why did not the strong man learn wisdom in the fear of Jehovah, as he again visited the place where his first lesson was given? But again, "And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." Abimelech slew his brethren on one stone, either by dashing them from one rock, or sacrificing them on one stone altar, in revenge for the demolition of Baal's altar by their father. Resent it? Nor should we wonder at it. And they would often hook an oxen to it and they had this stone groove that went around in a circle. But, if you ignore God and just reduce this world to what you can see, you will eliminate the value of human life and be capable of heinous things. 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. God gave the devil commission to enter into or work upon their minds and hearts; knowing that he of himself, and by his own inclinations, would fill them with mistakes, and jealousies, and dissensions, and heart-burnings, which would end in civil wars and mutual ruin. (Poole). 3. There is something about the elastic atmosphere of an Eastern clime which causes it to transmit sound with wonderful celerity and distinctness [Hackett]. Judges 14 "He judged Israel twenty years," is the repetition of the word at this point. That government involves a man in a great deal both of toil and care; he that is promoted over the trees must go up and down for them, and make himself a perfect drudge to business. b. Invariably, when you listen to the written word of God, range yourself on His side. But Jotham hid himself. Commonly, it is only a matter of time until the same violence is turned against those who helped him come to power. i. I don't want them, I don't want them to say a woman killed me." This is our calling; but we see even in Israel that outside the limits, the very narrow limits, in which God called them to be the executors of divine vengeance even they calmly bear and brook as they best might; and there were those that understood the mind of God, and knew perfectly well why they were not so called to do. [2.] The bramble, being chosen to the government, takes no time to consider whether he should accept it or no, but immediately, as if he had been born and bred to dominion, hectors, and assures them they shall find him as he found them. "What is this that thou hast done unto us? Degraded to the utmost, Samson becomes their sport as well as their slave. Well, site uncertain) where he hid from his brothers wrath. So Gaal spake again and said, Look there are people coming down by the middle of the land, another company is coming along the plain of Meonenim. Meanwhile the man, morally speaking, is ruined his testimony to His name being worse than lost. Judges 9:8 Judges 9:7-21 . Joshua 8; Joshua 24). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. One man who is your brother who comes right of Shechem, who understands your needs and all or all of the sons of Jerubbaal? Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (Judges 9:5; Judges 9:5), dealt plainly with the Shechemites, and his speech, which is here recorded, shows him to have been a man of such great ingenuity and wisdom, and really such an accomplished gentleman, that we cannot but the more lament the fall of Gideon's sons. But alas! He extricated failing Samson from the direct consequences of his sinful association; but He dealt retributively with treachery by the hands of their own people. His heart was glad of a better living and of a larger sphere (verses 19, 20), as he goes off from the house of Micah with the lawless children of Dan to blot out Laish with fire and sword, and call their new city after their own name, where the graven image was set up, and a succession that failed not till the day of the captivity of the land; for error takes root faster, and bears fruit more luxuriantly as well as permanently than the truth. Who troubles himself with the Koran or the Shastres, save their votaries? . Bad as were the features we have seen, we have to see even worse still; yet he was heard and answered when he called. The king of Ammon might assail the Israelites, and renew the arbitrament of the sword, but he was unrighteous in demanding the land from Israel. When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait. Delilah sells herself to the Philistine lords to entangle the champion of Israel, now beguiled by his lusts: else the various efforts to seize him must have otherwise opened his eyes to her guile and their murderous malice. Now the moral importance of this was immense, for if they were simply doing the will and word of God, who could stand in their way? Is it not evident that Samson feebly knew what God was teaching him by the lion which he slew, and by the lion's carcase which he found with the honey in it? It was His brethren who sought to lay hold on Him as beside Himself, His brethren who did not believe on Him. And so he called to Abimelech and said, Increase your army. Not so: they took the insult patiently; and these were persons who were called to be the witnesses of earthly righteousness. But what a Nazarite was Samson! If his only desire is to destroy those who disagree, then he is much like the bramble plenty of good points, but no real substance for good. But if it was his hidden power, it acted also as a test; and now the enemy possessed it, disclosed to a harlot, who had wrung it for gold from his foolish heart. Yahweh is perfect, honest) stood on the same mountain where six of Israels tribes had declared the blessings of abiding by the Law of Yahweh and denounced the Shechemites for their foolish and wicked actions. The king of Ammon had forgotten, or had never enquired after the real righteousness of the case. a. Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a boughWhat you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done: Though Abimelech was an ungodly and violent man, he did understand some basic principles of leadership. So whomsoever Jehovah our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess. In senseless fury Abimelech carried his attack to other towns, but his uncontrolled rage and lack of caution soon brought about his own death. Anything like full deliverance must await that day, itself a type of the day of Jehovah. Judges 9:10 So his father went down unto the women: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do." And if unbelief be probed home, it comes to this: it is a virtual denial of God's veracity, of His revelation, if not of His being. The law was right there, but Israel refused to read or heed it. The ruin of Christianity was when two systems so distinct got confounded. Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, A woman killed him. So his young man thrust him through, and he died. i. He said, "Man, you know, put them in concrete and dump them in the ocean you know." Both outside and inside the city, they effectively attacked and killed the people of Shechem (even those not directly involved in the rebellion). There is something about the elastic atmosphere of an Eastern clime which causes it to transmit sound with wonderful celerity and distinctness [HACKETT]. After the death of Gideon, this Abimelech who was the son of his concubine in Shechem. His parable is very ingenious--that when the trees were disposed to choose a king the government was offered to those valuable trees the olive, the fig-tree, and the vine, but they refused it, choosing rather to serve than rule, to do good than bear sway. a. Should we not then rejoice in the Lord? TO ANOINT A KING, i.e. And the fig tree said unto them, "Should I forsake my sweetness, my good fruit? He permitted that there should be no confidence in the peaceable intentions of Israel, for the very purpose of putting them in possession of the land. Either they could not reach him or they were so far convinced that they would not add the guilt of his blood to all the rest. If the Amorite got them from Ammon in the first instance, as was no doubt the fact, this was an affair not between Israel and Ammon, but between Ammon and Sihon. It makes wise the simple; it enlightens the eyes. Alas! Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah. We are not in a position to deal with another until God has dealt with that which is contrary to His name in our own soul; and so it was that the men of Benjamin were utterly smitten and well-nigh exterminated. In Him we may confide, who loves us to the end. Though Abimelech sought a place of leadership in Israel, God did not raise him up as a judge. And so Abimelech came to the tower, he fought against it, he was up against the door trying to burn it with fire. Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and god to be promoted over the trees? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 13). WebGod tells us every human life has value. Difficulties, where they exist for us, would only exercise faith in God. For "it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi. And go to sway over trees? What is to become of you then? The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. The story of Abimelech, the men of Shechem, and Jotham shows us that there is a real and terrible price to pay for rejecting Gods warnings. More he knew not, nor wished to learn. This certainly stimulated him though I am far from insinuating no better underneath. c. Let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon: The bramble warned that he would be an oppressive ruler and destroy anyone who disagreed with him. It is the sequel to and indeed the climax of the Gideon story, and it portrays the disastrous results of Gideons legacy. 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them." And so they'd have their stone ground wheat by these millstones. 7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. There he encounters a new trial, which sets before us the state of Israel in the most painful light. For a good useful man some would even dare to die. "And so they came to the vine and said, "Rule over us. Judges 9 b. It is intimated, [1.] As ever you hope to obtain God's favour, and to be accepted of him, give me a patient and impartial hearing." The object of the king of Ammon was to put the children of Israel in the wrong. (f) Abimelech will destroy the nobles of Shechem. And the Sea of Galilee, same thing, the sound really carries. (1.) Abimelech probably grew up in Shechem (Judges 8:31). There was no occasion at all for the trees to choose a king; they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted (Psalms 104:16) and which therefore he will protect. 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. Through highway robbery, the Shechemites created an atmosphere of insecurity and disorder, at the same time robbing Abimelech of his taxes (22-25). [Note: Idem, Judges . The last chapter of the book shows us the ways and means in which their hearts were drawn out, in order to repair the dismal gap which divine judgment had wrought in Benjamin, and indeed in Israel. And in Thebez there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women, fled to the tower there in Thebez. Perhaps I am mistaken, and he is not a prophet. But then, how can he claim that God will listen to the people if they listen to him (Jotham)? Judges 9:8 Commentaries: "Once the trees went forth to It's an interesting thing to me how far sound travels over there in that land. 22 - 41. 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. They looked upon this hold as both a fort and a sanctuary; but it saved them not. (Trapp). . The fig-tree must lose its sweetness, its sweet retirement, sweet repose, and sweet conversation and contemplation, if it go to be promoted over the trees, and must undergo a constant fatigue. Jephthah proves in the most triumphant way that the right was all on their side. Undoubtedly there are many things in scripture of which we are ignorant; but then we are not entitled to interpret the word of God by ourselves. 2. Abimelech came quickly and put down the rebellion (34-41).But Abimelech did not stop at that. If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Could, at the beck of the Philistine, there be found at once three thousand men so willing and prompt to betray the champion of Israel? Such hand-stones averaged ten to fourteen inches long and weighed five pounds or more. (Wood). And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. It was not merely that the people were unworthily oppressed by the Ammonites, but Jephthah does not venture to go to war, nor does the Spirit of God clothe him with energy for the conflict, until he had the certainty in his soul that the cause was a righteous one, and this founded upon the dealings of God with the children of Israel and with Ammon respectively. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble 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. And his brethren, as we find, came up, took him away, and buried him. 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 A work begun under the name and influence of the devil is not likely to end to the glory of God, or to the welfare of man. (Clarke). and where such a sufferer? "And it came to pass when their hearts were merry that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. His history is of interest primarily because of the light it throws on this period of Israels national life and the continuing decline in Israel. My object being no more than a sketch, as most of you know, I desire to say but a few words on such of the chapters as bear a similar character to that which has been already pointed out in the early portion of the book. Go out and take him on. Judges 9:8-15 : Trees Choosing a King - New Christian Bible Study This shows the problem of following a man who comes to power through violence. And go to sway over trees? a. "And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. ., and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him--An insurrection of the original Canaanites, headed by this man, at last broke out in Shechem. Nevertheless he "was a mighty man of valour," who lived a kind of freebooter's life the chief of a reckless company of outcasts and desperadoes. . Not as if He could not care for His own; but our strength, comfort, and blessing are in His name. But returning from this to the simple tale of Samson's life, I take it as the plain fact that God meant us to learn that He saw fit at that time to deliver by an unworthy instrument, by a man who showed how low he was, if only by the moral incongruity of an Israelitish Nazarite seeking a wife from the fiercest of Israel's uncircumcised enemies. No doubt it was a wonderful display of physical force on the one hand; as on the other those he vanquished were the unrelenting enemies of God's people. And Abimelech dwelt in Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal with his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. how the very thought of Jehovah's name seems lost at this time among the children of Israel. When a suitable occasion arose and Abimelech was in another town, a group of Shechemites plotted to overthrow him. Let fire come out of the bramble.Some suppose that there is a reference to the ancient notions of the spontaneous ignition of the boughs of the bramble when rubbed together by the wind. The king of Ammon had no just claim whatever. Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?" Judges 9 Here he told a parable to rebuke the men of Shechem for their choice of Abimelech as a king. A stronger proof there could not be desired, that the people, as a whole, were far from God. all those stories that Jesus told that provide so much of how we understand our faith. Thus Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against him, as if they had him in their power. ii. But how perfectly He stood, though tried as none ever was or could be but Himself! Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to his uncles and all his mothers relatives and said to them, Ask all the leading men of Shechem, What do you think is best, that seventy men rule youal And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mothers relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. . Everything was out of course. Web1. b. We know that men make it a question for ingenious minds to speculate on. Dear Pilgrims Christianity is singular and not plural all things plural become corrupt Jesus begins each letter/epistle in Revelation to a church (plural) but He ends each letter/epistle addressing individual/s (singular) (i.e. It is chiseled out to where it's round, has a hole in the middle of it and then the stick or the post would go through the center of the millstone and it would roll. For what can be more humiliating than that one's death should be more important than one's life? You've been saying who's Abimelech? 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. WebJudges 14:5-7. Note, Those who expect God to hear their prayers must be willing to hear reason, to hear a faithful reproof, and to hear the complaints and appeals of wronged innocency. WebHebrews 8:7-9 Commentary Hebrews 8:10-11 Commentary Hebrews 8:12-13 Commentary Hebrews 9:1-2 Commentary Hebrews 9:3-5 Commentary Hebrews 9:6-7 Commentary Hebrews 9:8-10 Commentary Hebrews 9:11-12 Commentary Hebrews 9:13-14 Commentary Hebrews 9:15-17 Commentary Hebrews 9:18-20 Commentary Jotham may have hidden in some empty well for a long time (cf. They had sought peace, and Sihon would have war. And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech. It was the energy of His Spirit who thought of His people showing out by the way, as we have remarked, in that wayward man the fallen state to which they were reduced by their own sin, with the highest claims outwardly but morally in as low a condition as could then be conceived. and how He magnified Himself in that hour of supreme chagrin and of his deep agony, when he was made to sport before those uncircumcised haters of Israel, and the witness, as they fondly hoped, of their idol's triumph over Jehovah. The Ammonites had lost them before the children of Israel took them from others whom they might lawfully attack and despoil; but God had forbidden that the children of Israel should spoil either Ammon, or Moab, or Edom. a. The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the town, as it is nearer to the plain. Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves; for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; but you have risen up against my fathers house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother; if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But, for fear of Abimelech, he lived in exile, in some remote obscure place. He could tell his troops to do as I have done, and they did. If God permits him for a season to do his own will, what shame and pain he must reap ere long! In all ordinary cases a Nazarite was one who had taken a peculiar vow of separation to God, but lasting only for a short time. Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. So in this rash vow says Jephthah, "it shall be that whatsoever," etc. The Assyrian bas-reliefs afford counterparts of the scene here described so vivid and exact, that we might almost suppose them to be representations of the same historic events. These verses contain the interpretation of the fable. He was crucified in weakness, but rose in the power of God; but there, instead of folly, instead of shame, instead of unhallowed alliance with the enemies of God, how does unsullied perfection shine in Him of whom we boast! God would magnify His power, but only as a witness now and then; nothing more. 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 have been reading/studying the Bible all my life; I am now 74 years old and in a wheelchair. I speak of course of David, the son of Jesse. Judges 18:1-31 shows that the moral condition, especially of the priest-Levite, was as bad as the religious state. If, therefore, they took him for their king, they might rest assured that desolation and blood would mark the whole of his reign. But now, as we know, the one whom he had made partner of his sin wheedled it from him that she might sell it to the Philistines. But verse 30 seems adverse to this view. So, heres the secret the end of Judges chapter 8 here shows us how Israel did wrong to God. And its then in chapter 9 where we see the evil that Israel does to Gideons household. Now, Ill say one last thing about this section that we just read. Gideon the judge is dead. And now the people again do evil in the sight of the Lord. It seems to me then that the reserve of the Holy Spirit is as strikingly according to God as the rashness of Jephthah is a solemn warning to man. The sound just carries very well. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. (3.) 22. There was but one thing really involved obedience. WebJotham imputes the slaying of his brothers to the citizens of Shechem, as a crime which they themselves had committed ( Judges 9:18 ), because they had given Abimelech money out of their temple of Baal to carry out his designs against the sons of Jerubbaal ( Judges 9:4 ). We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. 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. In judgment He must have righteousness; but He remembers mercy. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains! But Zebul said to him, You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men. So Gaal spoke again and said, See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners Terebinth Tree. Then Zebul said to him, Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Are not these the people whom you despised? Go to your Bible and begin there to follow God's Word. Then come and take shelter in my shade; And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves." What courage and confidence may they not then cherish! From the answer of the olive tree we learn that usefulness is better than honour. be consumed; Psalm 58:9, Or ever your pots be made hot with thorns; Ecclesiastes 7:6, the crackling of thorns under a pot.. In the case of Abimelech it is seen most conspicuously, yet is it always true, though it may be occasionally more marked than at other times.

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