Abimelech's story is one of ambition, power, and the tragic consequences of unchecked desire. Found in Judges 9, Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), is a figure whose actions are both a cautionary tale and a reflection of the turbulent period of the Judges in Israel's history. To fully understand why Abimelech killed his brothers, we must delve into the context of his life, the socio-political environment of the time, and the narrative of his actions as recorded in the Book of Judges.
The period of the Judges was characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's faithfulness and rebellion, where the Israelites repeatedly fell into idolatry, faced oppression from neighboring peoples, cried out to God, and were delivered by judges whom God raised up. This was a time before Israel had kings, and every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). Gideon, Abimelech's father, was one of these judges, and under his leadership, Israel experienced deliverance from the Midianites.
Gideon, despite his achievements, made a significant decision that would have repercussions for his family and the nation. After his military victories, the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, but he refused, saying, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you" (Judges 8:23, NIV). However, Gideon’s actions contradicted his words. He collected gold from the spoils of war and made an ephod, which became a snare to him and his family, leading Israel into idolatry (Judges 8:27). Additionally, Gideon had many wives and concubines, resulting in seventy sons. Abimelech was the son of a concubine from Shechem, a fact that played a crucial role in his later actions.
After Gideon's death, Israel quickly turned back to idolatry, worshiping the Baals and forgetting the LORD, their God. It is within this context of spiritual and political instability that Abimelech's ambition takes root. Abimelech saw an opportunity to seize power and position himself as a leader, despite the absence of a formal monarchy in Israel at the time.
Abimelech went to Shechem, his mother's hometown, and appealed to his maternal relatives and the leaders of Shechem. He posed a strategic question: "Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerubbaal's sons rule over you, or just one man?" (Judges 9:2, NIV). He played on their kinship ties, emphasizing that he was their flesh and blood. This appeal to familial loyalty, combined with the promise of centralized power, persuaded the leaders of Shechem to support him.
The leaders of Shechem gave Abimelech seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, which he used to hire reckless adventurers who would follow him. With this band, Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah and murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. This brutal act was not only a quest for power but also a strategic elimination of potential rivals. By killing his brothers, Abimelech sought to remove any claims to leadership that might arise from Gideon's legitimate sons.
However, one brother, Jotham, escaped the massacre. Jotham's survival and subsequent actions add a layer of divine justice and prophetic warning to the narrative. Jotham climbed Mount Gerizim and delivered a parable to the people of Shechem, known as Jotham's Parable of the Trees (Judges 9:7-15). In this parable, the trees sought a king, but the worthy trees – the olive, fig, and vine – refused the offer. Finally, the bramble accepted, a plant that offers no real benefit and can cause harm. Jotham used this parable to warn the people of Shechem about the dangers of their choice in supporting Abimelech, likening him to the bramble.
Jotham's parable was both a critique of Abimelech's character and a prophetic warning of the consequences of their actions. He concluded with a curse, stating that if they acted in good faith, they would rejoice in Abimelech, but if not, fire would come out from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem, and vice versa (Judges 9:19-20).
Abimelech's reign was short-lived and marked by violence and treachery. The alliance between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem eventually soured, leading to internal strife and conflict. God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, fulfilling Jotham's curse. Abimelech's own destructive nature led to further bloodshed and his eventual downfall. In a battle against the city of Thebez, a woman dropped a millstone on Abimelech's head, fatally wounding him. In his final moments, Abimelech asked his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword so that it would not be said that a woman killed him (Judges 9:53-54).
The story of Abimelech is a powerful narrative about the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and the consequences of turning away from God. Abimelech's desire for power led him to commit fratricide, an act that ultimately brought about his own destruction. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of godly leadership and the dangers of seeking power for selfish gain.
In the broader context of the Book of Judges, Abimelech's actions illustrate the chaos and moral decline of Israel during this period. The absence of a central, godly authority led to a cycle of sin and deliverance, highlighting the need for a righteous leader who would guide the people according to God's will. This narrative foreshadows the eventual establishment of the monarchy in Israel, which, despite its own challenges, was intended to provide stability and spiritual direction under God's covenant.
Abimelech's story, while tragic, offers lessons for us today. It challenges us to examine our own ambitions and motivations, to seek leadership that aligns with God's principles, and to remember that true authority comes from God alone. As Christians, we are reminded of the ultimate example of leadership in Jesus Christ, who, unlike Abimelech, did not seek power for personal gain but humbled himself, serving others and sacrificing himself for the salvation of humanity (Philippians 2:5-8).
