“The Conference of the Trees”

“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,” (Judges 9:1)

Prologue

Abimelech is the son of Gideon (now called Jerubbaal). Israel wanted Gideon to be the King, but Gideon refused the job. Gideon declares God to be King. Gideon went back to his home and begat 70 children.

Israel returned to sin when Gideon died. They forgot God. They forgot all the good things Gideon did for them.

The setting is the city of Shechem, Abimelech is the son of Gideon’s concubine. Israel had turned from God to worship Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.

The Judge of the Pagan’s Abimelech

Abimelech was living with his mother’s family in Shechem. His blood was divided by his family. His father’s (Gideon) family lived in Ophrah. In Shechem, Abimelech began amassing a political following.

Abimelech’s mother’s family supported him to be king, and by way of convincing other’s in the city to follow him; he was financially supported by the priests of Baalberith. Abimelech’s plan is to make himself King of Israel.

The Massacre at Ophrah

After consolidating his power base in Shechem, Abimeleh moves to eliminate opposition in Ophrah. Ophrah is where his brothers of Gideon are residing. At Ophrah he kills 69 of his brothers in one fell swoop. The youngest brother, Jotham survived the massacre by hiding himself.

Abimelech Becomes King of Shechem

All the men of Shechem gather together and elect Abimelech King of Shechem. It is not that they have much of a choice. Abimelech has already consolidated his power through the priests of the pagan’s, and money used to pay off the vain and weak.

The Conference of the Trees

Jotham went up to the top of mount Gerizim and told a story to the men of Shechem as a prayer to God.

“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.” (Judges 9:8-20)

Give a Man Enough Rope

Abimelech reigned over Shechem for 3 years. Then the worm turned…so to speak. God sent an evil spirit among the men of Shechem.

The men of Shechem set bandits in the passes to Shechem, anyone entering or leaving Shechem were robbed. This is how a rebel force can use your own treasury against you.

Abimelech is expected, as King, to protect his people. Abimelech was only able, through treachery to become King, he had no idea on how to lead a real defense.

Gaal began to gain the confidence of the men of Shechem. As you might imagine the Viking invasion of Britain. Gaal and his men were dancing in the vineyards, drinking and eating the the land of Shechem. Gaal made a mistake. He thought he was mightier than he was.

As the battle wages from Shechem to Arumah, Abimelech appears to be winning. He has used fire to burn the holds in each city. Then things turn.

As Abimelech is overrunning a strong tower in Thebez he leads an attack at the door to the tower. His goal is to repeat the burning of the tower…then wee..a woman drops a millstone on Abimelech’s head. While dying Abimelech asks his armor bearer to run him through with a sword, so that no one could say he was killed by a woman. There is no doubt that the woman had delivered a mortal blow, his armor bearer just added to the insult.

“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.”(Judges 9:56-57)

Stay Tuned…