Judges 9:57
And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
And God also brought
The phrase begins with the acknowledgment of divine sovereignty and justice. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "Elohim," which emphasizes God's power and authority. The verb "brought" indicates an active role of God in the unfolding events, suggesting that God is not passive but actively involved in the moral order of the world. This reflects the biblical principle that God is a righteous judge who ensures that justice is ultimately served.

all the wickedness
"Wickedness" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which encompasses evil, wrongdoing, and moral corruption. The use of "all" signifies the totality and completeness of the judgment. This phrase underscores the biblical teaching that no sin is hidden from God and that He will address all forms of evil. It serves as a reminder of the comprehensive nature of divine justice.

of the men of Shechem
Shechem was a significant city in ancient Israel, with a rich history dating back to the time of Abraham. The "men of Shechem" refers to the inhabitants who conspired with Abimelech, Gideon's son, in his violent rise to power. Historically, Shechem was a place of covenant renewal, making their betrayal and wickedness even more poignant. This highlights the theme of covenant unfaithfulness and its consequences.

back upon their own heads
This phrase is a vivid depiction of retributive justice, where the consequences of one's actions return to affect the perpetrator. The imagery of something coming "back upon their own heads" suggests an inescapable and personal retribution. It aligns with the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where individuals face the outcomes of their actions.

and on them came the curse
The "curse" refers to the pronouncement made by Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, who prophesied doom upon Abimelech and the men of Shechem for their treachery. In biblical terms, a curse is a powerful declaration that invokes divine judgment. This phrase emphasizes the fulfillment of prophetic words and the seriousness of violating God's moral order.

of Jotham son of Jerubbaal
Jotham, whose name means "Yahweh is perfect," stands as a figure of righteousness and truth. "Jerubbaal" is another name for Gideon, meaning "let Baal contend," highlighting Gideon's role in opposing idolatry. Jotham's curse was not merely a personal vendetta but a declaration aligned with divine justice. This underscores the biblical theme that God uses His servants to speak truth and execute His will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The sovereign judge who enacts justice and brings about the consequences of wickedness.

2. Men of Shechem
The inhabitants of Shechem who conspired with Abimelech and committed acts of treachery and violence.

3. Abimelech
The son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who sought power through violence and treachery, ultimately meeting a violent end.

4. Jotham
The youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre and pronounced a curse upon Abimelech and the men of Shechem.

5. Jerubbaal (Gideon)
The father of Abimelech and Jotham, known for his role as a judge and leader of Israel.
Teaching Points
Divine Justice
God's justice is perfect and inevitable. He sees all actions and will bring about justice in His timing, as seen in the fate of Abimelech and the men of Shechem.

Consequences of Sin
Sin has consequences, and those who engage in wickedness will ultimately face the repercussions of their actions.

The Power of Words
Jotham's curse serves as a reminder of the power of words and the importance of speaking truth and justice.

God's Sovereignty
Even in the midst of human treachery and chaos, God remains in control and works out His purposes.

Repentance and Forgiveness
While this passage focuses on judgment, it also serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and the hope of forgiveness through Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of Abimelech and the men of Shechem illustrate the principle of sowing and reaping found in Galatians 6:7?

2. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty at work in the events of Judges 9, and how does this encourage us in our own lives?

3. How can the consequences faced by the men of Shechem serve as a warning for us today regarding the choices we make?

4. What role does Jotham's curse play in the account, and how does it demonstrate the power of words in the context of justice and truth?

5. How can we apply the lessons of divine justice and repentance from this passage to our personal walk with God and our interactions with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 32:35
This verse speaks of God's vengeance and recompense, highlighting the principle that God will repay wickedness in His time.

Galatians 6:7
This New Testament verse echoes the principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing that God is not mocked and that people will reap what they sow.

Proverbs 26:27
This proverb warns that those who dig a pit for others will fall into it themselves, illustrating the self-destructive nature of wickedness.
The Nemesis of UsurpationA.F. Muir Judges 9:22-57
People
Abimelech, Ebed, Gaal, Hamor, Jerubbaal, Jotham, Ophrah, Zalmon, Zebul
Places
Arumah, Beer, Beth-millo, Diviners' Oak, Lebanon, Midian, Mount Gerizim, Mount Zalmon, Ophrah, Shechem, Thebez, Tower of Shechem
Topics
Curse, Cursing, Evil, Fall, Heads, Jerubbaal, Jerub-baal, Jerubba'al, Jotham, Pay, Render, Requite, Returned, Shechem, Wickedness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Judges 9:56-57

     5493   retribution

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 Faith

Trials 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

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