaal, he informed Abimelech, who confronted Gaal (Jdg 9:30-40). Eventually, Gaal is driven out (Jdg 9:41).
These verses highlight the instability of human alliances and hold on power.
Shechem is destroyed (Jdg 9:42-49). The king they supported eventually brought about their destruction. Jotham’s earlier warning of fire is ultimately fulfilled.
Abimelech also attacked Thebes and sought to repeat his modus operandi, hoping that it will bring him success a second time (Jdg 9:50). However, he dies at the hands of a woman who threw a millstone at him (Jdg 9:53). In the end, Abimelech himself is destroyed (Jdg 9:55). Even at the end of his life, he cared about his reputation. He was unwilling to be remembered to have died at the hand of a woman, but wanted to die at the hand of his young man (Jdg 9:54). Ironically, in 2 Samuel 11:21, his death is recounted by David as by the hand of a woman.
We see God’s hand at work and His sovereignty throughout these events. The one who destroyed 70 with one stone was ironically killed by the millstone of a woman. Though the wicked and evil seem to prosper, God is not blind. God will act and judge rightly.
Perhaps you are working under a boss who is manipulative, who takes credit for the team’s achievement but throws the team under the bus when things go wrong. Everyone seems to know what is wrong, but no one speaks up. Your boss seems to grow more influential and the people they have wronged seem to wonder why nothing happens. Do you wonder if doing what is right is worth it?
Juges 9 tells us that we cannot judge God based on our circumstances. The apparent success of wickedness does not mean that God has ceased to rule. his delayed judgement does not mean that HE approves of what is being done. God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech and the people of Shechem. God’s justice may not come according to our timing, but Scripture assures us that God has appointed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness. Let us trust that God’s justice is coming and seek to remain faithful to HIm.
Abimelech ruled for 3 years, but the Lord never fails to rule. Unlike Abimelech who murdered his brothers to become king, King Jesus died for his enemies to call them brothers. Gideon’s deliverance was temporary, but Jesus delivered His people from their greatest enemy — sin and death. Christ is king. He is the rightly and sovereign king. Let us submit to His sovereign rule.