Judges 9:42-49 – Abimelech Defeats Shechem
God has brought about the defeat of Gaal and, with him, many of the leaders of Shechem who aided Abimelech in his murder of the sons of Gideon, but God is not finished with the Shechemites. As we noted yesterday, after the battle, Abimelech took up residence at the nearby town of Arumah. The next day, the people of Shechem come out into the field. We are not told the reason for this. Whatever their reason for coming out, Abimelech decides to attack them. He divides his army into three forces. Leading one detachment to hold the city gates against people trying to flee to Shechem for refuge, he sends the other two forces to attack the people in the fields. Caught between these three forces, the Shechemites are slaughtered.
Abimelech then destroys the city and sows the ground with salt, making it impossible to grow crops there. The leaders still in the Tower of Shechem (the central stronghold of the city) take refuge in the temple of El-berith. (“El-berith” means “god of the covenant,” but this is not the covenant LORD God of Israel. This is the father of the gods in Canaanite mythology). Abimelech cuts some brushwood with an axe and gets his men each to do the same. Piling the brush against the house of El-berith, they set fire to the temple and burn the remaining people of Shechem alive – about one-thousand men and women. While God is not the Author of these sinful acts, He is in ultimate control over all these events. Here we see another example of His sovereignty by which He uses man’s evil intentions to bring about His good purposes. The LORD’s purpose of justice and the punishment of sin is brought about through the wicked actions of Abimelech and the Shechemites.
Questions
- How did the evil of the Shechemites bring about their destruction?
- How did God use Abimelech’s evil actions to bring about His justice?
Prayer Points
- Thank God that He defeats His enemies.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.