Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. And Abimelech stayed in ArumahThe name "Abimelech" means "my father is king" in Hebrew, reflecting his ambition and self-proclaimed authority. Abimelech, a son of Gideon, sought power through ruthless means, contrasting with his father's legacy. "Stayed" suggests a temporary residence, indicating Abimelech's strategic positioning. "Arumah" is a location whose exact site is uncertain, but it is believed to be near Shechem. This place served as a base for Abimelech, highlighting his tactical approach to control the region. Historically, this reflects the turbulent period of the Judges, where local leaders often vied for power amidst Israel's decentralized tribal system. and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem
"Zebul" was the ruler of Shechem under Abimelech's authority. His name means "exalted" or "prince," suggesting a position of influence. Zebul's actions demonstrate loyalty to Abimelech, as he actively worked to maintain his master's control over Shechem. "Drove" implies forceful expulsion, indicating the conflict and tension within the city. "Gaal" means "loathing" or "abhorrence," and he was a challenger to Abimelech's rule, representing internal dissent. "His brothers" signifies familial alliances, common in ancient Near Eastern power struggles. "Shechem" was a significant city in Israel's history, a center of covenant renewal and tribal assembly. The expulsion of Gaal and his brothers underscores the instability and factionalism prevalent during the time of the Judges, as well as the consequences of abandoning God's covenantal guidance. This verse serves as a reminder of the chaos that ensues when leaders prioritize personal ambition over divine direction. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbimelechThe son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), who declared himself king over Shechem and surrounding areas. His rule is marked by treachery and violence. 2. ArumahA location where Abimelech stayed. Its exact location is uncertain, but it is believed to be near Shechem. 3. ZebulThe ruler of the city of Shechem under Abimelech's authority. He played a key role in maintaining Abimelech's power by expelling Gaal. 4. GaalA man who opposed Abimelech and sought to lead a rebellion against him. He gained temporary support from the people of Shechem. 5. ShechemAn ancient city with significant historical and religious importance in Israel. It was a center of conflict during Abimelech's reign. Teaching Points The Dangers of Ambition and PowerAbimelech's account warns against the pursuit of power for selfish reasons. His ambition led to destruction and chaos. The Role of LeadershipZebul's actions show the influence and responsibility of leaders. Leaders must act with integrity and wisdom, aligning with God's will. Consequences of RebellionGaal's failed rebellion illustrates the futility of opposing God's established order without His guidance. God's Sovereignty in Human AffairsDespite human schemes, God's purposes prevail. Abimelech's temporary success was ultimately part of God's plan to judge and correct Israel. Community and AccountabilityThe events in Shechem highlight the importance of community discernment and accountability in leadership decisions. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Abimelech's ambition compare to other biblical figures who sought power, and what were the outcomes? 2. In what ways can we see the consequences of pride and rebellion in our own lives, and how can we guard against them? 3. How does the account of Abimelech and Gaal illustrate the principle of sowing and reaping found in Galatians 6:7? 4. What lessons can we learn from Zebul's role in maintaining order in Shechem, and how can we apply these lessons to leadership in our communities? 5. How does the account of Abimelech challenge us to trust in God's sovereignty, even when human leadership fails? Connections to Other Scriptures Judges 8Provides background on Gideon, Abimelech's father, and the events leading to Abimelech's rise to power. 1 Samuel 8Offers a parallel in Israel's history where the people demand a king, highlighting the dangers of human leadership over divine guidance. Proverbs 16:18Relates to the theme of pride and downfall, as seen in Abimelech's account. Galatians 6:7Connects to the principle of sowing and reaping, evident in the consequences faced by Abimelech and his followers. 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 Abideth, Abimelech, Abim'elech, Arumah, Aru'mah, Brethren, Brothers, Casteth, Drove, Dwell, Dwelling, Dwelt, Gaal, Ga'al, Kinsmen, Relatives, Shechem, Stayed, Thrust, ZebulDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 9:26-41 5575 talk, idle Judges 9:39-45 5214 attack 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 9:41 NIVJudges 9:41 NLTJudges 9:41 ESVJudges 9:41 NASBJudges 9:41 KJV
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