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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ABIMELECH’S
REMOVAL OF HEADSHIP Judges 9:22-57,
10/09/13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert
I. AN EVIL SPIRIT BETWEEN ABIMELECH AND
SHECHEM (22-25) A. [22-23] Abimelech “ruled” (sarar -
ruled, contend or struggle) 3 years of his self-appointed reign. Then the
Lord sent an evil spirit against Abimelech and Shechem. The “evil spirit”
could be taken literally as in the case of Saul (1Sa 16:14; 1Ki 22:19-22).
This does not mean that God is the agent of evil, but he does allow evil to
come, even through the hands of demons. God will only permit such things if
it will accomplish His sovereign plans. The result was a spirit of treachery
between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. B. [24-25] The Lord’s purpose was revealed in
that He desired to bring recompense upon Abimelech and Shechem for killing
the seventy sons of Jerubbaal (Jdg 9:5). For this reason, the men of Shechem
set up an ambush for traders who might increase Abimelech’s commerce. II. RISE OF GAAL AGAINST ABIMELECH (26-29) A. [26-27] In God’s providence, an enemy is
raised up against Abimelech by the name of Gaal, son of Ebed. He came with
his brothers and were received by Shechem as a
potential deliverer. Gaal and his brothers came for the pagan feast to their
god Baal-berith. Together they gathered grapes, no doubt for their drunken
and promiscuous festival. Together, they cursed Abimelech’s reign. B. [28-29] Gaal began to scoff at Abimelech
and his lineage from a woman of Shechem. After all, Abimelech was a brother
to the sons of Jerubbaal and related to the house of Israel. They were better
off serving the men of Hamor (Hivite Prince, Ge 34:2), the father of Shechem.
Zebul was appointed by Abimelech to be lieutenant and governor over Shechem
(Jdg 9:30). He very well may not have been a resident of Shechem causing
further resentment of Gaal and the Shechemites. Gaal suggests that he would
make a better ruler over Shechem. If that were to happen, he would remove the
rule of Abimelech. III. ZEBEL PLOTS AGAINST GAAL (30-41) A. [30-33] Since Zebul was the ruler of the
Shechem, his anger burned against Gaal’s revolutionary intents. So, he
secretly sends a message to Abimelech concerning Gaal’s rebellious plot. He
suggests that Abimelech could set up an ambush at night against Gaal. At
daybreak, Abimelech and his army could bring a surprise attack against Gaal. B. [34-38] Using Zebul’s strategy, Abimelech
waited outside Shechem at night, separating into four companies. In the
morning when Gaal went to the gate of the city, Abimelech made his move
against him. When Gaal saw Abimelech’s movement, he called the attention of
Zebul. Zebul deceived Gaal into thinking that it was shadows on the mountain
and not an attacking army. It dawned on Gaal that it was indeed an attack
coming from the direction of the “diviner’s oak” (a landmark tree, thought to
be a place where they could receive revelation from their god). It was at
this moment that Zebul began to call Gaal’s bluff. He goaded him to back up
his revolutionary statements from the festival. He challenged him to go out
from the cities fortress and fight Abimelech. C. [39-41] Gaal and the men of Shechem took
the bait and went out to fight Abimelech. The skirmish was a sizeable victory
and many were wounded in front of the entrance of the city. Abimelech chased
some of the army southward as far as Arumah, apparently Abimelech’s capital.
Meanwhile Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from the city of Shechem. IV. ABIMELECH DESTROYS SHECHEM (42-49) A. [42-45] The next day, Abimelech learned
that the people of Shechem went out to the field to resume their normal
activities. Abimelech waited in ambush once again, dividing his army into
three companies. When Shechem, already weakened by the previous battle, came
out of the city, Abimelch captured and killed them for conspiring
a revolt. Abimelech tore down the buildings in the city and sowed salt so
that no crops would grow again (Dt 29:23; Ps 107:34; Je 17:6). Shechem was
not rebuilt unitl the reign of Jeroboam I, almost two centuries later (1Ki
12:25, ca. 930-910 B.C.). B. [46-49] Later the leaders of Shechem
returned to the “tower of Shechem,” claimed by some to have been located at
Beth-Millo (cf. Jdg 9:6; Jdg 9:20). They entered the inner chamber of the
temple which was called “El-berith” (El-elohim = god(s) and berith =
covenant, equivalent to Baal-berith). When Abimelech learned that they were
in the temple, he went to Mt Zalmon (possibly Mt Ebal) and cut branches. He
instructed the people to do likewise. With these branches, they placed them
on the inner chamber and set them on fire. The fire consumed all those in the
temple, which was estimated at a thousand men and women. Archaeologists
speculate that it was a building sixty-eight feet wide and eighty-four feet
long situated in the upper part of the city. V. ABIMELECH IS KILLED BY A WOMEN OF THEBEZ
(50-53) A. [50-53] Evidently, Shechem was not the
only city that had a problem with Abimelech’s rule. For Abimelech encamped by
the city of Thebez (ten miles northeast) and captured it. Though the city was
captured, the tower fortress in the center was not. All the men, women, and
leaders fled to the tower. After securing themselves inside, they went upon
the roof of the tower to resist their invaders. Abimelech came to the tower
in order to fight against them as well as start a fire similar to Shechem.
However, a citizen of Thebez, a women, threw an
upper millstone at Abimelech. A millstone was a flat circular stone that was
used by women to crush grain. These upper and a lower stones were rubbed back
and forth with grain in between. They may have weighed five to fifteen
pounds, which would have been manageable for an average
women. The millstone struck Abimelech in the head, crushing his skull. B. [54-55] Surprisingly, Abimelech
temporarily survived the blow just long enough to ask his armor-bearer to
draw his sword and kill him. He did not wish to maintain the legacy of being
killed by a woman. So, his armor-bearer pierced him through and he died. When
Abimelech died, the men of Israel ceased fighting and went home. VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS (56-57) A. [56-57] God repaid Abimelech for the
wickedness he had done to his father, by slaying Jerubbaal’s seventy sons.
Having appointed himself and having committed such atrocities is reason
enough why Abimelech is not considered a divinely appointed Judge in Israel’s
history. But the divine recompense also came to Shechem and in a bit of
divine irony, their wickedness returned “on their heads.” B. [57b] Jotham’s prophetic allegory and
curse did indeed come true. Furthermore, it came upon them in a most
remarkable manner. Jotham’s use of branches and vines played a major part in
burning down the tower of Shechem in Beth-millo (Jdg 9:20). From Mt Ebal,
Abimelech carried the branches on his “shoulder,” which is the Hebrew word shekem
(i.e. “Shechem”). The branches also played a part in Abimelech’s demise
in that when he attempted to burn the tower at Thebez, he was fatally
unprotected. C. On a final note, Abimelech killed his
seventy brothers on “one stone,” and one stone (millstone) killed Abimelech.
Only Abimelech’s stone came from the hand of a women. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Curses played an important part in the OT.
Under the Law, God Himself placed curses upon individuals for disobedience
(Dt 11:26–28; 27:15–26; 28:15–68), for withholding tithes (Mal 3:9), for
stinginess (Pr 28:27), and breaking God’s covenants (Dt 30:19; Je 11:3). B. When men brought curses, if they were not
prompted by the Lord or in accordance with His will (cf. Jos 9:23; Jdg 9:20),
they did not avail (Pr 26:2), they brought severe consequences upon
themselves (Ex 21:17), or brought consequences to the nation (Ge 12:3). C. In the NT, believers are never instructed
to make curses. In fact, believers are taught not to make curses (Ro 12:14)
and that they are accountable for their speech (Mt 12:37; Jm 3:2,9). D. Believers are taught by Jesus to pray for
those who curse them (Lk 6:28). E. In regard to salvation, all men are cursed
by sin and death (Ge 2:16-17). F. Christ took the believer’s curse on the
cross (Gal 3:10, 13). G. Christ removed the believer’s curse
altogether (Re 22:3). H. Unbelievers will reap the ultimate curse
of eternal death (Re 21:7). |
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