J
U D G E S
CHAP. IX.
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,
ver. 1-6. II. How his doom was read in a parable by Jotham, Gideon's youngest
son, ver. 7-21. III. What strifes there were between Abimelech and his friends
the Shechemites, ver. 22-41. IV. How this ended in the ruin of the Shechemites
(ver. 42-49), and of Abimelech himself, ver. 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."
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The
Usurpation of Abimelech.
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B.
C. 1209.
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1 And Abimelech the son
of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with
them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father,
saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem,
Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which
are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over
you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem
all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said,
He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces
of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and
light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father's
house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being
threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the
youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 And all
the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went,
and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
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 Kings x. 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 Sam. v. 9; 2 Kings
xii. 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. viii. 35): Neither
showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal.
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Jotham's
Parable.
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B.
C. 1209.
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7 And when they told it
to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his
voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that
God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time
to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over
us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my
fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over
the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and
reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I
forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the
trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and
reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my
wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over
us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint
me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and
if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of
Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in
that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and
his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his
hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life
far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are
risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons,
threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son
of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your
brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with
Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech,
and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out
from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let
fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour
Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and
dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
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. xxviii. 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. civ. 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. x. 6),
and the vilest men exalted (Ps. xii. 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. xxxii. 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.
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Gaal's
Insurrection; Gaal's Defeat.
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B.
C. 1206.
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22 When Abimelech had
reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit
between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt
treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to
the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid
upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem,
which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 25 And the men of
Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed
all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem:
and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they
went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the
grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat
and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said,
Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is
not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of
Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And
would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech.
And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. 30
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed,
his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech
privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to
Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now
therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie
in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that in the
morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the
city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come
out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find
occasion. 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were
with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four
companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the
entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were
with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he
said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains.
And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they
were men. 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come
people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the
plain of Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is
now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should
serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I
pray now, and fight with them. 39 And Gaal went out before the men
of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased
him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even
unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah:
and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in
Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people
went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took
the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field,
and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city;
and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and
the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the
entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon
all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city,
and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed
it with salt. 46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem
heard that, they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were
gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he
and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his
hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on
his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have
seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. 49
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed
Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon
them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand
men and women.
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. xvi. 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
other companies that marched apace towards the city, then Zebul took another
way to banter him, upbraiding him with what he had said but a day or two
before, in contempt of Abimelech (v. 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 Kings xii. 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. x. 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. xxvii. 5. The name of the
Lord is a strong tower, Prov. xviii. 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. vii. 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. iv. 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.
|
The
Death of Abimelech.
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B.
C. 1206.
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50 Then went Abimelech to
Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was
a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and
all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top
of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought
against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with
fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon
Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. 54 Then he called
hastily unto the young man his armour bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy
sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young
man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel
saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his
father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57 And all the evil of
the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the
curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
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 Sam.
xi. 20, &c. 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 xxviii. 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 Sam. xi. 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.
Contents
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