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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J U D G E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The apostasy of Israel after the death of Gideon is punished, not as
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the former apostasies by a foreign invasion, or the oppressions of any
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neighbouring power, but by intestine broils among themselves, which in
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this chapter we have the story of; and it is hard to say whether their
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sin or their misery appears most in it. It is an account of the
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usurpation and tyranny of Abimelech, who was base son to Gideon; so we
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must call him, and not more modishly his natural son: he was so unlike
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him. We are here told,
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I. How he thrust himself into the government at Shechem, his own city,
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by subtlety and cruelty, particularly by the murder of all his
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brethren,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. How his doom was read in a parable by Jotham, Gideon's youngest son,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:7-21">ver. 7-21</A>.
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III. What strifes there were between Abimelech and his friends the
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Shechemites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:22-41">ver. 22-41</A>.
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IV. How this ended in the ruin of the Shechemites
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:42-49">ver. 42-49</A>),
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and of Abimelech himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:50-57">ver. 50-57</A>.
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Of this meteor, this ignis fatuus of a prince, that was not a protector
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but a plague to his country, we may say, as once was said of a great
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tyrant, that he came in like a fox, ruled like a lion, and died like a
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dog. "For the transgression of a land, such are the princes
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thereof."</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jud9_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Usurpation of Abimelech.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1209.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>
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1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his
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mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the
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family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
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2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem,
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Whether <I>is</I> better for you, either that all the sons of
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Jerubbaal, <I>which are</I> threescore and ten persons, reign over
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you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I <I>am</I> your
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bone and your flesh.
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3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the
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men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to
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follow Abimelech; for they said, He <I>is</I> our brother.
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4 And they gave him threescore and ten <I>pieces</I> of silver out
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of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and
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light persons, which followed him.
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5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his
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brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, <I>being</I> threescore and ten
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persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest
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son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
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6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the
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house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain
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of the pillar that <I>was</I> in Shechem.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and made
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himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some
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towering ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying
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royalty in it, might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has
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buried his father nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will
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succeed him in the government of Israel, directly contrary to his
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father's will, for he had declared <I>no son of his should rule over
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them.</I> He had no call from God to this honour as his father had, nor
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was there any present occasion for a judge to deliver Israel as there
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was when his father was advanced; but his own ambition must be
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gratified, and its gratification is all he aims at. Now observe
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here,</P>
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<P>
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I. How craftily he got his mother's relations into his interests.
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Shechem was a city in the tribe of Ephraim, of great note. Joshua had
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held his last assembly there. If that city would but appear for him,
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and set him up, he thought it would go far in his favour. There he had
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an interest in the family of which his mother was, and by them he made
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an interest in the leading men of the city. It does not appear that any
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of them had an eye to him as a man of merit, who had any thing to
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recommend him to such a choice, but the motion came first from himself.
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None would have dreamed of making such a one king, if he had not
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dreamed of it himself. And see here,
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1. How he wheedled them into the choice,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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He basely suggested that Gideon having left seventy sons, who made a
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good figure and had a good interest, they were designing to keep the
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power which their father had in their hands, and by a joint-influence
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to reign over Israel. "Now," says he, "you had better have one king
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than more, than many, than so many. Affairs of state are best managed
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by a single person,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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We have no reason to think that all or any of Gideon's sons had the
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least intention to reign over Israel (they were of their father's mind,
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that <I>the Lord should reign over them,</I> and they were not called
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of him), yet this he insinuates to pave the way to his own pretensions.
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Note, Those who design ill themselves are commonly most apt to suspect
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that others design ill. As for himself, he only puts them in mind of
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his relation to them (<I>verbum sapienti--A word to the wise is
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sufficient): Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.</I> The plot
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took wonderfully. The magistrates of Shechem were pleased to think of
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their city being a royal city and the metropolis of Israel, and
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therefore they <I>inclined to follow him; for they said, "He is our
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brother,</I> and his advancement will be our advantage."
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2. How he got money from them to bear the charges of his pretensions
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>They gave him seventy pieces of silver;</I> it is not said what the
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value of these pieces was; so many shekels are less, and so many
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talents more, than we can well imagine; therefore it is supposed they
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were each a pound weight: but they gave this money out of the house of
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Baal-berith, that is, out of the public treasury, which, out of respect
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to their idol, they deposited in his temple to be protected by him; or
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out of the offerings that had been made to that idol, which they hoped
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would prosper the better in his hands for its having been consecrated
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to their god. How unfit was he to reign over Israel, because unlikely
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to defend them, who, instead of restraining and punishing idolatry,
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thus early made himself a pensioner to an idol! 3. What soldiers he
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enlisted. He hired into his service vain and light persons, the scum
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and scoundrels of the country, men of broken fortunes, giddy heads, and
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profligate lives; none but such would own him, and they were fittest to
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serve his purpose. Like leader like followers.</P>
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<P>
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II. How cruelly he got his father's sons out of the way.</P>
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<P>
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1. The first thing he did with the rabble he headed was to kill all his
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brethren at once, publicly and in cold blood, threescore and ten men,
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one only escaping, all slain upon one stone. See in this bloody
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tragedy,
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(1.) The power of ambition what beasts it will turn men into, how it
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will break through all the ties of natural affection and natural
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conscience, and sacrifice that which is most sacred, dear, and
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valuable, to its designs. Strange that ever it should enter into the
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heart of a man to be so very barbarous!
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(2.) The peril of honour and high birth. Their being the sons of so
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great a man as Gideon exposed them thus and made Abimelech jealous of
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them. We find just the same number of Ahab's sons slain together at
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Samaria,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+10:1,7">2 Kings x. 1, 7</A>.
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The grand seigniors have seldom thought themselves safe while any of
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their brethren have been unstrangled. Let none then envy those of high
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extraction, or complain of their own meanness and obscurity. The lower
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the safer.</P>
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<P>
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2. Way being thus made for Abimelech's election, the men of Shechem
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proceeded to choose him king,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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God was not consulted whether they should have any king at all, much
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less who it should be; here is no advising with the priest or with
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their brethren of any other city or tribe, though it was designed that
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he should reign over Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
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But,
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(1.) The Shechemites, as if they were the people and wisdom must die
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with them, did all; they aided and abetted him in the murder of his
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brethren
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
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and then they <I>made him king.</I> The men of Shechem (that is, the
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great men, the chief magistrates of the city), and the house of Millo
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(that is, the common-council, the <I>full house</I> or <I>house of
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fulness,</I> as the word signifies), those that met in their guildhall
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(we read often of the house of Millo, or state-house in Jerusalem, or
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the city of David,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+5:9,2Ki+12:20">2 Sam. v. 9; 2 Kings xii. 20</A>),
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these gathered together, not to prosecute and punish Abimelech for this
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barbarous murder, as they ought to have done, he being one of their
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citizens, but to <I>make him king. Pretium sceleris tulit hic
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diadema--His wickedness was rewarded with a diadem.</I> What could they
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promise themselves from a king that laid the foundation of his kingdom
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in blood?
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(2.) The rest of the Israelites were so very sottish as to sit by
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unconcerned. They took no care to give check to this usurpation, to
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protect the sons of Gideon, or to avenge their death, but tamely
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submitted to the bloody tyrant, as men who with their religion had lost
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their reason, and all sense of honour and liberty, justice and
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gratitude. How vigorously had their fathers appeared to avenge the
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death of the Levite's concubine, and yet so wretchedly degenerate are
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they now as not to attempt the avenging of the death of Gideon's sons;
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it is for this that they are charged with ingratitude
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+8:35"><I>ch.</I> viii. 35</A>):
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<I>Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Jud9_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud9_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jotham's Parable.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1209.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And when they told <I>it</I> to Jotham, he went and stood in the
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top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and
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said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may
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hearken unto you.
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8 The trees went forth <I>on a time</I> to anoint a king over them;
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and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
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9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness,
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wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted
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over the trees?
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10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, <I>and</I> reign
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over us.
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11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my
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sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the
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trees?
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12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, <I>and</I> reign
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over us.
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13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which
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cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
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14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, <I>and</I>
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reign over us.
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15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint
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me king over you, <I>then</I> come <I>and</I> put your trust in my shadow:
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and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the
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cedars of Lebanon.
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16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that
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ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with
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Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the
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deserving of his hands;
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17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far,
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and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
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18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and
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have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone,
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and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over
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the men of Shechem, because he <I>is</I> your brother;)
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19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and
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with his house this day, <I>then</I> rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let
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him also rejoice in you:
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20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the
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men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out
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from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour
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Abimelech.
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21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt
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there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the only testimony that appears to have been borne against
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the wicked confederacy of Abimelech and the men of Shechem. It was a
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sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet
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was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and
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to stop the progress of this threatening mischief. Only Jotham, the
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youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common
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ruin of his family
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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dealt plainly with the Shechemites, and his speech, which is here
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recorded, shows him to have been a man of such great ingenuity and
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wisdom, and really such an accomplished gentleman, that we cannot but
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the more lament the fall of Gideon's sons. Jotham did not go about to
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raise an army out of the other cities of Israel (in which, one would
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think, he might have made a good interest for his father's sake), to
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avenge his brethren's death, much less to set up himself in competition
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with Abimelech, so groundless was the usurper's suggestion that the
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sons of Gideon aimed at dominion
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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but he contents himself with giving a faithful reproof to the
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Shechemites, and fair warning of the fatal consequences. He got an
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opportunity of speaking to them from the top of Mount Gerizim, the
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mount of blessings, at the foot of which probably the Shechemites were,
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upon some occasion or other, gathered together (Josephus says,
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solemnizing a festival), and it seems they were willing to hear what he
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had to say.</P>
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<P>
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I. His preface is very serious: "<I>Hearken unto me, you men of
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Shechem, that God may hearken unto you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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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 <I>turn away our ear from hearing the law, our prayer will be an
|
|
abomination,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:9">Prov. xxviii. 9</A>.</P>
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<P>
|
|
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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
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|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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 <I>trees of the Lord which he has planted</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+104:16">Ps. civ. 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
and which therefore he will protect. Nor was there any occasion for
|
|
Israel to talk of setting a king over them; for <I>the Lord was their
|
|
king.</I>
|
|
|
|
(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 <I>would even dare to die.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The reason which all these fruit-trees gave for their refusal was
|
|
much the same. The olive pleads
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Should I leave my wine,</I> 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 <I>shall I leave my sweetness, saith the fig-tree,
|
|
and my good fruit</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>and go to be promoted over the trees?</I> or, as the margin reads
|
|
it, <I>go up and down for the trees?</I> 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 <I>promoted over the trees,</I> 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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He hereby exposes the ridiculous ambition of Abimelech, whom he
|
|
compares to the bramble or thistle,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He supposes the trees to make their court to him: <I>Come thou and
|
|
reign over us,</I> perhaps because he knew not that the first motion of
|
|
Abimelech's preferment came from himself (as we found,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
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 <I>by the
|
|
trees, by all the trees;</I> this election seems to have been more
|
|
unanimous than any of the others. Let us not think it strange if we
|
|
see <I>folly set in great dignity</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+10:6">Eccl. x. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the <I>vilest men exalted</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+12:8">Ps. xii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
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 <I>great swelling words of vanity</I> he
|
|
speaks
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
what promises he makes to his faithful subjects: <I>Let them come and
|
|
trust in my shadow:</I> a goodly shadow to trust in! How unlike to
|
|
<I>the shadow of a great rock in a weary land,</I> which a good
|
|
magistrate is compared to!
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:2">Isa. xxxii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
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 <I>boast
|
|
of a false gift.</I> Yet he threatens with as much confidence as he
|
|
promises: If you be not faithful, <I>let fire come out of the
|
|
bramble</I> (a very unlikely thing to emit fire) and <I>devour the
|
|
cedars of Lebanon</I>--more likely to catch fire, and be itself
|
|
devoured.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
<I>done to him according to the deserving of his hands,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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 <I>the son
|
|
of his maid-servant,</I> 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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
"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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Jotham, having given them this admonition, made a shift to escape with
|
|
his life,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_36"> </A>
|
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<A NAME="Jud9_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_49"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Gaal's Insurrection; Gaal's Defeat.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1206.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 <I>done</I> 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 <I>the grapes,</I> 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 <I>is</I> Abimelech, and who
|
|
<I>is</I> Shechem, that we should serve him? <I>is</I> not <I>he</I> 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 <I>is</I>
|
|
with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
|
|
33 And it shall be, <I>that</I> in the morning, as soon as the sun
|
|
is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold,
|
|
<I>when</I> he and the people that <I>is</I> 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 <I>were</I> 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 <I>were</I> 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 <I>if they
|
|
were</I> 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 <I>is</I> now thy mouth,
|
|
wherewith thou saidst, Who <I>is</I> Abimelech, that we should serve
|
|
him? <I>is</I> 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 <I>and</I> wounded, <I>even</I> 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 <I>were</I> come forth out of the city; and he rose up
|
|
against them, and smote them.
|
|
44 And Abimelech, and the company that <I>was</I> with him, rushed
|
|
forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and
|
|
the two <I>other</I> companies ran upon all <I>the people</I> that <I>were</I>
|
|
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 <I>was</I> therein, and beat
|
|
down the city, and sowed it with salt.
|
|
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard <I>that,</I>
|
|
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 <I>were</I> with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his
|
|
hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid
|
|
<I>it</I> on his shoulder, and said unto the people that <I>were</I> with
|
|
him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, <I>and</I> do as I <I>have
|
|
done.</I>
|
|
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough,
|
|
and followed Abimelech, and put <I>them</I> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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. <I>Within three
|
|
years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be
|
|
contemned,</I> and laid in the dust,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+16:14">Isa. xvi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The ruin of these confederates in wickedness was from the righteous
|
|
hand of the God to whom vengeance belongs. <I>He sent an evil spirit
|
|
between Abimelech and the Shechemites</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
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 <I>an evil spirit,</I> 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
|
|
<I>send the evil spirits between them.</I> 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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>That the cruelty done to them might come and their blood be laid</I>
|
|
as a burden <I>upon Abimelech that slew them, and the men of Shechem
|
|
that helped him.</I> 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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The Shechemites began to affront Abimelech, perhaps they scarcely
|
|
knew why or wherefore, but they were given to change.
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>dealt treacherously with him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>),
|
|
|
|
his country-seat. Expecting him to come to town, they <I>set liers in
|
|
wait for him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
This Gaal is said to be the son of <I>Ebed,</I> which signifies <I>a
|
|
servant,</I> 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 <I>put their confidence in him.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. They did all the despite they could to Abimelech's name,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
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 <I>went into the house of
|
|
their god,</I> to solemnize their feast of in-gathering, and there
|
|
<I>they did eat, and drink, and cursed Abimelech,</I> 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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:28,29"><I>v.</I> 28, 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
They loved to hear that impudent upstart speak scornfully,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Of Abimelech, though calling him in disdain <I>Shechem,</I> or
|
|
<I>a Shechemite,</I> he reflected upon their own city.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Of his good father likewise, Gideon: <I>Is not he the son of
|
|
Jerubbaal?</I> 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, <I>Zebul his officer, and ruler of
|
|
the city.</I> "We may well be ashamed to serve them, and need not be
|
|
afraid to oppose them." Men of turbulent ambitious spirits thus
|
|
<I>despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.</I> Gaal aimed not to
|
|
recover Shechem's liberty, only to change their tyrant: "<I>O that this
|
|
people were under my hand!</I> 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: "<I>Increase thy army, and come out.</I> 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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Abimelech turned all his force upon them, and, in a little time,
|
|
quite ruined them. Observe the steps of their overthrow.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The Shechemites' counsels were betrayed to Abimelech by Zebul his
|
|
confidant, the ruler of the city, who continued hearty for him. <I>His
|
|
anger was kindled</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the more because Gaal had spoken slightly of him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:32,33"><I>v.</I> 32, 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
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.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
Gaal, in the morning, went out <I>to the gate</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>)
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
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 <I>the shadow
|
|
of the mountains</I> 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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Where is now thy mouth,</I> that foul mouth of thine, <I>wherewith
|
|
thou saidst, Who is Abimelech?</I> 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 <I>increase his army and come out;</I> but now Zebul, in
|
|
Abimelech's name, challenges him: <I>Go out, and fight with them,</I>
|
|
if thou darest. Justly are the insolent thus insulted over.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Abimelech routed Gaal's forces that sallied out of the town,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:39,40"><I>v.</I> 39, 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
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: <I>Many were
|
|
overthrown and wounded,</I> the common effect of popular tumults, in
|
|
which the inconsiderate multitude are often drawn into fatal snare by
|
|
those that promise them glorious success.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Zebul that night expelled Gaal, and the party he had brought with
|
|
him into Shechem, out of the city
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>),
|
|
|
|
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. <I>Exit Gaal</I>--<I>Gaal retires.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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 <I>into the field,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
and then it intimates that they were secure. And because Abimelech had
|
|
retired
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>)
|
|
|
|
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, <I>stood in the entering of the gate</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>),
|
|
|
|
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, <I>ran
|
|
upon those that were in the fields and slew them.</I> 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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+12:1">1 Kings xii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:6,7">Isa. x. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
They design to maintain their honour, but God to maintain his.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. Those that retired into a strong-hold of their idol-temple were all
|
|
destroyed there. These are called <I>the men of the tower of
|
|
Shechem</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:46,47"><I>v.</I> 46, 47</A>),
|
|
|
|
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 <I>all people will walk in the name of their god,</I>
|
|
and shall not we then choose to dwell in the house of the Lord all the
|
|
days of our life? For <I>in the time of trouble he shall hide us in his
|
|
pavilion,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:5">Ps. xxvii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
The <I>name of the Lord is a strong tower,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:10">Prov. xviii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:48,49"><I>v.</I> 48, 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
He ordered them all to follow him, and do as he did: as his father had
|
|
said to his men
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:17"><I>ch.</I> vii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Look on me, and do likewise;</I> 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: <I>What you
|
|
have seen me do make haste to do, as I have done.</I> Not <I>Ite
|
|
illuc--Go thither;</I> but <I>Venite huc--Come hither.</I> The officers
|
|
in Christ's army should thus teach by their example,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:9">Phil. iv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
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: <I>Let
|
|
fire come out from</I> Abimelech, and devour not only in general the
|
|
men of Shechem, but in particular the house of Millo,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
<I>perish not alone in their iniquity,</I> but involve many more, that
|
|
follow them in their simplicity, in the same calamity with them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_53"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_54"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_56"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud9_57"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Death of Abimelech.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1206.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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
|
|
<I>it</I> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>),
|
|
|
|
drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
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set fire to this tower, at least to burn down the door, and so force an
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entrance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:52"><I>v.</I> 52</A>.
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Those who have escaped and succeeded well in one desperate attempt are
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apt to think the like attempt another time not desperate. This instance
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|
was long after quoted to show how dangerous it is to come near the call
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|
of a besieged city,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+11:20,21">2 Sam. xi. 20</A>,
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&c. But God infatuates those whom he will ruin.</P>
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|
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<P>
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II. In the attempt he was himself destroyed, having his brains knocked
|
|
out with a piece of a millstone,
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:57"><I>v.</I> 57</A>.
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|
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<I>No doubt this man was a murderer, whom, though he had escaped</I>
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|
the dangers of the war with Shechem, yet <I>vengeance suffered not to
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|
live,</I>
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:4">Acts xxviii. 4</A>.
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|
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<I>Evil pursues sinners,</I> 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 <I>mighty things of the
|
|
world</I> 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; <I>for verily there is a God that
|
|
judges in the earth.</I> 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
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|
<I>upon one stone.</I>
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|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:53"><I>v.</I> 53</A>.
|
|
|
|
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. <I>Qualis
|
|
vita, finis ita--As was his life, such was his death.</I> 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 <I>that men say not, A woman slew him.</I>
|
|
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, <I>A woman
|
|
slew him,</I> 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 <I>nigh the wall,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+11:21">2 Sam. xi. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
The ignominy we seek to avoid by sin we do but perpetuate the
|
|
remembrance of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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 <I>departed every man to his place,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:55"><I>v.</I> 55</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. God's justice was glorified
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:56,57"><I>v.</I> 56, 57</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thus God</I> punished <I>the wickedness of Abimelech, and of the men
|
|
of Shechem,</I> and fulfilled Jotham's curse, for it was not a <I>curse
|
|
causeless.</I> Thus he preserved the honour of his government, and gave
|
|
warning to all ages to expect blood for blood. <I>The Lord is known by
|
|
the judgments which he executes,</I> when <I>the wicked is snared in
|
|
the work of his own hands.</I> Though wickedness may prosper awhile, it
|
|
will not prosper always.</P>
|
|
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