Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves-- Now if you have acted faithfully and honestlyThe phrase "acted faithfully and honestly" is a call to integrity and righteousness. In Hebrew, "faithfully" (בֶּאֱמוּנָה, be'emunah) conveys a sense of steadfastness and trustworthiness, while "honestly" (בְּתוֹם, betom) implies completeness and sincerity. This sets a standard for the Israelites' actions, urging them to reflect on their motives and the truthfulness of their deeds. In a broader biblical context, these virtues are foundational to a covenant relationship with God, who desires His people to mirror His own faithfulness and truth. in making Abimelech king
The act of "making Abimelech king" is significant in the historical context of Israel's governance. Abimelech's rise to power was not through divine appointment, as was customary for leaders like Moses or Joshua, but through manipulation and violence. This phrase challenges the legitimacy of his kingship, highlighting the deviation from God's intended order. Archaeologically, this period reflects a time of tribal confederation rather than centralized monarchy, making Abimelech's kingship an anomaly and a cautionary tale of self-serving ambition. and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house
"Dealt well" (עֲשִׂיתֶם טוֹב, asitem tov) implies a moral obligation to repay kindness and loyalty. Jerubbaal, also known as Gideon, was a judge who delivered Israel from Midianite oppression. The mention of "his house" underscores the importance of honoring familial and covenantal relationships. Historically, this reflects the tribal and familial loyalties that were crucial in ancient Israelite society. The failure to honor Gideon's legacy is a breach of social and divine justice. and have done for him as he deserves—
The phrase "as he deserves" (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, ka'asher asah) speaks to the principle of retributive justice, a common theme in biblical law. It suggests that actions should be reciprocated in kind, reflecting the biblical concept of "measure for measure." This principle is rooted in the character of God, who is just and fair. The Israelites' failure to honor Gideon's contributions and legacy is a moral failing that invites divine scrutiny and judgment. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbimelechThe son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) and a concubine from Shechem. He sought power and became king through manipulation and violence. 2. Jerubbaal (Gideon)A judge of Israel who led the Israelites to victory against the Midianites. He is remembered for his faithfulness to God but also for his later actions that led to idolatry. 3. ShechemA significant city in the hill country of Ephraim. It was a center of political and religious activity in Israel and the place where Abimelech was made king. 4. JothamThe youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre of his brothers. He delivered a parable from Mount Gerizim as a warning to the people of Shechem. 5. Mount GerizimThe location from which Jotham delivered his parable. It holds historical and religious significance as a place of blessing in Israel. Teaching Points Integrity in LeadershipThe account of Abimelech warns against seeking power through deceit and manipulation. True leadership is grounded in integrity and service to others. Consequences of ActionsAbimelech's account illustrates the biblical principle that actions have consequences. His violent rise to power ultimately led to his destruction. Faithfulness to God's CovenantThe Israelites' choice to follow Abimelech reflects a departure from their covenant with God. Believers are called to remain faithful to God's commands and guidance. The Role of AccountabilityJotham's parable serves as a reminder of the importance of holding leaders accountable to God's standards. The Danger of IdolatryGideon's legacy was marred by idolatry, which set the stage for Abimelech's rise. Believers must guard against allowing anything to take the place of God in their lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of Abimelech challenge our understanding of leadership and power from a biblical perspective? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7) to our daily lives, especially in our relationships and decision-making? 3. How can we ensure that our actions align with God's covenant and commands, as opposed to following the world's standards? 4. What steps can we take to hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to God's standards of integrity and honesty? 5. How can we identify and remove idols in our lives that may hinder our relationship with God, as seen in the legacy of Gideon and Abimelech? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 8The Israelites demand a king, paralleling the desire for centralized power seen in Abimelech's account. This reflects the tension between God's leadership and human authority. Galatians 6:7The principle of sowing and reaping is evident in Abimelech's account, as his treacherous actions lead to his downfall. Proverbs 11:3The importance of integrity and honesty, which contrasts with Abimelech's deceitful rise to power. | Abimelech, the Adventurer | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Ambition Destroys the Finer Feelings of Men | H. E. Channing. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Bramble Rule; Or, the People and Their Leaders | Homilist | Judges 9:1-22 | | Forms of Usefulness in Life | Marcus Dods, D. D. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Jotham's Parable | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 9:1-22 | | King Bramble and His Subjects | A. F. Vedder. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Misleading Self-Judgments | A. Rowland, B. A. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Pulpit Brambles | Homilist | Judges 9:1-22 | | Self-Fulfilment | E. G. Murphy. | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Bramble | H. Whittaker. | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Election of the Usurper to be King | J. P. Millar. | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Faithful Olive-Tree | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Parable of Jotham | A London Minister | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Parable of the Trees | J. Bayley, Ph. D. | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Parable of the Trees | A. Raleigh, D. D. | Judges 9:1-22 | | The Refusing of Leadership | W. Morison, D. D. | Judges 9:1-22 | | Jotham's Fable; Or, Popular Election, its Dangers and Abuses | A.F. Muir | Judges 9:7-20 |
People Abimelech, Ebed, Gaal, Hamor, Jerubbaal, Jotham, Ophrah, Zalmon, ZebulPlaces Arumah, Beer, Beth-millo, Diviners' Oak, Lebanon, Midian, Mount Gerizim, Mount Zalmon, Ophrah, Shechem, Thebez, Tower of ShechemTopics Abimelech, Abim'elech, Acted, Dealt, Deed, Deeds, Deserved, Deserved-, Deserves, Deserving, Fair, Faith, Family, Hands, Honor, Honorably, Integrity, Jerubbaal, Jerub-baal, Jerubba'al, Making, Reward, Righteously, Sincerely, Sincerity, Treated, Truly, Truth, UprightlyDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 9:1-21 5356 irony Judges 9:7-20 5438 parables Library Here, by Way of Objection, Several Questions are Raised. ...
Here, by way of objection, several questions are raised. Scripture relates that God sometimes complied with certain prayers which had been dictated by minds not duly calmed or regulated. It is true, that the cause for which Jotham imprecated on the inhabitants of Shechem the disaster which afterwards befell them was well founded; but still he was inflamed with anger and revenge (Judges 9:20); and hence God, by complying with the execration, seems to approve of passionate impulses. Similar fervour …
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of FaithTrials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan Hence is Also that which Thou Hast Mentioned that they Speak Of...
28. Hence is also that which thou hast mentioned that they speak of, that the Lord Jesus, after He was risen, walked in the way with two disciples; and upon their drawing near to the village whither they were going, He made as though He would have gone farther: where the Evangelist, saying, "But He Himself feigned that He would go further," [2435] hath put that very word in which liars too greatly delight, that they may with impunity lie: as if every thing that is feigned is a lie, whereas in a truthful …
St. Augustine—Against Lying The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament Sovereignty of God in Administration
"The LORD hath prepared His Throne In the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all" (Psa. 103:19). First, a word concerning the need for God to govern the material world. Suppose the opposite for a moment. For the sake of argument, let us say that God created the world, designed and fixed certain laws (which men term "the laws of Nature"), and that He then withdrew, leaving the world to its fortune and the out-working of these laws. In such a case, we should have a world over which there was no intelligent, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible An Exhortation to Love God
1. An exhortation. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 23). There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. It is not so easy to love God as most imagine. The affection of love is natural, but the grace is not. Men are by nature haters of God (Rom. i. 30). The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. They fear God, …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It.
1. A general summary of what is contained in the previous part of the work. A transition to the doctrine of prayer. Its connection with the subject of faith. 2. Prayer defined. Its necessity and use. 3. Objection, that prayer seems useless, because God already knows our wants. Answer, from the institution and end of prayer. Confirmation by example. Its necessity and propriety. Perpetually reminds us of our duty, and leads to meditation on divine providence. Conclusion. Prayer a most useful exercise. …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 9:16 NIVJudges 9:16 NLTJudges 9:16 ESVJudges 9:16 NASBJudges 9:16 KJV
Judges 9:16 Commentaries
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