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. "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." All rights reserved. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. 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. Thus Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against him, as if they had him in their power. a. Absolutely immaculate Himself, He was made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in Him who for us by death annulled him that had the power of death, and gave us out of that defeat our unfailing comfort. threescore and ten persons--A round number is used, but it is evident that two are wanting to complete that number. Nor should we wonder at it. We have come to the close as far as the sequence of persons and of events is concerned. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. i. a. His victories had then been as holy as they were brilliant; for he surely needed not to have defiled his Nazariteship by an unholy marriage in order to have punished the Philistines. i. Beth Millo: The word millo derives from a verb meaning to be filled, and originally referred to a rampart or earthwork; but its association with fortifications may have developed into a reference to fortresses generally. When a suitable occasion arose and Abimelech was in another town, a group of Shechemites plotted to overthrow him. Judges 9:8-15 : Trees Choosing a King - New Christian Bible Study even when God gave them one in a man after His own heart, we then trace greater abominations under the lines either of those who broke off in self-will or of those who turned the line of promise to nothing but corruption. 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. His application is very close and plain. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. 23. And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood at the entering of the gate of the city: and two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and they killed them. They will get you Baptized. Their keenest feelings were in favour of the Levite and his concubine, wounded to the quick by the abominations of the men of Gibeah; and therefore, whatever of human affection may be in evidence, we certainly learn how little faith Jehovah could then find in the land of Israel. "Now gentle Jesus meek and mild, look upon this little child." For forty years the people groaned under their hard mastery. Contrariwise it was courted and continued down to the captivity. The ruin of Christianity was when two systems so distinct got confounded. Ah! It appears to me that the Spirit of God brings in this little notice of his judging Israel here in order to show that this is the normal close of his history. 5 Samson went down to Timnah. Therefore is it explained with great care. And shall I leave my sweetness, saith the fig-tree, and my good fruit (Judges 9:11; Judges 9:11), and go to be promoted over the trees? In Him we may confide, who loves us to the end. In short Samson appears to me a man with as little, or as low, an appreciation of what it was to fight the battles of the Lord, as God had been pleased to use in any epoch throughout inspired history. For what can be more humiliating than that one's death should be more important than one's life? He did this, but in a way that they never imagined he hired worthless and reckless men to kill all his brothers, making certain there would never be a challenger to his leadership. I presume that the reason why these incidents are not given before in the order of time may have been that, if inserted earlier, it would have completely interrupted the course of the history, and the main instruction of the book of Judges. Still more is what follows; for God fails not to deal with us on our own ground. i. Judges 9:8-15 - BibleGateway The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the town, as it is nearer to the plain. But what a God we have to do with, as Samson had! Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? is he not the son of Jerubbaal? What's best? a. He reminds them of the many good services his father had done for them, Judges 9:17; Judges 9:17. The people took refuge in the stronghold, which was set on fire, and all in it perished. 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! And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them. And so Abimelech led a group of vain fellows and they came to the houses of Gideon's sons and they wiped them all out with the exception of just one of his sons, Jotham. 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? 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. The bramble was too low to give shelter to any tree; and so far from being able to consume others, that the smallest fire will reduce it to ashes, and that in the shortest time. Indeed, for Him to obey in such a world must have been suffering It could not be otherwise. . 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. Judges 9 Commentary So, heres the secret the end of Judges chapter 8 here shows us how Israel did wrong to God. These features reflect the authors unambiguous stance toward the nation and the characters: Israel has been totally Canaanized; Baal has contended for himself and prevailed." Judges 9:1-6 . . Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?" And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, and lying there in wait. He could not in their then condition employ vessels of greater moral worth. The title of the children of Israel therefore to that land was indefeasible. And be assured, brethren, that in an evil world patience is morally much beyond power. Reign over us! His heart was glad of a better living and of a larger sphere (verses 19, 20), as he goes off from the house of Micah with the lawless children of Dan to blot out Laish with fire and sword, and call their new city after their own name, where the graven image was set up, and a succession that failed not till the day of the captivity of the land; for error takes root faster, and bears fruit more luxuriantly as well as permanently than the truth. He could tell his troops to do as I have done, and they did. It is the expression of the agent of divine power in no way the seal of redemption or the earnest of the inheritance, as we know Him dwelling in us now since the shedding of the blood of Jesus. And this, I need scarce say, is still more due on the score of brotherly relation and divine love, not merely on the ground of that which we might expect for our own souls. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. The result in the type alas! says Jephthah, "Jehovah God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?" Then the trees said to the vine, Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Alas! There is little moral elevation in Samson, little in any way to command respect or love. c. Where indeed is your mouth now: When Zebul knew that Gaal was at a disadvantage, he could not resist rebuking him for his proud, arrogant words against Abimelech, an enemy he could not defeat. Judges 9:8 Jephthah proves in the most triumphant way that the right was all on their side. Start you journey by obeying God's First Commandment given to New Testament Believers in Christ found in Acts 2:38. There was no occasion at all for the trees to choose a king; they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted (Psalms 104:16) and which therefore he will protect. Samson made great destruction among the Philistines. Judges 9:8-15 - BibliaPlus WebIn Judges 9:8-15, Jotham conveys a message about the trees speaking amongst themselves while seeking a king. 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 way of instruction by parables is an ancient way, and very useful, especially to give reproofs by. 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. But the vine said to them, So, the men of Shechem agreed to accept Abimelech as the new leader perhaps even the king of Israel. When they had it in their thoughts to choose a king they did not offer the government to the stately cedar, or the lofty pine, which are only for show and shade, and not otherwise useful till they are cut down, but to the fruit-trees, the vine and the olive. i. Nevertheless we learn even from the lowest He deigned to work by that, while doubtless there was a most humiliating condition in Israel, God's rights were maintained for His people. His secret was to keep his hair uncut, with all strength annexed to 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. But then, how can he claim that God will listen to the people if they listen to him (Jotham)? (Judges 9:1-57), On Tola and Jair (Judges 10:1-18) we need not pause; but in Jephthah again we have solemn issues brought out But here again is found the same brand of what was worthless or untowardly in the instruments that God used in a day of declension "Jephthah the Gileadite," we are told in Judges 11:1-40, "was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot." A very reprehensible action on the part of Jerubbaal, unconscionable. He knew right well that the presence of the Amorites upon their skirts would be a continual snare and evil. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. In that image we have the enemy in great power, but God infinitely above him, able as well as seeing fit to use the least worthy vessel of His power, and out of the slain enemy to furnish the sweetest refreshment. 2. But the fig tree said to them, Abimelech then killed all of his seventy brothers other than the youngest one of his brothers who escaped. "And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days, saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? Of course, that's where Jesus was addressing so many people, and also they're at the Temple Mount where Jesus addressed so many people.So this Jotham, son of Gideon, the one that Abimelech didn't kill, went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and here is Shechem down below. It is an instance of the same thing that we have often seen before in other forms. 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? ., p. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. It seems therefore that the two extremes of moral weakness and of outward strength find each its height in this extraordinary character. it is no new thing to faith; Jesus knew it to the bottom. i. Abimelech, the son of his maidservant: Abimelechs mother is called a slave girl, a term usually referring to a wifes servant who is also a concubine, such as Hagar or Bilhah. (Wolf). He has no doubt secrets of grace above all difficulties and wrongs: of this we cannot doubt for a moment; and indeed we have abundant proofs of it here. You said, you know, if he were just here I'd handle him.". In due time the child was born, "and the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. Chapter 9Now here's what happened. Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. WebJudges Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) Bible Study Tools Join PLUS Login. The condensed moral of the whole fable is this: Weak, worthless, and wicked men, will ever be foremost to thrust themselves into power; and, in the end, to bring ruin upon themselves, and on the unhappy people over whom they preside. You'd never come up for sure.Well now there was this woman in the tower and she had a piece of a millstone. Jotham, the brother who escaped, warned the Shechemites in a parable of the trouble they would bring upon themselves. But we are sanctified by the Spirit unto the obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, and are called to obey, as the wife her husband. When we really are found in sorrow, and in circumstances that call for sorrow, before Jehovah, the heart is open to feel for the wrong-doer. This was as if a man should run into a stack of straw or barrel of gunpowder, to secure himself from a raging fire. So it was a pretty good-sized tower, actually. In order to have communion, we must have some good which is shared together. what shadow or protection can there be in a bramble? They help ius to translate the great concepts of faith into practical action. Jotham gave a curse against the people of Shechem and Abimelech, because they chose Abimelech, as the new Judge or King. Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. Let no man question that Samson was in prison or that he lost his eyes for nothing. What he felt was that these lands had once been his lands, and that the children of Israel now possessed them. Jotham (lit. he fell, as did Adam at the beginning, and all since save one Christ. "Art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? ". We have here one of the strangest and most humbling of histories recorded in Scripture, and withal singularly marking that very truth that we have so often ere this referred to: how little moral strength keeps pace with physical power as it wrought in and by Samson. Their covenant with Baal, that image of jealousy (Ezekiel 8:3), was the cause of their ruin. The death of Abimelech, fulfilling Jotham's curse, ver. To anoint a king over them.Evidently the thought of royalty was, so to speak, in the air. It is interesting to find from this passing allusion that the custom of anointing a king must have prevailed among the neighbouring nations. a. Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it: After his brutal victory at the tower of Shechem, Abimelech probably thought he was an expert at attacking towers. Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? In it, 1. Web35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. Nor ought anyone to allow a suspicion until he has the certainty of that which can be accounted for in no way save by guilt. "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! 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. 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). Brambles bore no fruit and offered no shelter or protection. And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Never was there failure of divine power with Samson against the foe; but moreover the pitifulness of Jehovah is marked towards His poor servant (for did He disdain when the thirsty man called on Himself, as he cried to God in his distress?). He went to Thebez and attacked the city and the tower there. Now Mount Gerizim is a pretty good, you know, climb to get up to the top of the mountain and he knew that he had a good running distance on the guy. On them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal: God had warned the men of Shechem through Jotham. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. And so in one of those instances where positions, "Okay, now where's your mouth man? The slaughter of the Shechemites, ver. If this be submitted to (and you might more consistently reject the Bible altogether, if you do not submit), one sees the hollowness and falsehood of sitting in judgment upon it: for who can question that to doubt that which comes directly from God Himself would be to take the place, not merely of an unbeliever, but of a blasphemer or an atheist? Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. i. So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. 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). It matters not what is the apparent good that is to be gained, or what may be the mischief that is to be avoided: the only place that becomes a believer is obedience. ABIMELECH IS MADE KING BY THE SHECHEMITES. Acts 2:38 tells the ONLY WAY one receives the gift of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins is at adult full immersion Baptism. But where was there such devotedness in doing His Father's will? After this we see the Philistines the object of the severest chastisement from Samson, who smote "them hip and thigh with a great slaughter, and went down and dwelt at the top of the rock Etam." We have seen how grace overruled, broke up an evil association before it was consummated, and gave him righteous ground to take vengeance on the Philistines, followed by his judging Israel for twenty years. Is not this an instructive as well as striking fact? And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place. Undoubtedly the desire of his own importance and aggrandizement is but too manifest; but when he enters upon the service itself, he not only takes care that the right should be felt by Israel to be indisputably with them, but that this should be known and pressed on the conscience of his adversary. And so when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. ii. But it need surprise none that the proper history of this judge terminates according to the mind of God here; for what has the Lord to tell in the next chapter? go out, now, and fight with them ( Judges 9:29-38 ). "And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. a. Man is as weak and erring as God is mighty and good: these two things characterise the book from beginning to end. Judges 9 Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and god to be promoted over the trees? So it was pressed on Israel then. Had not He a right to do so? Treat Satan as Satan when he betrays himself; and what can he do against the name of the Lord? 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Meanwhile the man, morally speaking, is ruined his testimony to His name being worse than lost. And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us. and they said unto the olive tree, reign thou over us; a fit emblem of a good man, endowed with excellent virtues and qualifications for good, as David king of Israel, who is compared to such a tree, Psalm 52:8, Jarchi applies this to Othniel the first judge; but it may be better applied to Gideon, an excellent good man, full of fruits of righteousness, and eminently useful, and to whom kingly government was offered, and was refused by him; and the men of Shechem could scarcely fail of thinking of him, and applying it to him, as Jotham was delivering his fable. Jehovah listens, and His angel appears to the woman, who summons her husband, when both see the angel as he repeats his message with its solemn injunction. "Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man.". This makes their behaviour the more remarkable here. He decided to teach his subjects a lesson. This shows the problem of following a man who comes to power through violence. i. Here sound decibels are rising year by year and all of the sounds that we're subjected to the sound pollution. What a man sows he must reap: if he sows to the flesh, of the flesh he reaps corruption. Most likely, when we talk about parables, our thoughts immediately Be it remarked, that what drew out their unanimous condemnation was not an outrage done to God's name. ""Should I forsake the wine and so forth that cheers God and man to rule you? These verses contain the interpretation of the fable. You that go with me this year, I'll prove it to you, but the acoustics are tremendous. 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. . Could a people descend lower in human things? All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the trees; or, as the margin reads Parable of the Trees - Judges 9:8-15. Bright contrast between Samson and the man that overthrew Satan on that cross where He Himself reached the very climax of weakness! The condensed moral of the whole fable is this: Weak, worthless, and wicked men, will ever be foremost to thrust themselves into power; and, in the end, to bring ruin upon themselves, and on the unhappy people over whom they preside. (Clarke). So he stands up there and really tells them off and rebukes them for what they have done.Actually, he preaches sort of a parabolic type of a message. Judges 9:8 He aggravates their unkindness to his father's family. And go to sway over trees? Let none expect to do ill and fare well. "Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot;" yet here, though fallen lower than ever, we find power put forth under these deplorable circumstances. "And the olive tree said, "Should I leave my fatness and so forth and rule over you? 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Pride, look what it would do, even when you're dying, you know. It was Samson feeling for himself, yet not unpitied of the Lord; for there was One above Samson Who heard. Here Gideon had become your deliverer and he freed you from the hand of the Midianites and now this is the way you treat, you know, Gideon and his offspring. There is nothing good without His name. Even if God interfere and produce the direct opposite of the fleshly enjoyment which self-will had sought, it is in no way to the man's praise if God effects his purposes by his acts, spite of wrong and folly. But we must look a little into the great principles of divine truth that meet us in weighing the history of Samson. WebJudges 14:5-7. 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. 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. . Their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech: At the city of Shechem, Abimelech convinced his brothers on his mothers side to support him as king over his brothers on his fathers (Gideons) side. Therefore does the second part of the appendix (Judges 19:1-30; Judges 21:1-25) find a place directly afterwards. Judges 9:8-15 - Sermon Bible Commentary - BibliaPlus On the other hand, is there not real beauty in the obscurity in which Scripture treats a matter so painful? And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Take note! He would destroy all the people of Shechem, both those who went out to work in the fields and those back in the town who took shelter in the city stronghold (42-49). That those who are preferred to places of public trust and power must resolve to forego all their private interests and advantages, and sacrifice them to the good of the community. 2 Samuel 12:1-4; 2 Kings 14:9-10). Salem Media Group. 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 WebJudges 9:15 Commentaries: "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 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And his brethren, as we find, came up, took him away, and buried him. Such then was the bloody crisis at which a deliverer of Israel arrives in his unsparing resentment. WebCommentary, explanation and study verse by verse. What is to become of you then? In Samson's case, tested in a seemingly little sign but a sign of entire subjection to God, and this in separation from all others, it was obedience; not so in our case, where we have the highest treasure in earthen vessels, but obedience in everything, and this formed and guided by the Spirit according to the written word, now set in the fullest light, because seen in the person, and ways, and work, and glory of Christ. Samson is now absolutely isolated on the rock Etam. The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the town, as it is nearer to the plain. But there follows a second tale of excessive atrocity in a moral way, which begins in Judges 19:1-30. in terms expressly similar to the beginning ofJudges 18:1-31; Judges 18:1-31: "And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah." Not without faith, he was a combatant ready to fight the Philistines at any odds. Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves; for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; but you have risen up against my fathers house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother; if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.