Abimelech Wanted to Get Revenge
November 14, 2020
Commentary
The next day the men went out into the fields, and Abimelech was told about the planned rebellion. He took his men and divided them into three companies and laid in wait in the field. He looked and beheld the people coming out of the city. He rose up and smote them (vv. 42-52). In an act of revenge against those who had questioned his leadership Abimelech turned on the city that had shown him so many favors and completely leveled it, killing off its citizens. It seems that men like Abimelech who rise to power from an inferior background often want to get revenge to the point of destroying their own base of power. Zebul had brought the situation under control, but his master felt he had to teach Shechem a lesson.
Abimelech’s death came at a time when he was about to destroy his last enemies who had gathered at the fortress of the city. A woman threw down a stone that crushed his skull and not wanting to be killed by a woman he had his armor-bearer finish him off with his sword (vv. 53-54). And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed each man to his home (v. 55). That’s how God punished Abimelech for killing his brothers and bringing shame on his father’s family (v. 56). He reaped what he sowed and all of those who joined him suffered the same destiny (v. 57).
Application
I never want to get revenge but always let God take care of any enemies I may have.
Judges 9:42– 57 (NET)
42 The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it, 43 he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down. 44 Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city’s gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it.
46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El Berith. 47 Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. 48 He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, “Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!” 49 So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died—about 1,000 men and women.
50 Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it. 51 There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city’s leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. 54 He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man stabbed him and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
56 God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half brothers. 57 God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub Baal fell on them.