Abimelech murdered his 70 half-brothers to become king of Shechem. He manipulated his mother's family to gain power. Jotham warned the people through a parable about choosing a righteous leader over Abimelech. Abimelech sowed discord and the people turned against him. God repaid Abimelech for his wicked deeds and the people suffered from civil war.

1. Family Feud
Lesson Passages:
Judges 9:1-9, 14-15, 56-57
Background Passage:
Judges 8:22 – 12:15

3. Ancient
‘Billboards’
Pictured:
A potsherd from
Thebe dating back to
the 14th century
BCE shows a nude
fertility goddess of
Canaan.
Perhaps it is Astarte
riding a horse.
Themes?
How about:
•Success
•Sensuality (illicit)
•Freedom
•Power
“Join now!”

4. Judges 3 - OTHNIEL, EHUD,SHAMGAR
● Othniel, of Debir, south of Hebron,
saved Israel from the Mesopotamians,
who invaded from the northeast.
● Ehud saved Israel from Moabites,
Ammonites, and Amalekites.
The story of how he used his left-
God was handedness to kill Eglon, king of Moab,
“trying” as
is told in graphic detail.
Supreme Judge, to
deliver ● The Moabites were descendants of
His
people… They occupied the tableland east of
Lot.
All that He required
was their _____ Sea. Their god, Chemosh, was
the Dead
? worshiped by human sacrifice. They had
(Cooperation)!
repeated wars with Israel.
● The Ammonites were descendants of
Lot. Their territory was next to Moab,
beginning about 30 miles E. of the
Jordan. Their god Molech was
worshiped by the burning of little children.
Moab and Ammon ancestors were
produced from an incestuous relationship
(Gen.19:30–38).

5. Events in Gideon’s life (Judg. 6 – 8:32)
1. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon at Ophrah as he
was beating out wheat in the winepress (6: 11-18).
2. Gideon’s offering consumed by fire (6: 19–24).
3. Gideon’s destroyed the altar of Baal by night (6: 25-27).
4. Gideon “put out the fleece” twice for a “sign” (6: 36-40).
5. Gideon reduced his army from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300 (7: 2-
8); he routed the Midianites with trumpets, pitchers, and
torches (7: 16-22).
6. Oreb and Zeeb killed by the Ephraim-ites (7: 24 - 8:3).
7. Gideon took revenge on the men of Succoth and Penuel, for
not giving his army bread (8: 5-9, 14-17).
8. Gideon killed Midianite kings Zebah & Zalmunna, in rightful
revenge for their murdering his brothers at Tabor (8: 18-21).
9. Gideon made a gold ephod for himself, which led the people
back toward idolatry (8: 24-27).
Nelsons complete book of Bible maps & charts: Old and New Testaments (Rev. & updated ed.)

18. Servitude & battles vs.
Midianites
Logos maps

19. Completing battles vs. Midian, & Gideon’s legacy (Jdg. 8)
• Ephraim’s anger (jealousy) for NOT being in the fight is answered by
Gideon. He had invited them.
• Pursuing some of the rulers of Midian, Gideon is denied aid
traitorously by Succoth and Penuel. He warns, then later repays
their desertions with rightful vengeance
• Gideon ruled in peace after this for 40 years
• He was offered kingship, but declined it
• Yet, in his remaining life, he
– ..had 70 sons from many wives, “plus” a foreign concubine from
more distant Shechem. Their son was Abimelech.
– ..created for his use an ephod of gold spoils, which sat in his
house, but all Israel paid homage to it -- so it became a snare
– He sought security in his many sons, wealth and influence – even
though not “King”
 How can similar ‘heart leanings’ hurt a family or church
(yours)?

20. Beware Manipulative Appeals (Judg. 9: 1-6)
1
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s
kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say, I
pray you, 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 man rule
over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” 3 And his
mother’s kinsmen spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all
the men of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they
said, “He is our brother.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of
the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and foolhardy
men who followed him. 5 And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and slew
his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham,
the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of
Shechem gathered together and all of Beth-millo, and they went and made
Abimelech king by the oak (terebinth) of the pillar at Shechem.
•Abimelech was linked most to his mother’s kin.
•‘..one stone’ meant public slaughtering: Murder X 70! Note 70 ‘coins’
•How did he use his mom’s family’s “softer’ ambitions,to become King?
•Satan fights God as Destroyer, thief, murderer, liar (Jn.8:44,10:10)
How do we know if we are being seduced thru our “lofty” ambitions?

21. Choose Self-Giving Service (Judg. 9: 7-9) []
7
When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount
Gerizim and shouted to them, “Hear me, men of Shechem, that God
may hear you. 8 One time the trees went forth to anoint a king over
them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us. 9 But the olive tree
said to them, Should I leave my fatness, by which God and man are
honored, and go to wave over the trees?”
“Interesting” that God preserved a remnant (Jotham), for His work!
No plot can stand against God’s will & judgment (Is. 54:17; Matt. 16:18)
We must pray that WE are standing in God’s will, with Him! (Matt. 6:13)
Mt. Gerizim was a ‘sacred’ spot, to focus the attention of Shechem’ites
Jotham fought with the effective Weapon he had: God’s Words
(thoughts)!
His parable had an olive tree ‘fat’ with oil; continues w/ fig tree & grapes
What’s more important, bearing fruit of character for God’s work, or
‘success’?
Can selfish ambition, ignoring God, lead to spiritual death? (Matt.7:13)
Jesus warned against serving Mammon, our world’s ‘god’ of security!!...

22. What “success doors” should we trust in? []
Luke 16:12–17 (AMP) 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which
belongs to another, who will give you that which is your own [that is, the
true riches]? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches,
or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).
14
Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all
these things [taken together], and they began to sneer at and ridicule
and scoff at Him. 15 But He said to them, You are the ones who declare
yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts.
For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable
and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. 16 Until John
came, there were the Law & the Prophets; since then the good news of
the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone strives
violently to go in [would force his own way rather than God’s way into
it]. 17 Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot
of the Law to fail and become void.
Luke 13:24 24
Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves
through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

23. Beware Offers of False Security (Judg. 9: 14-15)
10
Then the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us. 11 But
the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit
and go to wave over the trees? 12 Then the trees said to the vine
(grapevine), You come and reign over us. 13 And the vine (grapevine)
replied, Should I leave my new wine, which rejoices God and man, and
go to wave over the trees?
14
Then all the trees said to the bramble, You come and reign over us. 15
And the bramble said to the trees, If in good faith you are anointing me
king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire
come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
•Jotham next reminded the Shechem-ites how his father Gideon had
served them honorably – delivered them from their enemies, and judged
well, with peace.
•He left them the decision to fully follow Abimelech, or to reject this
‘bramble’ (thorn or briar) Abimelech
•He then (understandably) fled in fear from his “brother” Abimelech

24. The consequences of Selfish Ambition (Judg. 9: 56-57)
Judges 9:23 23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the
men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with
Abimelech,
:24-54 Another evil, ambitious man Gaal rose up and plotted against
Abimelech, to overthrow him. In the battles that followed, Abimelech
killed many more people of Shechem – and then he himself was killed.
Judges 9:55–57 (AMP) : 55 And when the men of Israel saw that
Abimelech was dead, they departed each man to his home. 56 Thus God
repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father
[Gideon] by slaying his seventy brothers; 57 And all the wickedness of
the men of Shechem God repaid upon their heads and caused to come
upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.
God served justice, restored peace, and His purposes were continued.
“Case dismissed”: this trial was Over!

25. Case Summary
Abimelech (of Manasseh) -- Son of Gideon by a
concubine (Judg. 8:33–9:57, also 2 Sam. 11:21)
-- Judge GOD Presiding. All Rise!
1.Abimelech slew all his half brothers (70) except Jotham, the
youngest (9:5).
2.Abimelech defeated Gaal, who conspired against him (9:26-41).
3.Abimelech captured Shechem and razed the city (9:42–49).
4.At Thebez a woman threw a millstone which hit Abimelech on
the head; Abimelech then had his armor-bearer kill him with a
sword (9:50-54).
Oppression: the damages this time were a very costly Civil War,
not foreign enemies
Nelsons complete book of Bible maps & charts: Old and New Testaments (Rev. and updated ed.)

26. For us: the ‘fruits’ of Selfish Ambition (Jam. 3:16-18)
16
For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry & selfish
ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion)
and all sorts of evil & vile practices.
17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is
peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to
reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and
straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering,
and insincerity).
18
And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought
and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for
and make peace.
•Blessed are the peacemakers… sons of God (born again, New Life)
•Decide to NOT be swayed by the god of ambition & false security,
Mammon
•Don’t seek riches (1 Tim. 6:10, 2 Tim. 3:1-7)
•Christ has it ALL (Col. 2:3)
•We are to be ‘ONLY’ servants of the King! (Luke 22:25-27)
•

27. (Backups)

28. Two Ways! See Deut. 29-30
E
|
N —|— S
|
Mt. Gerizim Mt. Ebal W
Mt. Ebal Mt. Gerizim
“And these [tribes]
The Amphitheather
Shechem “These [tribes] shall
shall stand on Mount stand on Mount
Ebal to pronounce Gerizim to bless the
the curse [for people, when you
disobedience]: have passed over
Reuben, Gad, Asher, the Jordan: Simeon,
Zebulun, Dan, and Levi, Judah,
Naphtali.” – Deut. Issachar, Joseph’s
27:13 [sons], and
Benjamin.” – Deut.
27:12