17 for my father fought for you and risked e his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian ; 18 but you have risen against my father's house today and have killed his sons , seventy men , on one stone , and have made Abimelech , the son of his maidservant , king over the men of Shechem , because he is your relative - 19 if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day , rejoice in Abimelech , and let him also rejoice in you. 20 "But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo ; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo , and consume Abimelech ." 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled , and went to Beer and remained there because e of Abimelech his brother .
22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years . 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech , 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come , and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother , who killed them, and on the men of Shechem , who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers . 25 The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains , and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road ; and it was told to Abimelech . 26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives , and crossed over into Shechem ; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival ; and they went into the house of their god , and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech . 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said , "Who is Abimelech , and who is Shechem , that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal , and is Zebul not his lieutenant ? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem ; but why should we serve him? 29 " Would e , therefore, that this people were under my authority ! Then I would remove Abimelech ." And he said to Abimelech , "Increase your army and come out." 30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed , his anger burned . 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully , saying , "Behold , Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem ; and behold , they are stirring up the city against you. 32 "Now therefore, arise by night , you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field . 33 "In the morning , as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city ; and behold , when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can." 34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies . 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate ; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush . 36 When Gaal saw the people , he said to Zebul , "Look , people are coming down from the tops of the mountains ." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men ." 37 Gaal spoke again e and said , "Behold , people are coming down from the highest part of the land , and one company comes by the way of the diviners' oak ." 38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your boasting now with which you said , 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Is this not the people whom you despised ? Go out now and fight with them!" 39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 9:17-39
Commentary on Judges 9:7-21
(Read Judges 9:7-21)
There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the Lord was their King. Those who bear fruit for the public good, are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more than those who merely make a figure. All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the trees. To rule, involves a man in a great deal both of toil and care. Those who are preferred to public trust and power, must forego all private interests and advantages, for the good of others. And those advanced to honour and dignity, are in great danger of losing their fruitfulness. For which reason, they that desire to do good, are afraid of being too great. Jotham compares Abimelech to the bramble or thistle, a worthless plant, whose end is to be burned. Such a one was Abimelech.
Commentary on Judges 9:22-29
(Read Judges 9:22-29)
Abimelech is seated in the throne his father refused. But how long does this glory last? Stay but three years, and see the bramble withered and burned. The prosperity of the wicked is short and fickle. The Shechemites are plagued by no other hand than Abimelech's. They raised him unjustly to the throne; they first feel the weight of his sceptre.
Commentary on Judges 9:30-49
(Read Judges 9:30-49)
Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of lies.