Abimelech in the book of judges

One of gideons many sons, he was born to the concubine a kind of secondclass wife gideon had married in shechem judges 8. According to the book of judges, abimelech went to shechem to meet with his mothers brethren and grandfather and claimed that he should be the only ruler over his mothers brethren and the men of shechem and not his brothers. He asked them whether they would prefer to be ruled by seventy rulers or just one, and he claimed them as. Abimelech judges 9 is never described in scripture as being one of the judges of ancient israel. Read the full story of abimelech from the book of judges below and find articles. Judges 9 erv abimelech becomes king abimelech was bible. This is something that did not happen under abimelech. Again, a woman proved to be the deliverer of her people, this time from an israelite tyrant out of control. This word is unique to the book and is perhaps chosen to distinguish abimelechs illfated rule from that of the true judges. The father of abiathar, and high priest in the time of david 1 chronicles 18. In other words, the one person who was actually unharmed by abimelech is the only one the book notices.

Ascension to nobility the killing of seventy brothers. Abimelech is made king and kills gideons sons 16 jotham uses a parable to call for gods judgment against abimelech and the people of shechem. Abimelech, gideons son, tries to become king of shechem, but fails. He said to his uncles and all of his mothers family, 2 ask the leaders of the city of shechem this question.

Though gideon had rejected kingship officially judges 8. First, god allowed abimelech to destroy shechem to judge them for killing the sons of gideon judges 9. Abimelech s reign is short but eventful as he leads his armies to war against uncooperative neighboring cities 9. Background today we are going to study the book of judges, but i think it always helps to understand the context of a book before you study it, so first i want to show how judges fits into the history of the nation of israel. A summary and brief commentary on important aspects of these stories from the book of judges, by dr. Scholars believe some of the judges ruled simultaneously in. Abimelech, a name claiming the inherited right to rule, was also a common name of the philistine kings.

His name can best be interpreted as my father is king, claiming the inherited right to rule. Abimelech himself was financed with silver from the treasury of baalberith judges 9. Judges 9 english standard version esv abimelechs conspiracy. This study on judges originated from a handout and class notes in dr. Jan 02, 2020 but probably the most wellknown abimelech in the bible is the headstrong and murderous son of gideon in the book of judges. Then abimelech stayed in arumah, and zebul drove gaal and his clan out of shechem. According to the book of judges, abimelech went to shechem to meet with his mothers brethren and grandfather and claimed. Robert chisholms hebrew class at dallas theological seminary. Abimelech also spelled abimelek, one of gideons sons, served as a judge.

Abimelech ruled for three years from 1151bc1149bc, he started his rule by killing the 70 sons of gideon also in some places gideon is called jerubbaal. Weve been examining some of the biographies of a number of the bible characters that appear in the book of judges. And abimelech the son of jerubbaal went to shechem unto his mothers brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying, judges 9. Judges 9 esv abimelechs conspiracy now bible gateway. He sought to rule over shechem by killing all other sons of gideon, who were all slain except for gideons youngest son, jotham. The book of judges depicts the life of israel in the promised land from the death of joshua to the rise of the monarchy. In the next battle against thebez, abimelech himself was killed. Book of judges overview insight for living ministries. The book of judges, sefer shoftim is the seventh book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. He gets into local politics, starts a grassroots campaign for the monarchy, leads a killsquad to his. Is it better for you to be ruled by the 70 sons of gideon or to be ruled by only one man. He has about 70 brothers ahead of him in line for the throne.

Commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. There are a couple of people named abimelech in the scriptures, but in the book of judges, he was one of the sons of judge gideon born to his concubine at shechem. But probably the most wellknown abimelech in the bible is the headstrong and murderous son of gideon in the book of judges. Judges chapter 9 abimelech murdered his seventy brothers. Hence, jothams curse upon abimelech was very real, and we soon learn from the rest of the story that god took it seriously. Jul 06, 2019 there are a couple of people named abimelech in the scriptures, but in the book of judges, he was one of the sons of judge gideon born to his concubine at shechem. Oct 09, 2014 abimelechs death could also be understood as a divine punishment for his evil actions. Abimelech was a son of gideon, the king of israel, and his.

Posb insurrection, rebellion, revolt, war, assassination, terrorism, or convincing arguments. So abimelechs armorbearer ran his sword through him, and he. Events within the book of judges span the geographical breadth of the nation, happening in a variety of cities, towns, and battlefields. Then abimelech the son of jerubbaal went to shechem, to his mothers brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying, please speak in the hearing of all the men of shechem. Abimelech was the son of gideon by a concubine in shechem. Please see our article on this particular abimelech for more information. However, nowhere in the book is his suicide seen as divine retribution. In the book of judges in the hebrew bible, abimelech was a son of the great judge gideon. There are a couple of people named abimelech in the scriptures, but in the book of judges, he was one of the sons of judge gideon born to his concubine at. The placing of his story in the book of judges is apparently. Abimelech the son of jerubbaal went to shechem the idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into israel during the latter years of gideon was now openly professed. If you have your bible with you this morning, i invite you to turn to the 9th chapter of judges with me. The story of samson is found in the book of judges, chapters 16. Abimelech then became the king of shechem, ruling for three years before a conspiracy arose against him.

This summary of the book of judges provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of judges. What should be noted is that it was god who raised up the judges. Aug 09, 2014 a summary and brief commentary on important aspects of these stories from the book of judges, by dr. Abimelech ruled for three years from 1151bc1149bc, he started his rule by killing the 70 sons of. He was, however, merely the son of gideons concubine, and to make good. Pastor bob leroe, cliftondale congregational church, saugus, massachusetts. Mar 09, 2018 abimelech was a son of gideon, the king of israel, and his concubine from shechem. The whole design of the book from prologue to epilogue. Abimelech went to his uncles who lived in the city of shechem. He also hated his halfbrothers, presumably because he was the son of a concubine rather than the son of one of gideons wives judges 8.

This word is unique to the book and is perhaps chosen to distinguish abimelech s illfated rule from that of the true judges. Hes ruthless and cunning, and might have had a longer, even bloodier rule if it hadnt been for that darn prophecy. A study of joshua, judges, ruth, and i samuel 18 materials are ed but can be used for free. During the period of the judges, abimelech became the ruler of shechem through the support of his mothers family and the local oligarchy the lords of shechem. Seeking power and authority is a common ambition within the hearts of people, an ambition that is present within every group or body of people.

Nov 30, 20 abimelech judges 9 is never described in scripture as being one of the judges of ancient israel. We all know of individuals whove been seduced by power and do whatever it takes to get to the top. Politics is often a quest for power, and power can corrupt. The following pdf files are downloadable with adobe acrobat reader. The extent of abimelech s kingdom was very limited. Judges 9 easytoread version erv abimelech becomes king. The title refers to the leaders israel had from the time of the elders who outlived joshua until the time of the monarchy. Oct 11, 2006 in other words, the one person who was actually unharmed by abimelech is the only one the book notices.

God sent an evil spirit between abimelech and the lords of shechem. The quasiillegitimate son of gideon, he decides he wants to be king. And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone on abimelechs head, and all to broke his skull. Gideon was raised up by god and while he lived israel had peace judges 8. Were in a series of messages from the old testament book of judges. Abimelechs punishment 52 when abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

Abimelech also spelled abimelek, one of gideons sons, served as a judge of israel following the judgeship of gideon. Abimelech armor of god artaxerxes bible education bible study book of judges childrens bible education childrens education citizenship communion consuming the news wisely contentment david and bathsheba deborah doubt education in america eli expert swordsman feast of tabernacles freedom gideon gods love hannah history of childrens bible. The writer of the book of judges ascribed his death and the fate of the shechemites to god, who punished them for their wickedness judges 9. He was, however, merely the son of gideons concubine, and to make good his. The placing of his story in the book of judges is apparently due to its connection with the traditions about the house of gideon. On the one hand, it is an account of frequent apostasy, provoking divine chastening.

In the narrative of the hebrew bible, it covers the time between the conquest described in the book of joshua and the establishment of a kingdom in the books of samuel, during which biblical judges served as temporary leaders. The book of judges acts as the sequel to the book of joshua, linked by comparable accounts of joshuas death joshua 24. Abimelech chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. He was one of the major biblical characters in the old testanment. Antijudge abimelech sermon by robert leroe, judges 9. Abimelech went to his fathers house at ophrah and murdered his brothers. The bible does not count abimelech among the judges. Abimelechs death could also be understood as a divine punishment for his evil actions. At any rate, abimelech maintained close ties with the israelites, since he ruled not judged over israel three. He asked them whether they would prefer to be ruled by seventy rulers or just one, and he claimed them as equal brothers. Abimelech was a son of gideon, the king of israel, and his concubine from shechem.