Judges 9:50-57

Judges 9:50-57

[50] Abimelech  to Thebez,  and encamped  against Thebez,  and took  [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  it 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 armourbearer,  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,  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 Shechem  did God  render  upon their heads:  and upon them came  the curse  of Jotham  the son  of Jerubbaal. 

What does Judges 9:50-57 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Abimelech suffered an ignominious death suitable to a man of his character. Thebez ( Judges 9:50) was probably another name for Tirzah northeast of Shechem. [1] The modern town is Tubas. The upper millstone the woman threw down on Abimelech was probably about18 inches in diameter. [2] Again, a woman proved to be the deliverer of her people, this time from an Israelite tyrant out of control. When Abimelech died, his army dissolved ( Judges 9:55). The writer of the Book of Judges ascribed his death and the fate of the Shechemites to God, who punished them for their wickedness ( Judges 9:56-57; cf. Judges 9:32). Jotham"s fable proved prophetic ( Judges 9:57). This first attempt to set up a monarchy in Israel failed miserably.
"Abimelech"s request to be finished off by his armor-bearer is similar to Saul"s later request, so as to avoid dishonor (see 1 Samuel 31:4). Thus, the careers of Israel"s first self-made king, Abimelech, and first divinely designated king, Saul, end in disgrace. Abimelech is an idolater from the beginning, and Saul is rejected by God for disobeying God"s explicit command ( 1 Samuel 15)." [3]
That the "men of Israel" ( Judges 9:55) would follow such a man as Abimelech provides a sad commentary on the moral and spiritual level of God"s people at this time. This is what incomplete obedience to God"s Law and compromise with His enemies produced. From another perspective, God used Abimelech to punish the Canaanites in Shechem and its vicinity. In this sense he was God"s instrument. Perhaps this is part of the reason the Spirit of God chose to record as much of Abimelech"s life as we have here. [4]
"In this book [5] we observe the mercy of God at work in as sharp relief as anywhere else in Scripture. The greatest threats to Israel"s existence do not come from outside enemies who may occasionally oppress them. Israel"s most serious enemy is within. She is a nation that appears determined to destroy herself. Only the gracious intervention of God prevents this from happening." [6]
"... there seems to be a pattern that begins with the story of Gideon, which is a pivotal turning point in the book of Judges ... Each major judge"s administration concludes with or is followed by Israelite-on-Israelite violence. The first two cycles are quite similar. Gideon (chaps6-8) is followed by Abimelech"s violent rule (chap9), and then there is a respite ( Judges 10:1-5). Jephthah"s administration ( Judges 10:6 to Judges 12:7) ends in civil war ( Judges 12:1-6), and then there is another respite ( Judges 12:8-15). Samson"s career (chaps13-16) is followed by more violence, including a bloody civil war (chaps17-21); but this time there is no relief. The book of Judges ends in chaos." [7]