judges 9 - · pdf fileabimelech and his worthless men slaughter his 70 brothers funded out...
TRANSCRIPT
Abimelech Judges 9W. Cochran
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
The Death of GideonJudges 8:29-35
Jerubbaal : Baal never contended with Gideon
Gideon has 70 sons via many wives
Bible provides no commentary
seems to imply he was blessed
certainly not the pattern of Gen 3:24 affirmed by Jesus in Matt 19:3-6.
Abimelech: son via Concubine (servant) in Shechem
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
ShechemCanaanite / Israelite city of Tribe of Manasseh
LORD appeared to Abram there and promised that his offspring would inherit the land (Gen 12:6,7)
Site of Jacob’s Well (Gen 33; John 4)
Site of Covenant Renewal; Joseph’s Tomb (Josh 24)
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Baal-berith“covenant with Baal”
As soon as Gideon dies, Israel begins worshipping Baal-berith (Judges 3:33-35)
Rabbinical literature equates with Baal-zebub (Philistine god in Ekron; Prince of Demons, Satan in Matt 12)
Forgot God who had delivered them
Did not honor Gideon’s family
Temple of Baal-berith
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Conspiracy & MurderJudges 9:2-6
Gideon refused to establish a dynasty over Israel (8:22-23)
Abimelech campaigns (Hivites?) to rule (9:1-3)
Selfish Ambition: Scripture and history replete with rulers motivated by a lust for power.
Satan Isaiah 14:12-22
Matt 23:12 Self exaltation leads to humiliation.
Abimelech and his worthless men slaughter his 70 brothers
funded out of the house of Baal-berith
Abimelech is made king
Famous oaks at Shechem: Gen 12:6, 35:4; Josh 24:26
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Fratricide: Cain, Solomon kills Adinojah, Absolom kills Amnon, Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:4)Most commandments (idolotry, murder, lie, covet) broken by Abimelech.Gangs of “worthless fellows” (Jephthah 11:3; David 1 Sam 22:2)Selfish Ambition: Abasalom, Nebechudenezzer, Herod the Great; Julius Caeser, Commodus, Alexander;Selfless: Washington, Lincoln; Moses, Joshua, Samuel
Jotham’s ConfrontationJudges 9:7-12
Jotham survives (9:5)
Jotham cries out parable from Mt Garizim
olive tree, fig tree, vine: (Gideon and his sons) highly valued for oil, sweet fruit, and wine.
bramble: (Abimelech) useless nuisance, fuel for fire
Fire to come from leaders and devour Abimelech.
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Deut 11: Blessing on Mt Gerizim, Curses on Mt Ebal
Leaders turn against AbimelechJudges 9:11-25
Abimelech’s dominion extended over (a portion of) Israel for 3 years.
God sends an evil spirit
1 Kings 22:19-23 and the book of Job give us a glimpse of how this happens
Leaders become treacherous
Robbed caravans along city’s trade routes
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Should the treacherous be surprised when they are betrayed?Leaders of Shechem seem very fickle.
The boasting of GaalJudges 9:26-29
The opportunist Gaal gains the confidence of the leaders of Shechem.
Gaal openly criticizes Abimelech at a “harvest festival” (i.e., drinking party to their god)
The converse of Abimelech’s argument is used against him: his father is an Israelite.
Gaal boldly states that he would remove Abimelech
Abimelech is living in Arumah (9:41)
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Gaal is probably emboldened by alcohol -- “running his mouth off” as Zebul will state later.
Abimelech destroys Shechem Judges 9:30-49
Zebul sends message to Abimelech
Abimelech’s men set up an early morning ambush.
Zebul, working from the inside, misdirect’s Gaal and then taunts him to go fight
Zebul drives out Gaal (9:41)
Leaders enter stronghold
Abimelech, using bramble for fire, burns those in the Tower of Shechem.
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
Zebel’s taunt: “where is your mouth now?” Gaal might not be as brave as when he was drunk.
Death of AbimelechJudges 9:50-57
Thebez, which had joined in the rebellion, is captured by Abimelech.
As Abimelech goes to burn that city’s tower, a woman throws a millstone on his head
God returns “evil on the heads” of both the leaders of Shechem and Abimelech (9:56, 57)
Sunday, Oct 23, 2011
God lets evil consume itself: almost a comical ring of treachery.