Is it not evident that Samson feebly knew what God was teaching him by the lion which he slew, and by the lion's carcase which he found with the honey in it? No way. If through the unction from the Holy One we know all, it is equally true that we all are but learners. "He judged Israel twenty years," is the repetition of the word at this point. They had won the land by the provoked fight which the Amorite had drawn them into. They did not wish to quarrel with the king of Heshbon, Amorite as he was, unless he were actually in the holy land; but it was of God that these Amorites, to their own ruin, would not let them pass peaceably through. 4. the house of Baal-berith--either the temple, or the place where this idol was worshipped; Baal-berith, "god of the covenant," by invocation of whom the league of cities was formed. He didnt believe that 68 of his brothers were murdered for the sake of truth and sincerity. And it was of the greatest importance that His people should be trained in this. ABIMELECH IS MADE KING BY THE SHECHEMITES. See what great swelling words of vanity he speaks (Judges 9:15; Judges 9:15), what promises he makes to his faithful subjects: Let them come and trust in my shadow: a goodly shadow to trust in! "Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon." Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. 1 - 6. Nor should we wonder at it. Yet he threatens with as much confidence as he promises: If you be not faithful, let fire come out of the bramble (a very unlikely thing to emit fire) and devour the cedars of Lebanon--more likely to catch fire, and be itself devoured. It was a shame that they needed to be put in mind of this. ''Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" "Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Nor was this the only intervention of the Lord, but personal succour follows at His hand. Go to your Bible and begin there to follow God's Word. We should each consider if God is warning us about something in the present time. with all the family of the house of his mother's father--Here is a striking instance of the evils of polygamy--one son has connections and interests totally alien to those of his brothers. WebAnd his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. ., p. It came about on the next day: With the resistance of Gaal defeated, Abimelech would find it easy to establish his control over the city of Shechem again. Thus it was proved that Israel had, in whatever light regarded, a valid title, not only from long-continued possession, but from a right founded on their conquest of one of the enemies devoted to destruction by God Himself, but an enemy who had wantonly attacked them, when they would have left him unharmed, as they would the Ammonite now. came with his brethren . The slaughter of the Shechemites, ver. 2. Alas! I feel pretty assured that he saw clearer morally without them than he had seen in any sense with them. Verses: PREVIOUS Judges 8 NEXT "And so they came to the bramble and said, "Come rule over us." You said, you know, if he were just here I'd handle him.". If his only desire is to destroy those who disagree, then he is much like the bramble plenty of good points, but no real substance for good. There is not a single jot in the Scriptures that God has written or ordered which is not worthy of Himself; nor is there the least possibility of improving either. Let fire come out - The propriety of the image is strictly preserved, for even the thorns of the worthless bramble might kindle a flame which would burn the stately cedars to the ground. He permitted that there should be no confidence in the peaceable intentions of Israel, for the very purpose of putting them in possession of the land. And the children of Israel enquired of Jehovah, for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days.". It was known, but intended to be so; but for all that the children of Israel, as Jephthah showed, would not go against the word of God. But we must look a little into the great principles of divine truth that meet us in weighing the history of Samson. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare Through highway robbery, the Shechemites created an atmosphere of insecurity and disorder, at the same time robbing Abimelech of his taxes (22-25). Verse Judges 9:15. And be assured, brethren, that in an evil world patience is morally much beyond power. ', To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. [2.] And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Take note! Being thus proved to be in arms without right, the king of Ammon was only so much the more fierce, as is usual with people when convicted of a wrong to which their will is engaged. He who could imbrue his hands in the blood of his brethren in order to get into power, was not likely to stop at any means to retain that power when possessed. If you have the correct spirit (i.e. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him." This graphically fulfilled the warning of Jotham earlier in the chapter (Judges 9:19-20). You that go with me this year, I'll prove it to you, but the acoustics are tremendous. Yet he is still alive when the tragic deed was done which had nearly uprooted the tribe of Benjamin in its results. is not this the people that you have despised? "And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. He gives a parable how that the trees of the forest came to the olive tree and they said, "Rule over us. If you need help in understanding God's Word visit The Church of Christ they will help you. The law was right there, but Israel refused to read or heed it. He got an opportunity of speaking to them from the top of Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessings, at the foot of which probably the Shechemites were, upon some occasion or other, gathered together (Josephus says, solemnizing a festival), and it seems they were willing to hear what he had to say. we next hear of Samson's visit to the Philistine woman who pleased him well: no small sin for an Israelite, as it is worse for a Christian, to marry one of the world. The ANSWER is: "Practice makes Perfect!" b. Beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem: Ironically, Abimelechs coronation took place at the same tree where Joshua had solemnly placed a copy of the law of God (Joshua 24:26). God's Word is the Truth see John 17:17). Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. c. Let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem: Jothams warning to the men of Shechem was that their unwise choice would come back to hurt them. 6. all the men of Shechem . That government involves a man in a great deal both of toil and care; he that is promoted over the trees must go up and down for them, and make himself a perfect drudge to business. It does not throw a veil, as man loves to do, over that which is uncomely and distressing in those that bear the name of the Lord; especially as the very object the Spirit of God has here in view is to show the frightful results of a vow so little weighed before God, not at all drawn from His guidance. The besieged city--the strong tower within--the men and women crowding its battlements--the fire applied to the doors, and even the huge fragments of stone dropping from the hands of one of the garrison on the heads of the assailants, are all well represented to the life--just as they are here described in the narrative of inspired truth [GOSS]. Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon follow. c. Let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon: The bramble warned that he would be an oppressive ruler and destroy anyone who disagreed with him. The danger was incomparably greater where the trial was to stand to the truth fully revealed and to walk in the Spirit, and not subjection to commandments and ritual observances. Once allow your soul to be sullied by judging those living oracles, and real faith in the Bible is gone as far as you are concerned. And the Sea of Galilee, same thing, the sound really carries. how many there are in these days of audacious free-thinking who are disposed to sit in judgment on His word, and give His revelation no credit for telling us the truth as it was and is. is he not the son of Jerubbaal? for oil and wine were used both at God's altars and at men's tables. He made us. But again, "And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." A certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelechs head and crushed his skull: At Thebez, a woman dropped a millstone on Abimelechs head and mortally wounded him. "To the church of" and "He who has an ear let him hear" Yes indeed God is ever present both as a protector and also as a Judge for we each make our own bed and we must all sleep in the bed we make for ourselves! He was crucified in weakness, but rose in the power of God; but there, instead of folly, instead of shame, instead of unhallowed alliance with the enemies of God, how does unsullied perfection shine in Him of whom we boast! b. Put your trust in my shadow.The mean leaves and bristling thorns of the rhamnus could afford no shadow to speak of, and even such as they could afford would be dangerous; but the fable is full of fine and biting irony. And the ladies would come and just pour their wheat in the little groove and as the millstone would go by and it'd grind the wheat into flour. This again leads to a bitter vengeance of the Philistines on those of Timnath who had served him so ill the very fate befalling them at last, to escape which at first the woman had lent herself to the basest treachery. Now therefore come by night, and the people that are with you, and lie in wait in the field: And it shall be, in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then may you do to them as you find occasion. Most likely, when we talk about parables, our thoughts immediately I have been reading/studying the Bible all my life; I am now 74 years old and in a wheelchair. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. And this is the great point for us that we can and ought to count on. Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to his uncles and all his mothers relatives and said to them, Ask all the leading men of Shechem, What do you think is best, that seventy men rule youal And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mothers relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the But, in order for us to know the sweetness of that care, it becomes us to care for Him, His name and glory. It seems therefore that the two extremes of moral weakness and of outward strength find each its height in this extraordinary character. "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines, and he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife" (Judges 14:1-20). Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (Judges 9:5; Judges 9:5), dealt plainly with the Shechemites, and his speech, which is here recorded, shows him to have been a man of such great ingenuity and wisdom, and really such an accomplished gentleman, that we cannot but the more lament the fall of Gideon's sons. Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mothers brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying, Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you? Remember that I am your own flesh and bone. And his mothers brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.. And here we confront not simply the old offence repeated, and in the grossest form of fleshly corruption, but along with it an infatuation as extraordinary as his degradation. Whatever then might be Samson's motives and conduct, it was the Holy One, as we are told, who prompted him against the aggressors of Israel. Judges 9:1-6 . And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them. You come and reign over us! These verses contain the interpretation of the fable. "It shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me." Their faith was owned; but it was of a sadly mingled and imperfect character. Nevertheless, I have little doubt that, though the dying hour of Samson brought more honour to God than all his life, its manner was in itself a chastening in its character; and in this, too, may one discern a representation of the condition to which Israel had come similar to what was noticed in the life and person of Samson. It was on this principle then that Jephthah pleads the righteousness of the cause that was now to be decided by the sword between Ammon and Israel. In them Jotham points out the base ingratitude of the people in raising Abimelech upon the ruin of Gideons house, and foretells the retribution which would fall upon both parties. Go out, if you will, and fight with them now. So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. WebJudges 9:8-15 New International Version 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Undoubtedly the children of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, for reasons of relationship at least, were exempted from the sentence to which God subjected the races of Canaan. Here God had to rebuke the people, even when morally right in the main, until the wrong their state and haste mixed up with it was purged out. He could not in their then condition employ vessels of greater moral worth. There had been in ancient times a link between Ammon and Moab with the children of Israel: a cloud of dishonour and of shame overhung them; yet a link there was, and God would have this at least to be never forgotten. He plainly intended to testify to their state by the agents whom He used for their good. Alas! It was ordered of God that it should spring from that tribe, which was more than any other marked, not merely by a weakness that portended danger to themselves, as we shall see, but by a moral laxity which would finally afford a suited subject, as indeed from the beginning it had been intimated prophetically in the last words of their father Jacob a-dying, for the fatal result of departure and apostasy from God. Let none expect to do ill and fare well. The man thus went forth in the confidence of his strength, and to outward appearance did things just to make the enemy feel what he could do, with as little exercise toward God as could well be found in one that feared Him. Jehovah at least was could not but be true to the secret. If I have spoken strongly, it is only, I trust, what becomes every believer. Of all the deliverers that grace ever raised up, there was not one who for personal prowess was to be compared with Samson; but of all those, where was the man who fell so habitually below even that which would have disgraced an ordinary Israelite? Abimelech was more like a tyrant than a king. (Wolf), ii. Respectfully submitted as my Scriptural understanding; I share with you what His Spirit has shared with my spirit. did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, while Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years?" So it was a pretty good-sized tower, actually. if a man attempts: to put himself under it for shelter, he will find it will be of no use to him, but harmful, since, the nearer and closer he comes to it, the more he will be scratched and torn by it: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon; signifying, that if they did not heartily submit to his government, and put confidence in him, and prove faithful to him, they should smart for it, and feel his wrath and vengeance, even the greatest men among them, comparable to the cedars of Lebanon; for thorns and brambles catching fire, as they easily do, or fire being put to them, as weak as they are, and placed under the tallest and strongest cedars, will soon fetch them down to the ground; and the words of the bramble, or Abimelech, proved true to the Shechemites, he is made to speak in this parable. 6 The Lords spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. (Compare Psalms 78:60-61) Such are the prominent points of instruction in this appendix. The result was that the Amorite lost his land. With a little exertion of voice, he could easily have been heard by the people of the city; for the hill so overhangs the valley, that a person from the side or summit would have no difficulty in speaking to listeners at the base. Unto the olive tree.This venerable and fruitful tree, with its silvery leaves and its grey cloud-like appearance at a distance, and its peculiar value and fruitfulness, would naturally first occur to the trees. To Samson, as we see, it was far different. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? But how perfectly He stood, though tried as none ever was or could be but Himself! JOTHAM BY A PARABLE REPROACHES THEM. So says he: "When Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh, then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. WebJudges 9:8. Bright contrast between Samson and the man that overthrew Satan on that cross where He Himself reached the very climax of weakness! But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day." The bramble, being chosen to the government, takes no time to consider whether he should accept it or no, but immediately, as if he had been born and bred to dominion, hectors, and assures them they shall find him as he found them. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the town, as it is nearer to the plain. The associations of such sites were very tenacious and it is of interest to note that Rehoboam went to Shechem, following the death of Solomon, to secure the acclimation of the Israelites although the city itself was in ruins at the time (1 Kings 12:1, 25). (Cundall). Nor are you thus called to believe anything like an extravagance, though it surely would be so if the Bible were a human book, and so to be treated like any other, which after all even infidels do not: witness their occupation with it and zeal against it. Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? A work begun under the name and influence of the devil is not likely to end to the glory of God, or to the welfare of man. (Clarke). b. He decided to teach his subjects a lesson. The woman then tells her husband of the angel's visit, and they both entreat Jehovah, Manoah particularly, that the man of God might be sent again. Nevetheless, Abimelech became the first person ever to be crowned king in Israel. He reminds them of the many good services his father had done for them, Judges 9:17; Judges 9:17. On his unshorn locks hung his invincible might by divine will. a. So dangerous is apt to be the reaction against one ever so honest; the more you have trusted, when you begin to doubt, the worse it is apt to be, even with poor erring man, who knows not what a serious thing it is. They had sought peace, and Sihon would have war. All rights reserved. . Thus we may find the most striking manifestations of power in men as disorderly as the Corinthian Christians; but the same persons are a plain proof that it is a far harder thing to do the will of the Lord, and harder still to suffer according to God, than to work any miracles whatever. And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. So it was. Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. Dear Searching (i.e. And go to sway over trees? Click on Abimelech for more of the story. Anything like full deliverance must await that day, itself a type of the day of Jehovah. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 7. he . It is at least certain that the whole business was heinously evil, and none the less because Micah settles down with the persuasion, "Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest" (ver. c. Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, A woman killed him.: Abimelech considered it manlier to be killed by his own armor bearer; but he was still dead afterward. Could, at the beck of the Philistine, there be found at once three thousand men so willing and prompt to betray the champion of Israel? We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. He would've been a good Mafia exterminator. Finally, the position was offered to the bramble, which not only produced nothing of value and was quite worthless as timber, but was a positive menace to the farmer who had to wage continual war against its encroachments. (Cundall), iii. . The chief administrator in Shechem pretended to be on their side, but secretly he sent news to Abimelech (26-33). "And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. It was the energy of His Spirit who thought of His people showing out by the way, as we have remarked, in that wayward man the fallen state to which they were reduced by their own sin, with the highest claims outwardly but morally in as low a condition as could then be conceived. The case before us, in Judges 17:1-13; Judges 18:1-31, is one where God was openly, deliberately, and systematically dishonoured. Planted in orchards they look not unlike apple trees, but the leaves are slender like willow leaves and silvery as they are turned up by the wind. "And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand.". WebJudges 14:5-7. We ought to be serving Hamor and his family, let them be the kings. He extricated failing Samson from the direct consequences of his sinful association; but He dealt retributively with treachery by the hands of their own people. 21. i. . It is well sometimes for all those who teach that they should be obliged to learn; well that they should be forced to feel that they do not know; an excellent moral lesson that they should confess it not only be conscious of it, but own it; for indeed the necessary claim of scripture is that it be confided in as the word of God, though it does not thence follow that we are competent to explain all. But when God and His word are in question, it ought to be a simple matter for a child of God. "As they did unto me, so have I done unto them." a. One could understand three thousand men of the Philistines; but to what a deplorable pass in Israel were things come, when three thousand men of the worthiest tribe were thus obedient to the Philistines, and joined against the strong deliverer to hand him over, bound a prisoner, to the tender mercies of those that hated him and despised them! How often it is ourselves who make the difficulties of which the enemy greedily avails himself against our own souls and His glory! And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. His application is very close and plain. Before Abimelechs sole surviving brother went into hiding, he uttered a protest against Abimelech that predicted the effect of his rule. But the time came when God would act upon that promise, and when those that disputed the title of God must pay the penalty. Now when Jotham heard that they had made Abimelech king, he went to the top of mount Gerizim ( Judges 9:5-7 ). The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon. With which they honor God and men, But He knows how to wake them up from such disgraceful insensibility. He made this speech from the top of Mount Gerizim, the mountain from which Israel heard the blessings of God pronounced upon the obedient (Deuteronomy 11:29 and 27:12; Joshua 8:33) about 150 years before. You can also change some of your preferences. Keep in mind that there was rule of law at this time. "And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And he was sore athirst, and called on Jehovah, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? III. Judges 9:22-49 . GAAL'S CONSPIRACY. 22. When Abimelech had reigned three years --His reign did not, probably at first, extend beyond Shechem; but by stealthy and progressive encroachments he subjected some of the neighboring towns to his sway. TO ANOINT A KING, i.e. Accepting of their offer at once: if ye in trust anoint me king over you; suspecting they were not hearty and cordial in their choice and call to the kingly authority over them: then come and put your trust in my shadow; promising protection to them as his subjects, requiring their confidence in him, and boasting of the good they should receive from him, as is common with wicked princes at their first entering on their office; but, alas! The fig-tree must lose its sweetness, its sweet retirement, sweet repose, and sweet conversation and contemplation, if it go to be promoted over the trees, and must undergo a constant fatigue. i. What courage and confidence may they not then cherish! There was but one thing really involved obedience. Then can we joy in Him, and it is our strength for all service, and is the spring of worship. b. etc. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Samson was afterwards about to put a riddle to the Philistines from this lion. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. He stands to it that they must never have an enemy unless it be God's enemy. Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, . . And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate. Gaal probably was not prepared for a siege; so he had little choice but to leave the city walls behind and confront Abimelech out in the open. (Wolf). And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah." . But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; and we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. This is an important principle. Yahweh is perfect, honest) stood on the same mountain where six of Israels tribes had declared the blessings of abiding by the Law of Yahweh and denounced the Shechemites for their foolish and wicked actions. We shall find too that Samson's feats of power, great as they were, in no way broke the neck of Philistine oppression. Web3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, He is related to us. 4 They gave him seventy shekels[ a] of Difficulties, where they exist for us, would only exercise faith in God. 308.]. I doubt that any believer, without inspiration, would have felt it desirable to write that verse, and many more, as God has done it. We come to look at a parable, the parable of the trees. The prophecy of Jotham was not to be immediately fulfilled. Judges 18:1-31 shows that the moral condition, especially of the priest-Levite, was as bad as the religious state. tales of the unusual washing machine, golden baseball league santa ana,