Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.” And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him. Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. (vv.1-5)
Abimelech was the son of Jerubbaal (another name for Gideon given in Judges 8:35), but he was not the clear successor to his father’s place of leadership. This was for two reasons: God had not established a hereditary monarchy in Israel, and there were sixty-nine other sons of Gideon (Judges 8:30) who might also want to succeed their father.
At the city of Shechem, Abimelech convinced his brothers on his mother’s side to support him as king over his brothers on his father’s (Gideon’s) side. So, the men of Shechem agreed to accept Abimelech as the new leader – perhaps even the king – of Israel.
The relatives of Abimelech on his mother’s side gave him some “start-up money” to establish his leadership. He did this, but in a way that they never imagined – he hired worthless and reckless men to kill all his brothers, making certain there would never be a challenger to his leadership. So Abimelech killed his brothers with the support of his relatives on his mother’s side. The men of Shechem (Judges 9:2-3) supported the plan because it was good for them, not because it was morally good or right.
This is the first mention in Scripture of the hideous custom of anticipating conspiracies by destroying all brothers and near kinsmen – no brother near the throne. Abimelech by this vile wickedness set a fatal precedent, which was followed again and again in the kingdom of Israel by Baasha (1 Kings 15:29), Zimri 1 Kings 16:11), Jehu (2 Kings 10:7) and probably by other kings (2 Kings 15). Herod also put to death most of his kinsmen, and some of his sons.
Here we see the power of ambition and what power it has over men. How it will break through all the ties of natural affection, and natural conscience, and sacrifice what is most sacred, dear, and valuable. We see also the peril attending high birth and honor. It was their being the sons of so great a man as Gideon that made Abimelech jealous of them, and exposed them thus to danger and to death.
The Bible says, “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Abimelech sowed a seed when he put the heads of his seventy brothers upon the chopping block, for a stone fell upon his own head. His desire was to be crowned, and he was – with a millstone thrown from the top of a stone to tower (v.51-53).
Be careful with your ambitions and the methods used to acquire them, as they will come back around on your own head.
The Truth: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
