The apostasy of Israel after the death of Gideon is punished,
not as the former apostasies by a foreign invasion, or the oppressions of any
neighbouring power, but by intestine broils among themselves, which in this
chapter we have the story of; and it is hard to say whether their sin or their
misery appears most in it. It is an account of the usurpation and tyranny of
Abimelech, who was base son to Gideon; so we must call him, and not more
modishly his natural son: he was so unlike him. We are here told, I. How he
thrust himself into the government at Shechem, his own city, by subtlety and
cruelty, particularly by the murder of all his brethren (v. 1-6). II. How his
doom was read in a parable by Jothan, Gideon's youngest son (v. 7-21). III.
What strifes there were between Abimelech and his friends the Shechemites (v. 22-41).
IV. How this ended in the ruin of the Shechemites (v. 42-49), and of Abimelech
himself (v. 50-57). Of this meteor, this ignis fatuus of a prince, that was
not a protector but a plague to his country, we may say, as once was said of a
great tyrant, that he came in like a fox, ruled like a lion, and died like a
dog. "For the transgression of a land, such are the princes thereof."
We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and
made himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some towering
ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying royalty in it,
might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has buried his father
nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will succeed him in the government of
Israel, directly contrary to his father's will, for he had declared no son
of his should rule over them. He had no call from God to this honour as his
father had, nor was there any present occasion for a judge to deliver Israel as
there was when his father was advanced; but his own ambition must be gratified,
and its gratification is all he aims at. Now observe here,
I. How craftily he got his mother's relations into his
interests. Shechem was a city in the tribe of Ephraim, of great note. Joshua had
held his last assembly there. If that city would but appear for him, and set him
up, he thought it would go far in his favour. There he had an interest in the
family of which his mother was, and by them he made an interest in the leading
men of the city. It does not appear that any of them had an eye to him as a man
of merit, who had any thing to recommend him to such a choice, but the motion
came first from himself. None would have dreamed of making such a one king, if
he had not dreamed of it himself. And see here, 1. How he wheedled them into the
choice, v. 2, 3. He basely suggested that Gideon having left seventy sons, who
made a good figure and had a good interest, they were designing to keep the
power which their father had in their hands, and by a joint-influence to reign
over Israel. "Now," says he, "you had better have one king than
more, than many, than so many. Affairs of state are best managed by a single
person," v. 2. We have no reason to think that all or any of Gideon's
sons had the least intention to reign over Israel (they were of their father's
mind, that the Lord should reign over them, and they were not called of
him), yet this he insinuates to pave the way to his own pretensions. Note, Those
who design ill themselves are commonly most apt to suspect that others design
ill. As for himself, he only puts them in mind of his relation to them (verbum
sapienti—A word to the wise is sufficient): Remember that I am your bone and
your flesh. The plot took wonderfully. The magistrates of Shechem were
pleased to think of their city being a royal city and the metropolis of Israel,
and therefore they inclined to follow him; for they said, "He is our
brother, and his advancement will be our advantage." 2. How he got
money from them to bear the charges of his pretensions (v. 4): They gave him
seventy pieces of silver; it is not said what the value of these pieces was;
so many shekels are less, and so many talents more, than we can well imagine;
therefore it is supposed they were each a pound weight: but they gave this money
out of the house of Baal-berith, that is, out of the public treasury, which, out
of respect to their idol, they deposited in his temple to be protected by him;
or out of the offerings that had been made to that idol, which they hoped would
prosper the better in his hands for its having been consecrated to their god.
How unfit was he to reign over Israel, because unlikely to defend them, who,
instead of restraining and punishing idolatry, thus early made himself a
pensioner to an idol! 3. What soldiers he enlisted. He hired into his service
vain and light persons, the scum and scoundrels of the country, men of broken
fortunes, giddy heads, and profligate lives; none but such would own him, and
they were fittest to serve his purpose. Like leader like followers.
II. How cruelly he got his father's sons out of the way.
1. The first thing he did with the rabble he headed was to kill
all his brethren at once, publicly and in cold blood, threescore and ten men,
one only escaping, all slain upon one stone. See in this bloody tragedy, (1.)
The power of ambition what beasts it will turn men into, how it will break
through all the ties of natural affection and natural conscience, and sacrifice
that which is most sacred, dear, and valuable, to its designs. Strange that ever
it should enter into the heart of a man to be so very barbarous! (2.) The peril
of honour and high birth. Their being the sons of so great a man as Gideon
exposed them thus and made Abimelech jealous of them. We find just the same
number of Ahab's sons slain together at Samaria, 2 Ki. 10:1, 7. The grand
seigniors have seldom thought themselves safe while any of their brethren have
been unstrangled. Let none then envy those of high extraction, or complain of
their own meanness and obscurity. The lower the safer.
2. Way being thus made for Abimelech's election, the men of
Shechem proceeded to choose him king, v. 6. God was not consulted whether they
should have any king at all, much less who it should be; here is no advising
with the priest or with their brethren of any other city or tribe, though it was
designed that he should reign over Israel, v. 22. But, (1.) The Shechemites, as
if they were the people and wisdom must die with them, did all; they aided and
abetted him in the murder of his brethren (v. 24), and then they made him
king. The men of Shechem (that is, the great men, the chief magistrates of
the city), and the house of Millo (that is, the common-council, the full
house or house of fulness, as the word signifies), those that met in
their guildhall (we read often of the house of Millo, or state-house in
Jerusalem, or the city of David, 2 Sa. 5:9; 2 Ki. 12:20), these gathered
together, not to prosecute and punish Abimelech for this barbarous murder, as
they ought to have done, he being one of their citizens, but to make him
king. Pretium sceleris tulit hic diadema—His wickedness was rewarded with a
diadem. What could they promise themselves from a king that laid the
foundation of his kingdom in blood? (2.) The rest of the Israelites were so very
sottish as to sit by unconcerned. They took no care to give check to this
usurpation, to protect the sons of Gideon, or to avenge their death, but tamely
submitted to the bloody tyrant, as men who with their religion had lost their
reason, and all sense of honour and liberty, justice and gratitude. How
vigorously had their fathers appeared to avenge the death of the Levite's
concubine, and yet so wretchedly degenerate are they now as not to attempt the
avenging of the death of Gideon's sons; it is for this that they are charged
with ingratitude (ch. 8:35): Neither showed they kindness to the house of
Jerubbaal.
We have here the only testimony that appears to have been borne
against the wicked confederacy of Abimelech and the men of Shechem. It was a
sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent
nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the
progress of this threatening mischief. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon,
who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (v. 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. Jotham did not go about to raise an army out of the other cities of Israel
(in which, one would think, he might have made a good interest for his father's
sake), to avenge his brethren's death, much less to set up himself in
competition with Abimelech, so groundless was the usurper's suggestion that
the sons of Gideon aimed at dominion (v. 2); but he contents himself with giving
a faithful reproof to the Shechemites, and fair warning of the fatal
consequences. He got an opportunity of speaking to them from the top of Mount
Gerizim, the mount of blessings, at the foot of which probably the Shechemites
were, upon some occasion or other, gathered together (Josephus says, solemnizing
a festival), and it seems they were willing to hear what he had to say.
I. His preface is very serious: "Hearken unto me, you
men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you, v. 7. As ever you hope to
obtain God's favour, and to be accepted of him, give me a patient and
impartial hearing." 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. If we turn away our ear from
hearing the law, our prayer will be an abomination, Prov. 28:9.
II. 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. But the same tender being made to the
bramble he accepted it with vain-glorious exultation. The way of instruction by
parables is an ancient way, and very useful, especially to give reproofs by.
1. He hereby applauds the generous modesty of Gideon, and the
other judges who were before him, and perhaps of the sons of Gideon, who had
declined accepting the state and power of kings when they might have had them,
and likewise shows that it is in general the temper of all wise and good men to
decline preferment and to choose rather to be useful than to be great. (1.)
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 (Ps. 104:16) and which therefore he will
protect. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to talk of setting a king over
them; for the Lord was their king. (2.) When they had it in their
thoughts to choose a king they did not offer the government to the stately
cedar, or the lofty pine, which are only for show and shade, and not otherwise
useful till they are cut down, but to the fruit-trees, the vine and the olive.
Those that bear fruit for the public good are justly respected and honoured by
all that are wise more than those that affect to make a figure. For a good
useful man some would even dare to die. (3.) The reason which all these
fruit-trees gave for their refusal was much the same. The olive pleads (v. 9), Should
I leave my wine, wherewith both God and man are served and honoured? for oil
and wine were used both at God's altars and at men's tables. And shall I
leave my sweetness, saith the fig-tree, and my good fruit (v. 11), and go
to be promoted over the trees? or, as the margin reads it, go up and down
for the trees? It is intimated, [1.] 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. [2.] That
those who are preferred to places of public trust and power must resolve to
forego all their private interests and advantages, and sacrifice them to the
good of the community. 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. [3.]
That those who are advanced to honour and dignity are in great danger of losing
their fatness and fruitfulness. Preferment is apt to make men proud and
slothful, and thus spoil their usefulness, with which in a lower sphere they
honoured God and man, for which reason those that desire to do good are afraid
of being too great.
2. He hereby exposes the ridiculous ambition of Abimelech, whom
he compares to the bramble or thistle, v. 14. He supposes the trees to make
their court to him: Come thou and reign over us, perhaps because he knew
not that the first motion of Abimelech's preferment came from himself (as we
found, v. 2), but thought the Shechemites had proposed it to him; however,
supposing it so, his folly in accepting it deserved to be chastised. The bramble
is a worthless plant, not to be numbered among the trees, useless and fruitless,
nay, hurtful and vexatious, scratching and tearing, and doing mischief; it began
with the curse, and its end is to be burned. Such a one was Abimelech, and yet
chosen to the government by the trees, by all the trees; this election
seems to have been more unanimous than any of the others. Let us not think it
strange if we see folly set in great dignity (Eccl. 10:6), and the vilest
men exalted (Ps. 12:8), and men blind to their own interest in the choice of
their guides. 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. See what great swelling words of vanity he speaks (v. 15),
what promises he makes to his faithful subjects: Let them come and trust in
my shadow: a goodly shadow to trust in! How unlike to the shadow of a
great rock in a weary land, which a good magistrate is compared to! Isa.
32:2. Trust in his shadow!—more likely to be scratched if they came near him—more
likely to be injured by him than benefited. Thus men boast of a false gift.
Yet he threatens with as much confidence as he promises: If you be not faithful,
let fire come out of the bramble (a very unlikely thing to emit fire) and
devour the cedars of Lebanon—more likely to catch fire, and be itself
devoured.
III. His application is very close and plain. In it, 1. He
reminds them of the many good services his father had done for them, v. 17. He
fought their battles, at the hazard of his own life, and to their unspeakable
advantage. It was a shame that they needed to be put in mind of this. 2. He
aggravates their unkindness to his father's family. They had not done to
him according to the deserving of his hands, v. 16. Great merits often meet
with very ill returns. especially to posterity, when the benefactor if
forgotten, as Joseph was among the Egyptians. Gideon had left many sons that
were an honour to his name and family, and these they had barbarously murdered;
one son he had left that was the blemish of his name and family, for he was the
son of his maid-servant, whom all that had any respect to Gideon's honour
would endeavour to conceal, yet him they made their king. In both they put the
utmost contempt imaginable upon Gideon. 3. He leaves it to the event to
determine whether they had done well, whereby he lodges the appeal with the
divine providence. (1.) If they prospered long in this villany, he would give
them leave to say they had done well, v. 19. "If your conduct towards the
house of Gideon be such as can be justified at any bar of justice, honour, or
conscience, much good may it do you with your new king." But, (2.) If they
had, as he was sure they had, dealt basely and wickedly in this matter, let them
never expect to prosper, v. 20. Abimelech and the Shechemites, that had
strengthened one another's hands in this villany, would certainly be a plague
and ruin one to another. Let none expect to do ill and fare well.
Jotham, having given them this admonition, made a shift to
escape with his life, v. 21. 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. But,
for fear of Abimelech, he lived in exile, in some remote obscure place. Those
whose extraction and education are ever so high know not to what difficulties
and straits they may be reduced.
Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any
disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his
country, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only
the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been
fond of a king that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the
triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a
hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and laid in the dust, Isa.
16:14. The ruin of these confederates in wickedness was from the righteous hand
of the God to whom vengeance belongs. He sent an evil spirit between
Abimelech and the Shechemites (v. 23), that is, they grew jealous one of
another and ill-affected one to another. He slighted those that set him up, and
perhaps countenanced other cities which now began to come into his interests
more than he did theirs; and then they grew uneasy at his government, blamed his
conduct, and quarrelled at his impositions. This was from God. He permitted the
devil, that great mischief-maker, to sow discord between them, and he is an
evil spirit, whom God not only keeps under his check, but sometimes serves
his own purposes by. Their own lusts were evil spirits; they are devils in men's
own hearts; from them come wars and fightings. These God gave them up to, and so
might be said to send the evil spirits between them. When men's sin is
made their punishment, though God is not the author of the sin, yet the
punishment is from him. The quarrel God had with Abimelech and the Shechemites
was for the murder of the sons of Gideon (v. 24): That the cruelty done to
them might come and their blood be laid as a burden upon Abimelech that
slew them, and the men of Shechem that helped him. Note, 1. Sooner or later
God will make inquisition for blood, innocent blood, and will return it on the
heads of those that shed it, who shall have blood given them to drink, for they
are worthy. 2. Accessaries shall be reckoned with, as well as principals, in
that and other sins. The Shechemites that countenanced Abimelech's
pretensions, aided and abetted him in his bloody project, and avowed the fact by
making him king after he had done it, must fall with him, fall by him, and fall
first. 3. Those that combine together to do wickedly are justly dashed in pieces
one against another. Blood cannot be a lasting cement to any interest.
I. The Shechemites began to affront Abimelech, perhaps they
scarcely knew why or wherefore, but they were given to change. 1. They dealt
treacherously with him, v. 23. It is not said, They repented of their sin in
owning him. Had they done so, it would have been laudable to disown him; but
they did it only upon some particular pique conceived against him by their pride
or envy. Those that set him up were the first that deserted him and endeavoured
to dethrone him. It is not strange that those who were ungrateful to Gideon were
unfaithful to Abimelech; for what will hold those that will not be held by the
obligation of such merits as Gideon's? Note, It is just with God that those
who tempt others to be cone perfidious should afterwards be themselves betrayed
by those whom they have taught to be perfidious. 2. They aimed to seize him when
he was at Arumah (v. 41), his country-seat. Expecting him to come to town, they set
liers in wait for him (v. 25), who should make him their prisoner whom they
had lately made their prince. Those who were thus posted, he not coming, took
the opportunity of robbing travellers, which would help to make the people more
and more uneasy under Abimelech, when they saw he could not or would not protect
them from highway-men. 3. They entertained one Gaal, and set him up as their
head in opposition to Abimelech, v. 26. This Gaal is said to be the son of Ebed,
which signifies a servant, perhaps denoting the meanness of his
extraction. As Abimelech was by the mother's side, so he by the father's,
the son of a servant. Here was one bramble contesting with another. We have
reason to suspect that this Gaal was a native Canaanite, because he courts the
Shechemites into subjection to the men of Hamor, who was the ancient lord of
this city in Jacob's time. He was a bold ambitious man, served their purpose
admirably well when they were disposed to quarrel with Abimelech, and they also
served his purpose; so he went over to them to blow the coals, and they put
their confidence in him. 4. They did all the despite they could to Abimelech's
name, v. 27. They made themselves very merry in his absence, as those who were
glad he was out of the way, and who, now that they had another to head them,
were in hopes to get clear of him; nay, they went into the house of their
god, to solemnize their feast of in-gathering, and there they did eat,
and drink, and cursed Abimelech, not only said all the ill they could of him
in their table-talk and the song of their drunkards, but wished all the ill they
could to him over their sacrifices, praying to their idol to destroy him. They
drank healths to his confusion, and with as loud huzzas as ever they had drunk
them to his prosperity. That very temple whence they had fetched money to set
him up with did they now meet in to curse him and contrive his ruin. Had they
deserted their idol-god with their image-king, they might have hoped to prosper;
but, while they still cleave to the former, the latter shall cleave to them to
their ruin. How should Satan cast out Satan? 5. They pleased themselves with
Gaal's vaunted defiance of Abimelech, v. 28, 29. They loved to hear that
impudent upstart speak scornfully, (1.) Of Abimelech, though calling him in
disdain Shechem, or a Shechemite, he reflected upon their own
city. (2.) Of his good father likewise, Gideon: Is not he the son of
Jerubbaal? So he calls him, perhaps in an impious indignation at his name
and memory for throwing down the altar of Baal, turning that to his reproach
which was his praise. (3.) Of his prime minister of state, Zebul his officer,
and ruler of the city. "We may well be ashamed to serve them, and need
not be afraid to oppose them." Men of turbulent ambitious spirits thus despise
dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Gaal aimed not to recover Shechem's
liberty, only to change their tyrant: "O that this people were under my
hand! What I would do! I would challenge Abimelech to try titles for the
crown;" and it should seem he desired his friends to send him word that he
was ready to dispute it with him whenever he pleased: "Increase thy
army, and come out. Do thy worst; let the point be determined by the sword."
This pleased the Shechemites, who were now as sick of Abimelech as ever they had
been fond of him. Men of no conscience will be men of no constancy.
II. Abimelech turned all his force upon them, and, in a little
time, quite ruined them. Observe the steps of their overthrow.
1. The Shechemites' counsels were betrayed to Abimelech by
Zebul his confidant, the ruler of the city, who continued hearty for him. His
anger was kindled (v. 30), and the more because Gaal had spoken slightly of
him (v. 28), for perhaps, if he had complimented and caressed him now that
things were in this ferment, he might have gained him to his interest; but he,
being disobliged, sends notice to Abimelech of all that was said and done in
Shechem against him, v. 31. Betrayers are often betrayed by some among
themselves, and the cursing of the king is sometimes strangely carried by a bird
of the air. He prudently advises him to come against the city immediately, and
lose no time, v. 32, 33. He thinks it best that he should march his forces by
night into the neighbourhood, surprise the city in the morning, and then make
the best of his advantages. How could the Shechemites hope to speed in their
attempt when the ruler of their city was in the interests of their enemy? They
knew it, and yet took no care to secure him.
2. Gaal, that headed their faction, having been betrayed by
Zebul, Abimelech's confidant, was most wretchedly bantered by him. Abimelech,
according to Zebul's advice, drew all his forces down upon Shechem by night,
v. 34. Gaal, in the morning, went out to the gate (v. 35) to see what
posture things were in, and to enquire, What news? Zebul, as a ruler of the
city, met him there as a friend. Abimelech and his forces beginning to move
towards the city, Gaal discovers them (v. 36), takes notice of their approach to
Zebul that was standing with him, little thinking that he had sent for them and
was now expecting them. "Look," says he, "do not I see a body of
men coming down from the mountain towards us? Yonder they are," pointing to
the place. "No, no," says Zebul; "thy eye-sight deceives thee; it
is but the shadow of the mountains which thou takest to be an army."
By this he intended, (1.) To ridicule him, as a man of no sense or spirit, and
therefore very unfit for what he pretended to, as a man that might easily be
imposed upon and made to believe any thing, and that was so silly and so
cowardly that he apprehended danger where there was none, and was ready to fight
with a shadow. (2.) To detain him, and hold him in talk, while the forces of
Abimelech were coming up, that thereby they might gain advantage. But when Gaal,
being content to believe those he now saw to be but the shadow of the mountains
(perhaps the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, which lay close by the city), was
undeceived by the discovery of two othv. 38): Where is now thy mouth,
that foul mouth of thine, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech? Note,
Proud and haughty people are often made in a little time to change their note,
and to dread those whom they had most despised. Gaal had, in a bravado,
challenged Abimelech to increase his army and come out; but now Zebul, in
Abimelech's name, challenges him: Go out, and fight with them, if thou
darest. Justly are the insolent thus insulted over.
3. Abimelech routed Gaal's forces that sallied out of the
town, v. 39, 40. Gaal, disheartened no doubt by Zebul's hectoring him, and
perceiving his interest weaker than he thought it was, though he marched out
against Abimelech with what little force he had, was soon put to the worst, and
obliged to retire into the city with great precipitation. In this action the
Shechemites' loss was considerable: Many were overthrown and wounded,
the common effect of popular tumults, in which the inconsiderate multitude are
often drawn into fatal snare by those that promise them glorious success.
4. Zebul that night expelled Gaal, and the party he had brought
with him into Shechem, out of the city (v. 41), sending him to the place whence
he came. For though the generality of the city continued still averse to
Abimelech, as appears by the sequel of the story, yet they were willing to part
with Gaal, and did not oppose his expulsion, because, though he had talked big,
both his skill and courage had failed him when there was occasion for them. Most
people judge of men's fitness for business by their success, and he that does
not speed well is concluded not to do well. Well, Gaal's interest in Shechem
is soon at an end, and he that had talked of removing Abimelech is himself
removed, nor do we ever hear of him any more. Exit Gaal—Gaal
retires.
5. Abimelech, the next day, set upon the city, and quite
destroyed it, for their treacherous dealings with him. Perhaps Abimelech had
notice of their expelling Gaal, who had headed the faction, with which they
thought he would have been satisfied, but the crime was too keep to be thus
atoned for, and his resentments were too keen to be pacified by so small an
instance of submission, besides that it was more Zebul's act than theirs; by
it their hands were weakened, and therefore he resolved to follow his blow, and
effectually to chastise their treachery. (1.) He had intelligence brought him
that the people of Shechem had come out into the field, v. 42. Some think
into the field of business to plough and sow (having lately gathered in their
harvest), or to perfect their harvest, for it was only their vintage that they
had made an end of (v. 27), and then it intimates that they were secure. And
because Abimelech had retired (v. 41) they thought themselves in no danger from
him, and then the issue of it is an instance of sudden destruction coming upon
those that cry, Peace and safety. Others think they went out into the field of
battle; though Gaal was driven out, they would not lay down their arms, but put
themselves into a posture for another engagement with Abimelech, in which they
hoped to retrieve what they had lost the day before, (2.) He himself, with a
strong detachment, cut off the communication between them and the city, stood
in the entering of the gate (v. 44), that they might neither make their
retreat into the city nor receive any succours from the city, and then sent two
companies of his men, who were too strong for them, and they put them all to the
sword, ran upon those that were in the fields and slew them. When we go
out about our business we are not sure that we shall come home again; there are
deaths both in the city and in the field. (3.) He then fell upon the city
itself, and, with a rage reaching up to heaven, though it was the place of his
nativity, laid it in ruins, slew all the people, beat down all the buildings,
and, in token of his desire that it might be a perpetual desolation, sowed it
with salt, that it might remain a lasting monument of the punishment of
perfidiousness. Yet Abimelech prevailed not to make its desolations perpetual;
for it was afterwards rebuilt, and became so considerable a place that all
Israel came thither to make Rehoboam king, 1 Ki. 12:1. And the place proved an
ill omen. Abimelech intended hereby to punish the Shechemites for their serving
him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. Thus, when God makes use of men
as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing and they another,
Isa. 10:6, 7. They design to maintain their honour, but God to maintain his.
6. Those that retired into a strong-hold of their idol-temple
were all destroyed there. These are called the men of the tower of Shechem
(v. 46, 47), some castle that belonged to the city, but lay at some distance
from it. They, hearing of the destruction of the city, withdrew into a hold of
the temple, trusting, it is likely, not so much to its strength as to its
sanctity; they put themselves under the protection of their idol: for thus all
people will walk in the name of their god, and shall not we then choose to
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life? For in the time of
trouble he shall hide us in his pavilion, Ps. 27:5. The name of the Lord
is a strong tower, Prov. 18:10. But that which they hoped would be for their
welfare proved to them a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find that run
to idols for shelter; it will prove a refuge of lies. When Abimelech had them
altogether penned up in that hold he desired no more. That barbarous project
immediately came into his head of setting fire to the strong-hold, and, so to
speak, burning all the birds together in the nest. He kept the design to
himself, but set all his men on work to expedite the execution of it, v. 48, 49.
He ordered them all to follow him, and do as he did: as his father had said to
his men (ch. 7:17), Look on me, and do likewise; so saith he to his, as
becomes a general that will not be wanting to give both the plainest direction
and the highest encouragement that can be to his soldiers: What you have seen
me do make haste to do, as I have done. Not Ite illuc—Go thither;
but Venite huc—Come hither. The officers in Christ's army should thus
teach by their example, Phil. 4:9. He and they fetched each of them a bough from
a wood not far off, laid all their boughs together under the wall of this tower,
which it is probable was of wood, set fire to their boughs, and so burnt down
their hold and all that were in it, who were either burnt or stifled with the
smoke. What inventions men have to destroy one another! Whence come these cruel
wars and fightings but from their lusts? Some think that the men of the tower of
Shechem were the same with the house of Millo, and then Jotham's just
imprecation was answered in the letter: Let fire come out from Abimelech,
and devour not only in general the men of Shechem, but in particular the house
of Millo, v. 20. About 1000 men and women perished in these flames, many of
whom, it is probable, were no way concerned in the quarrel between Abimelech and
the Shechemites, nor meddled with either side, yet, in this civil war, they came
to this miserable end; for men of factious turbulent spirits perish not alone
in their iniquity, but involve many more, that follow them in their
simplicity, in the same calamity with them.
We have seen the ruin of the Shechemites completed by the hand
of Abimelech; and now it comes to his turn to be reckoned with who was their
leader in villany. Thebez was a small city, probably not far from Shechem,
dependent upon it, and in confederacy with it. Now,
I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city (v. 50),
drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel, v. 51. When
he had them there he did not doubt but he should do the same execution here that
he had lately done at the strong-hold of the temple of Baal-berith, not
considering that the tower of an idol-temple lay more exposed to divine
vengeance than any other tower. He attempted to set fire to this tower, at least
to burn down the door, and so force an entrance, v. 52. Those who have escaped
and succeeded well in one desperate attempt are apt to think the like attempt
another time not desperate. This instance was long after quoted to show how
dangerous it is to come near the call of a besieged city, 2 Sa. 11:20, etc. But
God infatuates those whom he will ruin.
II. In the attempt he was himself destroyed, having his brains
knocked out with a piece of a millstone, v. 57. No doubt this man was a
murderer, whom, though he had escaped the dangers of the war with Shechem,
yet vengeance suffered not to live, Acts 28:4. Evil pursues sinners,
and sometimes overtakes them when they are not only secure, but triumphant.
Thebez, we may suppose, was a weak inconsiderable place, compared with Shechem.
Abimelech, having conquered the greater, makes no doubt of being master of the
less without any difficulty, especially when he had taken the city, and had only
the tower to deal with; yet he lays his bones by that, and there is all his
honour buried. Thus are the mighty things of the world often confounded
by the weakest and those things that are most made light of. See here what
rebukes those are justly put under many times by the divine providence that are
unreasonable in their demands of satisfaction for injuries received. Abimelech
had some reason to chastise the Shechemites, and he had done it with a witness;
but when he will carry his revenges further, and nothing will serve but that
Thebez also must be sacrificed to his rage, he is not only disappointed there,
but destroyed; for verily there is a God that judges in the earth. Three
circumstances are worthy of observation in the death of Abimelech:-1. That he
was slain with a stone, as he had slain his brethren all upon one stone.
2. That he had his skull broken. Vengeance aimed at that guilty head which had
worn the usurped crown. 3. That the stone was cast upon him by a woman, v. 53.
He saw the stone come; it was therefore strange he did not avoid it, but, no
doubt, this made it so much the greater mortification to him to see from what
hand it came. Sisera died by a woman's hand and knew it not; but Abimelech not
only fell by the hand of a woman but knew it, and, when he found himself ready
to breathe his last, nothing troubled him so much as this, that it should be
said, A woman slew him. See, (1.) His foolish pride, in laying so much to heart
this little circumstance of his disgrace. Here was no care taken about his
precious soul, no concern what would become of that, no prayer to God for his
mercy; but very solicitous he is to patch up his shattered credit, when there is
no patching his shattered skull. "O let it never be said that such a mighty
man as Abimelech was killed by a woman!" The man was dying, but his pride
was alive and strong, and the same vain-glorious humour that had governed him
all along appears now at last. Qualis vita, finis ita—As was his life, such
was his death. As God punished his cruelty by the manner of his death, so he
punished his pride by the instrument of it. (2.) His foolish project to avoid
this disgrace; nothing could be more ridiculous; his own servant must run him
through, not to rid him the sooner out of his pain, but that men say not, A
woman slew him. Could he think that this would conceal what the woman had
done, and not rather proclaim it the more? Nay, it added to the infamy of his
death, for hereby he became a self-murderer. Better have it said, A woman
slew him, than that it should be said, His servant slew him by his own
order; yet now both will be said of him to his everlasting reproach. And it is
observable that this very thing which Abimelech was in such care to conceal
appears to have been more particularly remembered by posterity than most
passages of his history; for Joab speaks of it as that which he expected David
would reproach him with, for coming so nigh the wall, 2 Sa. 11:21. The
ignominy we seek to avoid by sin we do but perpetuate the remembrance of.
III. The issue of all is that Abimelech being slain, 1. Israel's
peace was restored, and an end was put to this civil war; for those that
followed him departed every man to his place, v. 55. 2. God's justice
was glorified (v. 56, 57): Thus God punished the wickedness of
Abimelech, and of the men of Shechem, and fulfilled Jotham's curse, for it
was not a curse causeless. Thus he preserved the honour of his
government, and gave warning to all ages to expect blood for blood. The Lord
is known by the judgments which he executes, when the wicked is snared in
the work of his own hands. Though wickedness may prosper awhile, it will not
prosper always.
Judges 9 Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete)
The apostasy of Israel after the death of Gideon is punished, not as the former apostasies by a foreign invasion, or the oppressions of any neighbouring power, but by intestine broils among themselves, which in this chapter we have the story of; and it is hard to say whether their sin or their misery appears most in it. It is an account of the usurpation and tyranny of Abimelech, who was base son to Gideon; so we must call him, and not more modishly his natural son: he was so unlike him. We are here told, I. How he thrust himself into the government at Shechem, his own city, by subtlety and cruelty, particularly by the murder of all his brethren (v. 1-6). II. How his doom was read in a parable by Jothan, Gideon's youngest son (v. 7-21). III. What strifes there were between Abimelech and his friends the Shechemites (v. 22-41). IV. How this ended in the ruin of the Shechemites (v. 42-49), and of Abimelech himself (v. 50-57). Of this meteor, this ignis fatuus of a prince, that was not a protector but a plague to his country, we may say, as once was said of a great tyrant, that he came in like a fox, ruled like a lion, and died like a dog. "For the transgression of a land, such are the princes thereof."
Verses 1-6
We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and made himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some towering ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying royalty in it, might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has buried his father nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will succeed him in the government of Israel, directly contrary to his father's will, for he had declared no son of his should rule over them. He had no call from God to this honour as his father had, nor was there any present occasion for a judge to deliver Israel as there was when his father was advanced; but his own ambition must be gratified, and its gratification is all he aims at. Now observe here,
I. How craftily he got his mother's relations into his interests. Shechem was a city in the tribe of Ephraim, of great note. Joshua had held his last assembly there. If that city would but appear for him, and set him up, he thought it would go far in his favour. There he had an interest in the family of which his mother was, and by them he made an interest in the leading men of the city. It does not appear that any of them had an eye to him as a man of merit, who had any thing to recommend him to such a choice, but the motion came first from himself. None would have dreamed of making such a one king, if he had not dreamed of it himself. And see here, 1. How he wheedled them into the choice, v. 2, 3. He basely suggested that Gideon having left seventy sons, who made a good figure and had a good interest, they were designing to keep the power which their father had in their hands, and by a joint-influence to reign over Israel. "Now," says he, "you had better have one king than more, than many, than so many. Affairs of state are best managed by a single person," v. 2. We have no reason to think that all or any of Gideon's sons had the least intention to reign over Israel (they were of their father's mind, that the Lord should reign over them, and they were not called of him), yet this he insinuates to pave the way to his own pretensions. Note, Those who design ill themselves are commonly most apt to suspect that others design ill. As for himself, he only puts them in mind of his relation to them (verbum sapienti—A word to the wise is sufficient): Remember that I am your bone and your flesh. The plot took wonderfully. The magistrates of Shechem were pleased to think of their city being a royal city and the metropolis of Israel, and therefore they inclined to follow him; for they said, "He is our brother, and his advancement will be our advantage." 2. How he got money from them to bear the charges of his pretensions (v. 4): They gave him seventy pieces of silver; it is not said what the value of these pieces was; so many shekels are less, and so many talents more, than we can well imagine; therefore it is supposed they were each a pound weight: but they gave this money out of the house of Baal-berith, that is, out of the public treasury, which, out of respect to their idol, they deposited in his temple to be protected by him; or out of the offerings that had been made to that idol, which they hoped would prosper the better in his hands for its having been consecrated to their god. How unfit was he to reign over Israel, because unlikely to defend them, who, instead of restraining and punishing idolatry, thus early made himself a pensioner to an idol! 3. What soldiers he enlisted. He hired into his service vain and light persons, the scum and scoundrels of the country, men of broken fortunes, giddy heads, and profligate lives; none but such would own him, and they were fittest to serve his purpose. Like leader like followers.
II. How cruelly he got his father's sons out of the way.
1. The first thing he did with the rabble he headed was to kill all his brethren at once, publicly and in cold blood, threescore and ten men, one only escaping, all slain upon one stone. See in this bloody tragedy, (1.) The power of ambition what beasts it will turn men into, how it will break through all the ties of natural affection and natural conscience, and sacrifice that which is most sacred, dear, and valuable, to its designs. Strange that ever it should enter into the heart of a man to be so very barbarous! (2.) The peril of honour and high birth. Their being the sons of so great a man as Gideon exposed them thus and made Abimelech jealous of them. We find just the same number of Ahab's sons slain together at Samaria, 2 Ki. 10:1, 7. The grand seigniors have seldom thought themselves safe while any of their brethren have been unstrangled. Let none then envy those of high extraction, or complain of their own meanness and obscurity. The lower the safer.
2. Way being thus made for Abimelech's election, the men of Shechem proceeded to choose him king, v. 6. God was not consulted whether they should have any king at all, much less who it should be; here is no advising with the priest or with their brethren of any other city or tribe, though it was designed that he should reign over Israel, v. 22. But, (1.) The Shechemites, as if they were the people and wisdom must die with them, did all; they aided and abetted him in the murder of his brethren (v. 24), and then they made him king. The men of Shechem (that is, the great men, the chief magistrates of the city), and the house of Millo (that is, the common-council, the full house or house of fulness, as the word signifies), those that met in their guildhall (we read often of the house of Millo, or state-house in Jerusalem, or the city of David, 2 Sa. 5:9; 2 Ki. 12:20), these gathered together, not to prosecute and punish Abimelech for this barbarous murder, as they ought to have done, he being one of their citizens, but to make him king. Pretium sceleris tulit hic diadema—His wickedness was rewarded with a diadem. What could they promise themselves from a king that laid the foundation of his kingdom in blood? (2.) The rest of the Israelites were so very sottish as to sit by unconcerned. They took no care to give check to this usurpation, to protect the sons of Gideon, or to avenge their death, but tamely submitted to the bloody tyrant, as men who with their religion had lost their reason, and all sense of honour and liberty, justice and gratitude. How vigorously had their fathers appeared to avenge the death of the Levite's concubine, and yet so wretchedly degenerate are they now as not to attempt the avenging of the death of Gideon's sons; it is for this that they are charged with ingratitude (ch. 8:35): Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal.
Verses 7-21
We have here the only testimony that appears to have been borne against the wicked confederacy of Abimelech and the men of Shechem. It was a sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the progress of this threatening mischief. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (v. 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. Jotham did not go about to raise an army out of the other cities of Israel (in which, one would think, he might have made a good interest for his father's sake), to avenge his brethren's death, much less to set up himself in competition with Abimelech, so groundless was the usurper's suggestion that the sons of Gideon aimed at dominion (v. 2); but he contents himself with giving a faithful reproof to the Shechemites, and fair warning of the fatal consequences. He got an opportunity of speaking to them from the top of Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessings, at the foot of which probably the Shechemites were, upon some occasion or other, gathered together (Josephus says, solemnizing a festival), and it seems they were willing to hear what he had to say.
I. His preface is very serious: "Hearken unto me, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you, v. 7. As ever you hope to obtain God's favour, and to be accepted of him, give me a patient and impartial hearing." 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. If we turn away our ear from hearing the law, our prayer will be an abomination, Prov. 28:9.
II. 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. But the same tender being made to the bramble he accepted it with vain-glorious exultation. The way of instruction by parables is an ancient way, and very useful, especially to give reproofs by.
1. He hereby applauds the generous modesty of Gideon, and the other judges who were before him, and perhaps of the sons of Gideon, who had declined accepting the state and power of kings when they might have had them, and likewise shows that it is in general the temper of all wise and good men to decline preferment and to choose rather to be useful than to be great. (1.) 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 (Ps. 104:16) and which therefore he will protect. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to talk of setting a king over them; for the Lord was their king. (2.) When they had it in their thoughts to choose a king they did not offer the government to the stately cedar, or the lofty pine, which are only for show and shade, and not otherwise useful till they are cut down, but to the fruit-trees, the vine and the olive. Those that bear fruit for the public good are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise more than those that affect to make a figure. For a good useful man some would even dare to die. (3.) The reason which all these fruit-trees gave for their refusal was much the same. The olive pleads (v. 9), Should I leave my wine, wherewith both God and man are served and honoured? for oil and wine were used both at God's altars and at men's tables. And shall I leave my sweetness, saith the fig-tree, and my good fruit (v. 11), and go to be promoted over the trees? or, as the margin reads it, go up and down for the trees? It is intimated, [1.] 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. [2.] That those who are preferred to places of public trust and power must resolve to forego all their private interests and advantages, and sacrifice them to the good of the community. 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. [3.] That those who are advanced to honour and dignity are in great danger of losing their fatness and fruitfulness. Preferment is apt to make men proud and slothful, and thus spoil their usefulness, with which in a lower sphere they honoured God and man, for which reason those that desire to do good are afraid of being too great.
2. He hereby exposes the ridiculous ambition of Abimelech, whom he compares to the bramble or thistle, v. 14. He supposes the trees to make their court to him: Come thou and reign over us, perhaps because he knew not that the first motion of Abimelech's preferment came from himself (as we found, v. 2), but thought the Shechemites had proposed it to him; however, supposing it so, his folly in accepting it deserved to be chastised. The bramble is a worthless plant, not to be numbered among the trees, useless and fruitless, nay, hurtful and vexatious, scratching and tearing, and doing mischief; it began with the curse, and its end is to be burned. Such a one was Abimelech, and yet chosen to the government by the trees, by all the trees; this election seems to have been more unanimous than any of the others. Let us not think it strange if we see folly set in great dignity (Eccl. 10:6), and the vilest men exalted (Ps. 12:8), and men blind to their own interest in the choice of their guides. 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. See what great swelling words of vanity he speaks (v. 15), what promises he makes to his faithful subjects: Let them come and trust in my shadow: a goodly shadow to trust in! How unlike to the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, which a good magistrate is compared to! Isa. 32:2. Trust in his shadow!—more likely to be scratched if they came near him—more likely to be injured by him than benefited. Thus men boast of a false gift. Yet he threatens with as much confidence as he promises: If you be not faithful, let fire come out of the bramble (a very unlikely thing to emit fire) and devour the cedars of Lebanon—more likely to catch fire, and be itself devoured.
III. His application is very close and plain. In it, 1. He reminds them of the many good services his father had done for them, v. 17. He fought their battles, at the hazard of his own life, and to their unspeakable advantage. It was a shame that they needed to be put in mind of this. 2. He aggravates their unkindness to his father's family. They had not done to him according to the deserving of his hands, v. 16. Great merits often meet with very ill returns. especially to posterity, when the benefactor if forgotten, as Joseph was among the Egyptians. Gideon had left many sons that were an honour to his name and family, and these they had barbarously murdered; one son he had left that was the blemish of his name and family, for he was the son of his maid-servant, whom all that had any respect to Gideon's honour would endeavour to conceal, yet him they made their king. In both they put the utmost contempt imaginable upon Gideon. 3. He leaves it to the event to determine whether they had done well, whereby he lodges the appeal with the divine providence. (1.) If they prospered long in this villany, he would give them leave to say they had done well, v. 19. "If your conduct towards the house of Gideon be such as can be justified at any bar of justice, honour, or conscience, much good may it do you with your new king." But, (2.) If they had, as he was sure they had, dealt basely and wickedly in this matter, let them never expect to prosper, v. 20. Abimelech and the Shechemites, that had strengthened one another's hands in this villany, would certainly be a plague and ruin one to another. Let none expect to do ill and fare well.
Jotham, having given them this admonition, made a shift to escape with his life, v. 21. 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. But, for fear of Abimelech, he lived in exile, in some remote obscure place. Those whose extraction and education are ever so high know not to what difficulties and straits they may be reduced.
Verses 22-49
Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his country, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been fond of a king that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and laid in the dust, Isa. 16:14. The ruin of these confederates in wickedness was from the righteous hand of the God to whom vengeance belongs. He sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the Shechemites (v. 23), that is, they grew jealous one of another and ill-affected one to another. He slighted those that set him up, and perhaps countenanced other cities which now began to come into his interests more than he did theirs; and then they grew uneasy at his government, blamed his conduct, and quarrelled at his impositions. This was from God. He permitted the devil, that great mischief-maker, to sow discord between them, and he is an evil spirit, whom God not only keeps under his check, but sometimes serves his own purposes by. Their own lusts were evil spirits; they are devils in men's own hearts; from them come wars and fightings. These God gave them up to, and so might be said to send the evil spirits between them. When men's sin is made their punishment, though God is not the author of the sin, yet the punishment is from him. The quarrel God had with Abimelech and the Shechemites was for the murder of the sons of Gideon (v. 24): That the cruelty done to them might come and their blood be laid as a burden upon Abimelech that slew them, and the men of Shechem that helped him. Note, 1. Sooner or later God will make inquisition for blood, innocent blood, and will return it on the heads of those that shed it, who shall have blood given them to drink, for they are worthy. 2. Accessaries shall be reckoned with, as well as principals, in that and other sins. The Shechemites that countenanced Abimelech's pretensions, aided and abetted him in his bloody project, and avowed the fact by making him king after he had done it, must fall with him, fall by him, and fall first. 3. Those that combine together to do wickedly are justly dashed in pieces one against another. Blood cannot be a lasting cement to any interest.
I. The Shechemites began to affront Abimelech, perhaps they scarcely knew why or wherefore, but they were given to change. 1. They dealt treacherously with him, v. 23. It is not said, They repented of their sin in owning him. Had they done so, it would have been laudable to disown him; but they did it only upon some particular pique conceived against him by their pride or envy. Those that set him up were the first that deserted him and endeavoured to dethrone him. It is not strange that those who were ungrateful to Gideon were unfaithful to Abimelech; for what will hold those that will not be held by the obligation of such merits as Gideon's? Note, It is just with God that those who tempt others to be cone perfidious should afterwards be themselves betrayed by those whom they have taught to be perfidious. 2. They aimed to seize him when he was at Arumah (v. 41), his country-seat. Expecting him to come to town, they set liers in wait for him (v. 25), who should make him their prisoner whom they had lately made their prince. Those who were thus posted, he not coming, took the opportunity of robbing travellers, which would help to make the people more and more uneasy under Abimelech, when they saw he could not or would not protect them from highway-men. 3. They entertained one Gaal, and set him up as their head in opposition to Abimelech, v. 26. This Gaal is said to be the son of Ebed, which signifies a servant, perhaps denoting the meanness of his extraction. As Abimelech was by the mother's side, so he by the father's, the son of a servant. Here was one bramble contesting with another. We have reason to suspect that this Gaal was a native Canaanite, because he courts the Shechemites into subjection to the men of Hamor, who was the ancient lord of this city in Jacob's time. He was a bold ambitious man, served their purpose admirably well when they were disposed to quarrel with Abimelech, and they also served his purpose; so he went over to them to blow the coals, and they put their confidence in him. 4. They did all the despite they could to Abimelech's name, v. 27. They made themselves very merry in his absence, as those who were glad he was out of the way, and who, now that they had another to head them, were in hopes to get clear of him; nay, they went into the house of their god, to solemnize their feast of in-gathering, and there they did eat, and drink, and cursed Abimelech, not only said all the ill they could of him in their table-talk and the song of their drunkards, but wished all the ill they could to him over their sacrifices, praying to their idol to destroy him. They drank healths to his confusion, and with as loud huzzas as ever they had drunk them to his prosperity. That very temple whence they had fetched money to set him up with did they now meet in to curse him and contrive his ruin. Had they deserted their idol-god with their image-king, they might have hoped to prosper; but, while they still cleave to the former, the latter shall cleave to them to their ruin. How should Satan cast out Satan? 5. They pleased themselves with Gaal's vaunted defiance of Abimelech, v. 28, 29. They loved to hear that impudent upstart speak scornfully, (1.) Of Abimelech, though calling him in disdain Shechem, or a Shechemite, he reflected upon their own city. (2.) Of his good father likewise, Gideon: Is not he the son of Jerubbaal? So he calls him, perhaps in an impious indignation at his name and memory for throwing down the altar of Baal, turning that to his reproach which was his praise. (3.) Of his prime minister of state, Zebul his officer, and ruler of the city. "We may well be ashamed to serve them, and need not be afraid to oppose them." Men of turbulent ambitious spirits thus despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Gaal aimed not to recover Shechem's liberty, only to change their tyrant: "O that this people were under my hand! What I would do! I would challenge Abimelech to try titles for the crown;" and it should seem he desired his friends to send him word that he was ready to dispute it with him whenever he pleased: "Increase thy army, and come out. Do thy worst; let the point be determined by the sword." This pleased the Shechemites, who were now as sick of Abimelech as ever they had been fond of him. Men of no conscience will be men of no constancy.
II. Abimelech turned all his force upon them, and, in a little time, quite ruined them. Observe the steps of their overthrow.
1. The Shechemites' counsels were betrayed to Abimelech by Zebul his confidant, the ruler of the city, who continued hearty for him. His anger was kindled (v. 30), and the more because Gaal had spoken slightly of him (v. 28), for perhaps, if he had complimented and caressed him now that things were in this ferment, he might have gained him to his interest; but he, being disobliged, sends notice to Abimelech of all that was said and done in Shechem against him, v. 31. Betrayers are often betrayed by some among themselves, and the cursing of the king is sometimes strangely carried by a bird of the air. He prudently advises him to come against the city immediately, and lose no time, v. 32, 33. He thinks it best that he should march his forces by night into the neighbourhood, surprise the city in the morning, and then make the best of his advantages. How could the Shechemites hope to speed in their attempt when the ruler of their city was in the interests of their enemy? They knew it, and yet took no care to secure him.
2. Gaal, that headed their faction, having been betrayed by Zebul, Abimelech's confidant, was most wretchedly bantered by him. Abimelech, according to Zebul's advice, drew all his forces down upon Shechem by night, v. 34. Gaal, in the morning, went out to the gate (v. 35) to see what posture things were in, and to enquire, What news? Zebul, as a ruler of the city, met him there as a friend. Abimelech and his forces beginning to move towards the city, Gaal discovers them (v. 36), takes notice of their approach to Zebul that was standing with him, little thinking that he had sent for them and was now expecting them. "Look," says he, "do not I see a body of men coming down from the mountain towards us? Yonder they are," pointing to the place. "No, no," says Zebul; "thy eye-sight deceives thee; it is but the shadow of the mountains which thou takest to be an army." By this he intended, (1.) To ridicule him, as a man of no sense or spirit, and therefore very unfit for what he pretended to, as a man that might easily be imposed upon and made to believe any thing, and that was so silly and so cowardly that he apprehended danger where there was none, and was ready to fight with a shadow. (2.) To detain him, and hold him in talk, while the forces of Abimelech were coming up, that thereby they might gain advantage. But when Gaal, being content to believe those he now saw to be but the shadow of the mountains (perhaps the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, which lay close by the city), was undeceived by the discovery of two othv. 38): Where is now thy mouth, that foul mouth of thine, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech? Note, Proud and haughty people are often made in a little time to change their note, and to dread those whom they had most despised. Gaal had, in a bravado, challenged Abimelech to increase his army and come out; but now Zebul, in Abimelech's name, challenges him: Go out, and fight with them, if thou darest. Justly are the insolent thus insulted over.
3. Abimelech routed Gaal's forces that sallied out of the town, v. 39, 40. Gaal, disheartened no doubt by Zebul's hectoring him, and perceiving his interest weaker than he thought it was, though he marched out against Abimelech with what little force he had, was soon put to the worst, and obliged to retire into the city with great precipitation. In this action the Shechemites' loss was considerable: Many were overthrown and wounded, the common effect of popular tumults, in which the inconsiderate multitude are often drawn into fatal snare by those that promise them glorious success.
4. Zebul that night expelled Gaal, and the party he had brought with him into Shechem, out of the city (v. 41), sending him to the place whence he came. For though the generality of the city continued still averse to Abimelech, as appears by the sequel of the story, yet they were willing to part with Gaal, and did not oppose his expulsion, because, though he had talked big, both his skill and courage had failed him when there was occasion for them. Most people judge of men's fitness for business by their success, and he that does not speed well is concluded not to do well. Well, Gaal's interest in Shechem is soon at an end, and he that had talked of removing Abimelech is himself removed, nor do we ever hear of him any more. Exit Gaal—Gaal retires.
5. Abimelech, the next day, set upon the city, and quite destroyed it, for their treacherous dealings with him. Perhaps Abimelech had notice of their expelling Gaal, who had headed the faction, with which they thought he would have been satisfied, but the crime was too keep to be thus atoned for, and his resentments were too keen to be pacified by so small an instance of submission, besides that it was more Zebul's act than theirs; by it their hands were weakened, and therefore he resolved to follow his blow, and effectually to chastise their treachery. (1.) He had intelligence brought him that the people of Shechem had come out into the field, v. 42. Some think into the field of business to plough and sow (having lately gathered in their harvest), or to perfect their harvest, for it was only their vintage that they had made an end of (v. 27), and then it intimates that they were secure. And because Abimelech had retired (v. 41) they thought themselves in no danger from him, and then the issue of it is an instance of sudden destruction coming upon those that cry, Peace and safety. Others think they went out into the field of battle; though Gaal was driven out, they would not lay down their arms, but put themselves into a posture for another engagement with Abimelech, in which they hoped to retrieve what they had lost the day before, (2.) He himself, with a strong detachment, cut off the communication between them and the city, stood in the entering of the gate (v. 44), that they might neither make their retreat into the city nor receive any succours from the city, and then sent two companies of his men, who were too strong for them, and they put them all to the sword, ran upon those that were in the fields and slew them. When we go out about our business we are not sure that we shall come home again; there are deaths both in the city and in the field. (3.) He then fell upon the city itself, and, with a rage reaching up to heaven, though it was the place of his nativity, laid it in ruins, slew all the people, beat down all the buildings, and, in token of his desire that it might be a perpetual desolation, sowed it with salt, that it might remain a lasting monument of the punishment of perfidiousness. Yet Abimelech prevailed not to make its desolations perpetual; for it was afterwards rebuilt, and became so considerable a place that all Israel came thither to make Rehoboam king, 1 Ki. 12:1. And the place proved an ill omen. Abimelech intended hereby to punish the Shechemites for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. Thus, when God makes use of men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing and they another, Isa. 10:6, 7. They design to maintain their honour, but God to maintain his.
6. Those that retired into a strong-hold of their idol-temple were all destroyed there. These are called the men of the tower of Shechem (v. 46, 47), some castle that belonged to the city, but lay at some distance from it. They, hearing of the destruction of the city, withdrew into a hold of the temple, trusting, it is likely, not so much to its strength as to its sanctity; they put themselves under the protection of their idol: for thus all people will walk in the name of their god, and shall not we then choose to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life? For in the time of trouble he shall hide us in his pavilion, Ps. 27:5. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, Prov. 18:10. But that which they hoped would be for their welfare proved to them a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find that run to idols for shelter; it will prove a refuge of lies. When Abimelech had them altogether penned up in that hold he desired no more. That barbarous project immediately came into his head of setting fire to the strong-hold, and, so to speak, burning all the birds together in the nest. He kept the design to himself, but set all his men on work to expedite the execution of it, v. 48, 49. He ordered them all to follow him, and do as he did: as his father had said to his men (ch. 7:17), Look on me, and do likewise; so saith he to his, as becomes a general that will not be wanting to give both the plainest direction and the highest encouragement that can be to his soldiers: What you have seen me do make haste to do, as I have done. Not Ite illuc—Go thither; but Venite huc—Come hither. The officers in Christ's army should thus teach by their example, Phil. 4:9. He and they fetched each of them a bough from a wood not far off, laid all their boughs together under the wall of this tower, which it is probable was of wood, set fire to their boughs, and so burnt down their hold and all that were in it, who were either burnt or stifled with the smoke. What inventions men have to destroy one another! Whence come these cruel wars and fightings but from their lusts? Some think that the men of the tower of Shechem were the same with the house of Millo, and then Jotham's just imprecation was answered in the letter: Let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour not only in general the men of Shechem, but in particular the house of Millo, v. 20. About 1000 men and women perished in these flames, many of whom, it is probable, were no way concerned in the quarrel between Abimelech and the Shechemites, nor meddled with either side, yet, in this civil war, they came to this miserable end; for men of factious turbulent spirits perish not alone in their iniquity, but involve many more, that follow them in their simplicity, in the same calamity with them.
Verses 50-57
We have seen the ruin of the Shechemites completed by the hand of Abimelech; and now it comes to his turn to be reckoned with who was their leader in villany. Thebez was a small city, probably not far from Shechem, dependent upon it, and in confederacy with it. Now,
I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city (v. 50), drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel, v. 51. When he had them there he did not doubt but he should do the same execution here that he had lately done at the strong-hold of the temple of Baal-berith, not considering that the tower of an idol-temple lay more exposed to divine vengeance than any other tower. He attempted to set fire to this tower, at least to burn down the door, and so force an entrance, v. 52. Those who have escaped and succeeded well in one desperate attempt are apt to think the like attempt another time not desperate. This instance was long after quoted to show how dangerous it is to come near the call of a besieged city, 2 Sa. 11:20, etc. But God infatuates those whom he will ruin.
II. In the attempt he was himself destroyed, having his brains knocked out with a piece of a millstone, v. 57. No doubt this man was a murderer, whom, though he had escaped the dangers of the war with Shechem, yet vengeance suffered not to live, Acts 28:4. Evil pursues sinners, and sometimes overtakes them when they are not only secure, but triumphant. Thebez, we may suppose, was a weak inconsiderable place, compared with Shechem. Abimelech, having conquered the greater, makes no doubt of being master of the less without any difficulty, especially when he had taken the city, and had only the tower to deal with; yet he lays his bones by that, and there is all his honour buried. Thus are the mighty things of the world often confounded by the weakest and those things that are most made light of. See here what rebukes those are justly put under many times by the divine providence that are unreasonable in their demands of satisfaction for injuries received. Abimelech had some reason to chastise the Shechemites, and he had done it with a witness; but when he will carry his revenges further, and nothing will serve but that Thebez also must be sacrificed to his rage, he is not only disappointed there, but destroyed; for verily there is a God that judges in the earth. Three circumstances are worthy of observation in the death of Abimelech:-1. That he was slain with a stone, as he had slain his brethren all upon one stone. 2. That he had his skull broken. Vengeance aimed at that guilty head which had worn the usurped crown. 3. That the stone was cast upon him by a woman, v. 53. He saw the stone come; it was therefore strange he did not avoid it, but, no doubt, this made it so much the greater mortification to him to see from what hand it came. Sisera died by a woman's hand and knew it not; but Abimelech not only fell by the hand of a woman but knew it, and, when he found himself ready to breathe his last, nothing troubled him so much as this, that it should be said, A woman slew him. See, (1.) His foolish pride, in laying so much to heart this little circumstance of his disgrace. Here was no care taken about his precious soul, no concern what would become of that, no prayer to God for his mercy; but very solicitous he is to patch up his shattered credit, when there is no patching his shattered skull. "O let it never be said that such a mighty man as Abimelech was killed by a woman!" The man was dying, but his pride was alive and strong, and the same vain-glorious humour that had governed him all along appears now at last. Qualis vita, finis ita—As was his life, such was his death. As God punished his cruelty by the manner of his death, so he punished his pride by the instrument of it. (2.) His foolish project to avoid this disgrace; nothing could be more ridiculous; his own servant must run him through, not to rid him the sooner out of his pain, but that men say not, A woman slew him. Could he think that this would conceal what the woman had done, and not rather proclaim it the more? Nay, it added to the infamy of his death, for hereby he became a self-murderer. Better have it said, A woman slew him, than that it should be said, His servant slew him by his own order; yet now both will be said of him to his everlasting reproach. And it is observable that this very thing which Abimelech was in such care to conceal appears to have been more particularly remembered by posterity than most passages of his history; for Joab speaks of it as that which he expected David would reproach him with, for coming so nigh the wall, 2 Sa. 11:21. The ignominy we seek to avoid by sin we do but perpetuate the remembrance of.
III. The issue of all is that Abimelech being slain, 1. Israel's peace was restored, and an end was put to this civil war; for those that followed him departed every man to his place, v. 55. 2. God's justice was glorified (v. 56, 57): Thus God punished the wickedness of Abimelech, and of the men of Shechem, and fulfilled Jotham's curse, for it was not a curse causeless. Thus he preserved the honour of his government, and gave warning to all ages to expect blood for blood. The Lord is known by the judgments which he executes, when the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Though wickedness may prosper awhile, it will not prosper always.