Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

    DateVersionReading Plan
    March 31, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

    Judges 9-10

    Observation & Interpretation

    Chapter 9 follows Gideon’s death, when his son, Abimelech, commissioned his relatives and family to ask whether it was better for Shechem to be ruled by seventy of the sons of Jerubaal (Gideon) or one man. The hearts of the men of Shechem were inclined to follow Abimelech and he proceeded to kill all seventy of his brothers except Jotham. When this was told Jotham, he addressed the leaders of Shechem with a parable of trees. Quoting Jensen, the BBC describes the parable:

    Using the figure of a republic of trees electing a king, he pictured Israel’s conduct. He spoke of Gideon and his sons as the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine, who wisely refused to leave their God-appointed places of usefulness in order to go and reign over the trees. But he likened Abimelech to a bramble, who not only eagerly accepted the invitation but warned that he would destroy the cedars of Lebanon if the trees did not elect him king.

    Jotham told them that if they had acted in good faith, then they should rejoice in Abimelech and let him rejoice in them. But, if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech. Jotham then ran away and lived in Beer because of his brother, Abimelech.

    Abimelech ruled over Israel three years and God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against Abimelech and Gaal, son of Ebed, “used the harvest festival as the occasion to call for a rebellion against Abimelech” (BBC). Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal and his anger was kindled. Zebule called for an ambush against Gaal that was to be conducted at night. Abimelech and all his men rose early and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. When Gaal saw the people, he told Zebul, but Zebul told Gaal that he was mistaking the people for the shadow of the mountains. They exchanged a second time and Zebul challenged Gaal to go out and fight against Abimelech whom he despised. Gaal fought against Abimelech and Gaal fled before him. Many fell wounded at the gate and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so they could not dwell at Shechem.

    Upon hearing this, Abimelech set an ambush against Shechem which resulted in the slaying of all people and the city being sown in salt. “Nearby was the tower of Shechem, where there was a temple of the god Berith. The people of the tower hid in a large room of the temple. Abimelech and his men took boughs from the forest of nearby Mount Zalmon and made a huge fire over the stronghold. About a thousand men and women perished in the inferno.” (BBC). However, in capturing Thebez, a woman dropped a large millstone on to Abimelech and crushed his skull. Abimelech his armor bearer to thrust him through lest they say a woman killed him. The armor bearer did so and the people departed to their homes when they saw that Abimelech was dead. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech which he committed in the killing of his seventy brothers. God had also returned the evil of Shechem on their heads with the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubaal.

    Application

    The closing of chapter 9 again gives divine context to preceding events. The actions of Abimelech were allowed to transpire as part of God’s plan, but both Abimelech and Shechem eventually met their just end. While it may seem at times that evil is prevailing or that the wicked prosper, believers need to rest in the fact that there is a much greater narrative unfolding. We must surrender to the fact that there is far more happening than what our feeble, narrow perspective can grasp, that God is wholly righteous and will return every evil in perfect justice.

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