Judges Chapter 9Judges Chapter 9

Old Testament Bible StudiesOld Testament Bible StudiesTrue Love Church of RefugeTrue Love Church of RefugeProphetess Delisa LindseyProphetess Delisa Lindsey

June 17, 2009June 17, 2009

Career of Gideon’s son, Career of Gideon’s son, AbimelechAbimelech

Fifth Cycle : Israel vs. Fifth Cycle : Israel vs. AbimelechAbimelech

Judges 9:1-10:5Judges 9:1-10:5

Who was Abimelech?Who was Abimelech? His name literally means, My Father is the KingHis name literally means, My Father is the King He was the son of Gideon’s sexual relationship with his He was the son of Gideon’s sexual relationship with his

concubine (girlfriend), who lived in Shechem.concubine (girlfriend), who lived in Shechem. He was an illegitimate child and an illegitimate judge.He was an illegitimate child and an illegitimate judge. He is mentioned as the son of Jerubbaal, rather than He is mentioned as the son of Jerubbaal, rather than

the God-given name of Gideon because he utilized the God-given name of Gideon because he utilized Baal, (demonic assistance) in trying to set up a Baal, (demonic assistance) in trying to set up a Canaanite city.Canaanite city.

He was nothing like his father, a very sharp contrast.He was nothing like his father, a very sharp contrast. He was a usurper who wanted to be king.He was a usurper who wanted to be king. He was close to his mother’s family rather than his He was close to his mother’s family rather than his

father’s.father’s. Abimelech attempted to rebuild a Canaanite city in the Abimelech attempted to rebuild a Canaanite city in the

very place where Joshua pledged Israel’s allegiance to very place where Joshua pledged Israel’s allegiance to God.God.

Judges 9:1-2Judges 9:1-2 After Gideon’s death, his After Gideon’s death, his

illegitimate son, Abimelech illegitimate son, Abimelech goes to Shechem goes to Shechem (shoulder) to rally the (shoulder) to rally the support of his mother’s support of his mother’s family to overthrow family to overthrow Gideon’s other sons.Gideon’s other sons.

He contended that it made He contended that it made no sense that his 70 half no sense that his 70 half brothers should rule over brothers should rule over his family when he could. his family when he could. One of their own.One of their own.

He gently reminds them He gently reminds them that he is one of their own that he is one of their own flesh and blood.flesh and blood.

Judges 9:3-4Judges 9:3-4 The relatives began to speak The relatives began to speak

on Abimelech’s behalf to on Abimelech’s behalf to others and convince them others and convince them of his ability to rule. of his ability to rule.

They said yes, he is our They said yes, he is our brother.brother.

They financed his candidacy They financed his candidacy for king with 70 pieces of for king with 70 pieces of silver from the pagan silver from the pagan temple of Baal-berith (Baal temple of Baal-berith (Baal is lord of the covenant).is lord of the covenant).

Abimelech used these Abimelech used these cursed funds to hire cursed funds to hire scoundrels to help him scoundrels to help him accomplish his military and accomplish his military and political goals.political goals.

Does this sound similar to our modern day election campaigns?

The Temple of Baal-BerithThe Temple of Baal-Berith Ancient temples were the storage places for vast Ancient temples were the storage places for vast

amounts of wealth. amounts of wealth. People deposited huge amounts of personal and People deposited huge amounts of personal and

governmental funds at the Temple.governmental funds at the Temple. Vows and penalties, even gifts were given to the Vows and penalties, even gifts were given to the

Temple treasuries.Temple treasuries. The Temple of Baal-berith was discovered at The Temple of Baal-berith was discovered at

Shechem by archaeologists.Shechem by archaeologists. The pagan temple at SHechem further explains The pagan temple at SHechem further explains

the low where with Israel had fallen.the low where with Israel had fallen. Shechem was the place where Jacob sons Shechem was the place where Jacob sons

gathered. It was also one of the Levitical cities of gathered. It was also one of the Levitical cities of refuge.refuge.

The temple at Baal berith represented the exact The temple at Baal berith represented the exact opposite of Israel’s victory under Joshua.opposite of Israel’s victory under Joshua.

Judges 9:5-6Judges 9:5-6

The scoundrels Abimelech The scoundrels Abimelech hired accompanied him to hired accompanied him to his father’s home in his father’s home in Ophrah where they Ophrah where they slaughtered his half slaughtered his half brothers, the 70 sons of brothers, the 70 sons of Gideon.Gideon.

They were killed like They were killed like sacrificial animals, sacrificial animals, inaugurating his coronation inaugurating his coronation service with a pagan service with a pagan sacrifice.sacrifice.

He made a mistake He made a mistake though, the baby boy, though, the baby boy, Jotham (God is perfect), Jotham (God is perfect), escaped by hiding.escaped by hiding.

In all actuality, Abimelech In all actuality, Abimelech was financed by satan 70 was financed by satan 70 silver pieces to hire silver pieces to hire satanic agents to destroy satanic agents to destroy each of Gideon’s 70 sons.each of Gideon’s 70 sons.

Gideon’s family suffered Gideon’s family suffered great tragedy because of great tragedy because of his illicit involvement with his illicit involvement with Abimelech’s mother.Abimelech’s mother.

All the men of Shechem All the men of Shechem gathered together with the gathered together with the House of Millo, house of House of Millo, house of the fortress or demonic the fortress or demonic stronghold, at the great stronghold, at the great tree (the place where tree (the place where Jacob buried his son’s idols Jacob buried his son’s idols – Gen 35:4), and was also – Gen 35:4), and was also the place where Joshua set the place where Joshua set up a pillar as the covenant up a pillar as the covenant between God and Israel.between God and Israel.

The Parable of the Trees - The ThornThe Parable of the Trees - The Thorn KingKing

Judges 9:7-15Judges 9:7-15 The trees in the parable stand for different kinds of people. The trees in the parable stand for different kinds of people.

The good fruits are symbols of good works. The olive is the The good fruits are symbols of good works. The olive is the type of a person who loves the Lord and does good works type of a person who loves the Lord and does good works full of the oil of love. full of the oil of love.

Sweet, nourishing figs represent good works, not of an Sweet, nourishing figs represent good works, not of an interior, spiritual quality, but full of natural kindness. The interior, spiritual quality, but full of natural kindness. The fig tree, reaching out its branches widely on every hand, is fig tree, reaching out its branches widely on every hand, is the type of one who does such uses. the type of one who does such uses.

Grapes and wine, which are the fruit of the vine, also Grapes and wine, which are the fruit of the vine, also represent good works; not works done for the love of the represent good works; not works done for the love of the Lord, such as olives represent, nor works done from natural Lord, such as olives represent, nor works done from natural kindnesskindness, , which are represented by the figs, but rather which are represented by the figs, but rather good works done from a spiritual intelligence, because one good works done from a spiritual intelligence, because one sees the wisdom and the happiness of doing them.sees the wisdom and the happiness of doing them.

The bramble is the type of someone who does not do good The bramble is the type of someone who does not do good uses or only does them for show and for selfish gain. Those uses or only does them for show and for selfish gain. Those who do good of the three heavenly kinds are modest and who do good of the three heavenly kinds are modest and wish only to serve, but selfishness loves to rule and to be wish only to serve, but selfishness loves to rule and to be served. Fire coming out of the bramble means the burning served. Fire coming out of the bramble means the burning of selfish desires. The cedar which the fire destroys stands of selfish desires. The cedar which the fire destroys stands for rational understanding. Someone who is proud or angry for rational understanding. Someone who is proud or angry cannot be wise. cannot be wise.

Judges 9:16-21Judges 9:16-21 Jotham prophesies that if the Jotham prophesies that if the

men of Shechem have done a men of Shechem have done a good thing in anointing good thing in anointing Abimilech king, and in the Abimilech king, and in the manner in which they treated manner in which they treated his father (reminding them of his father (reminding them of the battles his father fought the battles his father fought on their behalf and the on their behalf and the punishment of death they punishment of death they inflicted onto his descendants inflicted onto his descendants at the hand of the son of a at the hand of the son of a slave girl, then rejoice.slave girl, then rejoice.

But if you haven’t, he But if you haven’t, he forewarns, let the fire of forewarns, let the fire of Abimelech devour the men of Abimelech devour the men of Shechem, Millo and let the Shechem, Millo and let the retaliatory fires devour retaliatory fires devour Abimelech.Abimelech.

After making this declaration, After making this declaration, Jotham fled to Beerand hid for Jotham fled to Beerand hid for fear.fear.

Judges 9:22-23Judges 9:22-23 After Abimelech’s three year reign After Abimelech’s three year reign

of terror, trouble began to of terror, trouble began to brew between Abimelech and brew between Abimelech and the men of Shechem for God the men of Shechem for God sent an evil spirit. This evil sent an evil spirit. This evil spirit caused the men to deal spirit caused the men to deal treacherously between the treacherously between the other.other.

He was not the king of Israel He was not the king of Israel rather a local governor over a rather a local governor over a small region of Manasseh. He small region of Manasseh. He wanted to be as equally wanted to be as equally renown as his father and renown as his father and failed miserably for his failed miserably for his motives were hostile.motives were hostile.

God commands evil spirits to God commands evil spirits to work between humans to work between humans to change the course of history. change the course of history. This is why He is known as the This is why He is known as the Beginning and the End. He Beginning and the End. He knows our latter end for He knows our latter end for He alone is Sovereignalone is Sovereign..

Judges 9:24-25Judges 9:24-25 God sent the evil spirit to God sent the evil spirit to

avenge the blood of avenge the blood of Gideon’s 70 sons on Gideon’s 70 sons on Abimelech and the men of Abimelech and the men of Shechem who murdered Shechem who murdered them.them.

Abimelech, as the self-Abimelech, as the self-appointed king, collected appointed king, collected revenue from traveling revenue from traveling caravans as he taxed them caravans as he taxed them for passing through ‘his’ for passing through ‘his’ territory. The men of territory. The men of Shechem devised a Shechem devised a scheme by laying traps for scheme by laying traps for the caravans, diverting the caravans, diverting them, and robbing them.them, and robbing them.

These traitorous acts were These traitorous acts were reported to Abimelech.reported to Abimelech.

Judges 9:26-27Judges 9:26-27 Gaal, Ebed’s son led this Gaal, Ebed’s son led this

band of robbers and the band of robbers and the men of Shechem put their men of Shechem put their trust in him. He urged the trust in him. He urged the people to return to people to return to Canaanite control and Canaanite control and dismiss the Israeli, dismiss the Israeli, Abimelech.Abimelech.

They gathered grapes, They gathered grapes, made wine and drank in the made wine and drank in the temple of Baal-berith and temple of Baal-berith and spoke slanderously against spoke slanderously against Abimelech.Abimelech.

The vintage harvest was The vintage harvest was one of the most joyous one of the most joyous times of year, (New Year’s), times of year, (New Year’s), but often turned into an but often turned into an alcoholic’s paradise.alcoholic’s paradise.

Judges 9:28Judges 9:28 Gaal provoked the people Gaal provoked the people

into remembering who into remembering who Abimelech’s father was, Abimelech’s father was, Gideon the noble Israeilite. Gideon the noble Israeilite. He says why should we He says why should we serve him when we can serve him when we can serve on of our own. He serve on of our own. He kindly forgets that kindly forgets that Abimelech’s mother was a Abimelech’s mother was a full blooded Shechemite.full blooded Shechemite.

Serve the men of Hamor, Serve the men of Hamor, (the Hivite rule, founder of (the Hivite rule, founder of Shechem) he says which Shechem) he says which means the priests of means the priests of temple of Baal-berith.temple of Baal-berith.

Why serve Abimelech?Why serve Abimelech?

Judges 9:29-31Judges 9:29-31 Gaal, in his drunken Gaal, in his drunken

stupor, ignorantly stupor, ignorantly challenges an absent challenges an absent Abimelech. He tells him to Abimelech. He tells him to rally your army and bring rally your army and bring out for battle.out for battle.

When Zebul, the city ruler, When Zebul, the city ruler, hears of Gaal’s ranting, he hears of Gaal’s ranting, he became outraged and became outraged and secretly sent a swift secretly sent a swift warning to Abimelech.warning to Abimelech.

He tells the spies to report He tells the spies to report Gaal’s plans to Abimelech Gaal’s plans to Abimelech in that he plans to start a in that he plans to start a revolution against him.revolution against him.

Judges 9:32-34Judges 9:32-34 Zebul sends a message to Zebul sends a message to

Abimelech to get up at Abimelech to get up at night with his army and night with his army and watch from the fields. Set watch from the fields. Set ambush early in the ambush early in the morning while they are yet morning while they are yet unawares and still unawares and still recovering from their night recovering from their night of binge drinking that of binge drinking that Abimelech may have the Abimelech may have the upper hand in the battle.upper hand in the battle.

Abimelech heeded the Abimelech heeded the message he received from message he received from Zebul and divided his Zebul and divided his company into four company into four sections.sections.

Judges 9:35-37Judges 9:35-37 Gaal spotted Abimelech and Gaal spotted Abimelech and

his army as they were his army as they were coming out of their hiding coming out of their hiding place.place.

He comments to Zebul that He comments to Zebul that he sees men coming down he sees men coming down the mountain!the mountain!

Zebul, capitalizing on Gaal’s Zebul, capitalizing on Gaal’s previous drunken state, previous drunken state, claims he is only imagining claims he is only imagining men coming down from the men coming down from the mountain, when in fact, mountain, when in fact, they are shadows.they are shadows.

Gaal looks and replies again Gaal looks and replies again that men are coming down that men are coming down through the plain from the through the plain from the direction of the sacred tree direction of the sacred tree (Meonenim).(Meonenim).

Judges 9:38-43Judges 9:38-43 Zebul taunts Gaal by asking Zebul taunts Gaal by asking

him, where is your big him, where is your big mouth now? Aren’t you the mouth now? Aren’t you the one who said Abimelech one who said Abimelech should serve you. You should serve you. You ridiculed him so get up and ridiculed him so get up and fight.fight.

So Gaal goes out to battle, So Gaal goes out to battle, ill prepared and ends up ill prepared and ends up being chased out of town by being chased out of town by Abimelech. Zebul threw out Abimelech. Zebul threw out his family also that they his family also that they should no longer live in should no longer live in Shechem.Shechem.

Even when they tried to Even when they tried to return, the people told of it return, the people told of it and they were ambushed by and they were ambushed by companies of three and companies of three and were attacked.were attacked.

Judges 9:44-48Judges 9:44-48 Abimelech set ambush at Abimelech set ambush at

the entrance of the city and the entrance of the city and in the field, striking down in the field, striking down every man. He fought, every man. He fought, captured, and killed all the captured, and killed all the day long until the land was day long until the land was left desolate. left desolate.

To symbolize a perpetual To symbolize a perpetual ruin to that city, he strew it ruin to that city, he strew it with salt marking it a place with salt marking it a place of barrenness and of barrenness and desolation.desolation.

The remaining townspeople The remaining townspeople sought refuge in the tower sought refuge in the tower of Berith at Beth Millo. When of Berith at Beth Millo. When Abimelech heard of it, he Abimelech heard of it, he went to Mt. Zalmun, took an went to Mt. Zalmun, took an axe, cut down a branch and axe, cut down a branch and ordered his men to do the ordered his men to do the same.same.

The Tower of ShechemThe Tower of Shechem Ancient walled cities were never considered Ancient walled cities were never considered

conquered until the stronghold or tower was taken.conquered until the stronghold or tower was taken. Make the comparison to the ministry of Make the comparison to the ministry of

deliverance when certain lesser demons are cast deliverance when certain lesser demons are cast out, yet the stronghold or strong-man demon holds out, yet the stronghold or strong-man demon holds clusters of demonic groups from being expelled clusters of demonic groups from being expelled from its victim. Jesus said, “this kind goeth not out from its victim. Jesus said, “this kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer.”but by fasting and prayer.”

Notice Abimelech’s method of destroying the Notice Abimelech’s method of destroying the tower. He was unable to eat or rest until he had tower. He was unable to eat or rest until he had complete victory over his enemies. He took an axe complete victory over his enemies. He took an axe to cut down trees. And ultimately he lit the wood to cut down trees. And ultimately he lit the wood on fire. Fasting, the Sword, and the power of the on fire. Fasting, the Sword, and the power of the Holy Ghost.Holy Ghost.

What methods are you using to destroy the towers What methods are you using to destroy the towers of Shechem in your life? Or are you content to let of Shechem in your life? Or are you content to let the “fleeing villains” hide?the “fleeing villains” hide?

Judges 9:49-51Judges 9:49-51 The men cut the branches, The men cut the branches,

following Abimelech and following Abimelech and piled them against the piled them against the tower setting them on fire tower setting them on fire with the people still inside. with the people still inside. See . Jotham’s curse v. 20. See . Jotham’s curse v. 20. About 1,000 men and About 1,000 men and women died in the tower.women died in the tower.

Abimelech went to Thebez, Abimelech went to Thebez, and captured the city. and captured the city. They had another strong They had another strong tower to which people fled, tower to which people fled, shut themselves in and ran shut themselves in and ran to the top.to the top.

Judges 9:52-54Judges 9:52-54 Abimelech pressed into the Abimelech pressed into the

door using the same door using the same technique he used in technique he used in Shechem, but this time he Shechem, but this time he was in for a surprise.was in for a surprise.

A woman looking from A woman looking from below, threw a millstone below, threw a millstone down at him which cracked down at him which cracked him in the head, splitting his him in the head, splitting his skull.skull.

With the small percentage With the small percentage of brain function left, he of brain function left, he hastily called to his armor hastily called to his armor bearer to kill him that his bearer to kill him that his death would not be rumored death would not be rumored to be at the hands of a to be at the hands of a woman.woman.

Judges 9:55-57Judges 9:55-57

God, Israel’s true King, God, Israel’s true King, avenged the blood of avenged the blood of Gideon’s 70 sons.Gideon’s 70 sons.

He also avenged their He also avenged their blood on the men of blood on the men of Shechem who Shechem who conspired along with conspired along with Abimelech.Abimelech.

The curse of Jotham The curse of Jotham had come upon had come upon Abimelech and his Abimelech and his scoundrels.scoundrels.

Judges 10-11Judges 10-11

June 24, 2009June 24, 2009