Abimelech, Gideon's son by a Shechemite concubine, persuades Shechem's leaders to support him as king, then murders seventy of his brothers on one stone, though the youngest, Jotham, escapes. From Mount Gerizim, Jotham tells the parable of trees seeking a king—olive, fig, and vine refuse, but the worthless bramble accepts and threatens fire—then flees from Abimelech. After three years, God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and Shechem; Gaal son of Ebed leads a revolt but is driven out by Abimelech who destroys Shechem and sows it with salt, then burns a thousand people sheltering in the Tower of Shechem's stronghold. Attacking Thebez, a woman drops a millstone on Abimelech's head; he has his armor-bearer kill him to avoid the shame of death by a woman.
Read Judges Chapter 9 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
The Promised Land where Israel settled but failed to completely drive out the inhabitants
Shechem was an important Canaanite city where Abraham first built an altar after entering the Promised Land. Jacob purchased land here and dug a well. Joseph's bones were buried here after the Exodus. Joshua gathered the tribes at Shechem for a covenant renewal ceremony.
Mount Gerizim is a sacred mountain near Shechem where the blessings of the covenant were proclaimed, while curses were declared from nearby Mount Ebal. The Samaritans built their temple here and consider it, not Jerusalem, the proper place of worship. Jesus referenced this in his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well.
Position in Book
Stories of the judges including Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson who delivered Israel from various oppressors.
Bible Bites
A left-handed hero the enemy never saw coming
The judge Ehud was left-handed, so he hid his sword on his right thigh, the side guards never checked (Judges 3:15-21). His 'weakness' became the very reason his surprise attack succeeded. The Bible loves an unlikely hero.
Judges 3:15-21