The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 141 – Section 143
SECT. CXLI.
PReſently after Gideon was dead, the Iſraelites fell to Idolatry again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and worſhipped Baal-Berith for their god, (the Idol of the Shechemites) ſignifying the Lord of the Covenant, ſo called poſſibly becauſe when they made choice of him to be their Idol-god, they bound themſelves by Covenant to ſerve him (which poſſibly the Devil put them upon in imitation of God) and ſo by adhering to him they broke their Covenant with God, And they were now ſo beſotted with Idolatry, that they forgot the only true God, their great Deliverer, and wholly neglected his Worſhip and Service, and worſhipped only Idols. Neither ſhewed they themſelves grateful to Gideon (who had deſerved ſo well of them) neither did they ſhew kindneſs or ſeek the good and welfare of his Family. The people being thus generally corrupted, as the Lord had formerly puniſhed their Idolatry and Apoſtacy, by ſuffering ſome of the Neighbour-Nations to Invade them, and ſorely Afflict them, ſo now he reſolved to puniſh them by the Tyranny of One from among themſelves, even by Abimelech the Son of Gideon, their late Judge, who upon his Fathers death attempted to get to himſelf the Regal Power which his Father had ſo lately refuſed. To make way hereunto, he went preſently to Shechem, and there began to tamper with his Ʋncles, his Mothers Brothers, and the reſt of her Kindred, and employed them as his Inſtruments (being poſſibly of ſome Rank and Eſteem in Shechem) to ſee if they could draw the Inhabitants of that City to Aid and Aſſiſt him in his Project, not doubting but if he could effect this, he ſhould be able well enough to accompliſh the reſt of his Deſign. And thus by the Miſeries which this Son of a Concubine brought upon his Fathers Houſe, and the whole Kingdom, we may ſee that God did even in thoſe Times teſtifie his Diſpleaſure againſt their having ſeveral Wives and Concubines, though for the preſent He did permit it. But to proceed, Abimelech being come to Shechem, and addreſſing himſelf to his Kindred, and acquainting them with his Deſign, He deſires them to perſwade the men of Shechem to make him King. He tells them, That though his Father had in modeſty refuſed the Kingdom, yet it was fit now, according to their Profer, they ſhould ſettle it upon his Poſterity. Secondly, He perſwades them that his Brethren had a Plot upon the Kingdom to divide it among themſelves (though it does not appear they had any ſuch thought) and he ſhews them, that it were better for them to ſettle the Government upon Him alone, then to ſuffer themſelves to be under the Command of all Gideon's Sons. 3ly, He tells them, He was bone of their bone, and fleſh of their fleſh, and being of their own blood they might expect all kindneſs and favour from him; and further, it would be a great honour and advantage to them to have a King ſo nearly allied to them. Abimelech's Kindred ſeemed much pleaſed with what he had ſaid to them, and accordingly moved the buſineſs to the reſt of the men of Shechem, whoſe hearts readily inclined to favour Abimelech's deſign, becauſe he was their Kinſman. And in order to the carrying on thereof, they gave him ſeventy pieces of ſilver out of the Treaſure of their Idol-god Baal-Berith, wherewith he hired vain and light perſons to follow him, and theſe he armed that he might by their Aid and Aſſiſtance accompliſh what he had deſigned. And thus the money that had been given to their Idol-god became the firſt fewel for the kindling of that fire in the Land, wherewith the Lord intended to puniſh the Idolatry, and other Sins of the people. With theſe Forces, and the aſſiſtance of ſome of the Shechemites, V. 5. Being threeſcore and ten perſons] 'Tis uſual in Scripture to put a perfect and round number for an imperfect, ſee Gen. 42.13. Numb. 14.32, 33. 1 Cor. 15.5.Abimelech went to Ophra, and there ſeizing all his Fathers Sons (excepting Jotham the youngeſt) and pretending ſomething againſt them, under a pretence of Juſtice (as if they had had ſome Plot upon the State, tending to the ruine of it,) he put them all to death, and executed them all in one place, upon one Stone. This being done, the men of Shechem gathered themſelves together, and the Magiſtrates of the City (who were wont to meet in a Town-Houſe or Common-Hall called the Houſe of Millo) and made Abimelech King,Abimelech the Fifth Judge, if at leaſt He may be ſo eſteemed, ſeeing He was not ſet up by the appointment of God. and ſo proclaimed him in the Field near Shechem, where Joſhua in former time had erected a great ſtone under an Oak, Joſh. 24.26. Indeed it may ſeem ſtrange that the Inhabitants of one City ſhould dare to do this alone of themſelves, it being expreſly alſo againſt the Law of God, Deut. 17.14, 15. Thou ſhalt in any wiſe ſet him King over thee whom the Lord thy God ſhall chuſe. But though the Shechemites poſſibly at firſt made him King only over their own City, yet afterwards it ſeems many other Iſraelites of other Towns and Tribes did come in (moved by their Example and Perſwaſion) and joyned with them, and accepted him for their King, and the rather becauſe they generally began to be weary of the Government God had eſtabliſhed among them, and longed to be like other Nations in having a King to Reign over them; Abimelech therefore daily gathering more and more ſtrength, at laſt he uſurped the Title of King over the whole Nation, whence he is ſaid to have reigned three years over Iſrael, verſ. 22. The Lord now intending to puniſh Abimelech and the Shechemites for changing the Government which he had eſtabliſhed among them, and eſpecially for the barbarous Murther committed upon the Sons of Gideon, by a ſpecial Inſtinct of his Spirit He moved Jotham (who of all the Sons of Gideon had eſcaped the hands of Abimelech) to go to the Inhabitants of Shechem, and to give them warning before-hand of the Calamities and Judgments that were like to befal them if they did not repent of this their great wickedneſs. Accordingly going to Mount Gerizim (which was near Shechem) and at a time (as it ſeems) when the Shechemites upon ſome publick Feſtivity, or ſuch ſolemn occaſion were there*From the Mountain of Bleſſings, they now hear a Curſe denounced againſt them. met together, He lift up his Voice, and ſpake to them, ſaying, Hearken to me ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you; intimating to them that God had ſent him to them with that Meſſage, and if they would not hearken to it, God would not hear them in the time of their Diſtreſs when they cried unto Him. After this Preface, He delivers to them what he had to ſay in way of a Parable or Apologue, that he might the more effectually ſet before them in the firſt place their Sin and Folly, in deſiring to be under the Rule of a King. And ſecondly, the modeſty and piety of his Father, who would not accept to be their King when they offered it unto Him. He tells them, The Trees on a time went out to anoint a King over them; whereby he intimates to them their ſin and folly, in being weary of the Government God had eſtabliſhed among them, and deſiring to be under the Rule of a King. And they ſaid unto the Olive-Tree, Reign thou over us. But the Olive-Tree refuſed, ſaying, He would not leave his fatneſs for that Promotion, viz. his Oil, wherewith God is honoured in the Sacrifices, and Lamps of the Tabernacle, and men are alſo honoured by it, ſeeing it is uſed in the anointing of Kings, Prieſts and Prophets, and is many other ways uſeful and profitable unto them both for Food and Medicine. Then the Trees ſaid to the Figg-Tree, Come thou and Reign over us, but the Figg-Tree refuſed, ſaying, He would not leave his ſweet and good fruit to be ſo promoted. Then they ſaid to the Vine, Come thou and Reign over us; The Vine alſo refuſed, ſaying, He would not leave his Wine which cheareth God and man, to be ſo advanced; that is, which is uſed in Oblations and Sacrifices (which God delights in, as being Duties by Himſelf preſcribed,) and man alſo is much cheared by it when temperately uſed. By which ſimilitudes of the Olive, Figg-Tree and Vine, (which are good, noble and uſeful Trees, and yield yearly ſweet and pleaſant fruit, and refuſed to be promoted over the other Trees,) He ſeems to intimate to them the piety and modeſty of his Father, who refuſed to be their King, when they offered it to him, and neither He nor any of his Sons (that were inhumanely ſlain by Abimelech) aſpir'd to any ſuch Dignity. He further intimates to them, that all wiſe and good men, and men of worth are content to be ſerviceable, and to do good in their places, and are not ambitious of Domination and Soveraignty over others; which high Dignities though they may ſeem more glorious, yet would certainly bring upon them greater Cares, and deprive them of much of thoſe Comforts which in their private condition they did enjoy; and poſſibly through the Temptations of thoſe high Places they might become leſs fruitful in goodneſs, and leſs ſerviceable than they were before. He goes on with his Parable. At laſt the Trees ſaid to the Bramble, Come thou and Reign over us. The Bramble replied, If in truth ye anoint me King over you, then come, and put your truſt under my ſhadow; that is, come under my Government, yield ſubjection to me, and expect Protection from me, whilſt you continue conſtant in your Loyalty and Obedience to me. But if you do otherwiſe, then let fire come of the Bramble and devour the Cedars of Lebanon; that is, expect that I will uſe my Power with all extremity againſt the greateſt of you all, and will deſtroy your Nobles, and men of greateſt Wealth and Renown. By which he plainly ſignifies, and ſets before them, what they had done in chuſing Abimelech King. Then applying the whole Parable to them, he tells them, They ſhould conſider whither they had done well by his Father and his Family (who had ſo well deſerved of them) in ſlaying his Sons, and making Abimelech, the Son of his Hand-Maid, King over them, not for any worthineſs in himſelf, but meerly becauſe he was of their Kindred. If you have done well therein (ſays he) then rejoyce in your new King, and let him rejoyce in you; But if you have not (as certainly you have not) then let fire come out from Abimelech and burn the men of Shechem, and the Houſe of Millo; and let fire come out of the men of Shechem, and the Houſe of Millo, and devour Abimelech; that is, let a wicked Spirit of Hatred, Diſſention, and Revenge poſſeſs you on both ſides, and ſo carry you on to ſeek the Ruine and Deſtruction of each other. Jotham having delivered his Meſſage to them, haſted away, and fled to Baalath-Beer in the Tribe of Simeon, where he ſaved himſelf either by living there unknown, or by the Aid of the Inhabitants, who perhaps (with other Cities) had not yet ſtooped to this tyrannous Yoke. When Abimelech had reigned about three years, then God ſent an evil Spirit between him and the men of Shechem; that is, God, according to the Imprecation of Jotham, did permit the Devil to ſow Jealouſies, Diſcord, and Diſſention between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and gave them up to the Luſts and Corruptions of their own wicked Hearts, and miniſtring occaſions of enraging them, the one againſt the other; the men of Shechem at length dealt treacherouſly with Abimelech, and ſought to ſhake off his Yoke. And this God permitted, that the juſt Revenge of that Cruelty executed by Abimelech, with the aſſiſtance of the Shechemites, on the Sons of Gideon, might fall on them both. The men of Shechem therefore reſolving to caſt off Abimelech from being any longer their King, they firſt laid men on the Mountains by way of Ambuſh to ſurprize his Perſon, if he came that way weakly attended. Theſe Liers in wait (as ſuch men uſe to do) beyond their Commiſſion, took liberty to Rob, and make a Prey of others that came that way; by which means (it ſeems) their Deſign was made known to Abimelech, who thereupon prepared to make open War upon them, and ſent ſome of his Forces to reſtrain them and keep them in; ſo that the Shechemites durſt not ſtir out into the Fields to gather their Vintage. Hereupon one Gaal (ſome eminent Commander) with his Friends and Allies, either came voluntarily, or was ſent for by the Shechemites, to be their Leader in this War againſt Abimelech; and they being now much encouraged, and putting their truſt and confidence in his Conduct and Valour, went out boldly into the Fields, and gathered the Fruits of their Vineyard, and trod out the Grapes, and made merry, and went into the Houſe of their god Baal-berith to eat and to drink, and in their Cups curſed Abimelech, and uttered all manner of Railing and Reviling againſt him. Gaal perceiving the Shechemites in their Jollity to expreſs themſelves with ſo much violence and ſcorn againſt Abimelech, he takes occaſion from thence to try if he could win them to put the Government of the City into his hands, and to throw Zebul out, who (it ſeems) had been before appointed Governour of it by Abimelech. Who is this Abimelech? (a)Simile exemplum, vide 1 Sam. 25.10. Quis eſt David? & quis eſt filius Iſhai?(ſays he) or who is this Son of Shechem? or what is his Family in Shechem that we muſt ſerve him? is He not the Son of a Concubine? And what is this Zebul but his Officer, his Creature, his Tool to tyranize by? And muſt ſuch an ancient and brave City as Shechem be inſlav'd to every domineering Officer, that this Son of an Hand-Maid ſhall ſet over you? If you have a mind to give away your Liberty, and be in Bondage, you had better call in the old Lords of this place, the Deſcendents of Hamor the Father of Shechem, and ſerve them, than ſerve this new, baſe, upſtart Abimelech. Well! if you men of Shechem would all put your ſelves under my Government, I would quickly eaſe you of this Abimelech; He ſhould not long King it over you. Then in a Bravado he cries out, O Abimelech, make thy ſelf as ſtrong as thou canſt with all thine Allies and Friends, and then come out and fight with me if thou dareſt. Zebul the Ruler of the City hearing of theſe vaunting words of Gaal, was greatly inrag'd, and ſent ſecret Intelligence to Abimelech, How Gaal and his Adherents were fortifying the City againſt him: He adviſes him therefore to come by night againſt Shechem with all his Army, and having laid the greateſt part of them in Ambuſh, He ſhould the next morning ſhew himſelf with the reſt before the City, againſt whom when Gaal came forth (as undoubtedly he would) He would fall unexpectedly into the ſnare. Abimelech accordingly marched with his Army in the night towards Shechem, and divided his Men into four Companies, and laying three of them in Ambuſh, He marched only with the fourth in the morning towards the City. Gaal going early to the Gate of the City, and Zebul (the Major of the Town) being by, He ſaid to him, Behold there come people down from the top of the Mountains. Zebul jeeringly replied, Surely thou takeſt the ſhadows of the Mountains for Men. Gaal preſently in ſome conſternation cries out, There was another Company coming by the middle of the Land, and another by the Plain. Then Zebul tauntingly ask'd him, Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou ſaidſt, who is Abimelech that we ſhould ſerve him? where are thy great Brags and Boaſtings now? Is not this the people whom thou didſt ſo contemptuouſly deſpiſe? Go out now and fight with them, and ſhew thy valour if thou haſt any: Shew that thou canſt fight as well as talk. Gaal upon this, got as many of the men of Shechem together as he could, and marched out before them to fight with Abimelech. But Abimelech quickly routed him, and ſlew and wounded many of his men, and chaſed the reſt even to the Gates of the City. Then Abimelech for the preſent withdrew his Forces to Aramah (a place not far from Shechem) to refreſh them after the Fight, and to wait for ſome better opportunity of ſurprizing the City. The people of Shechem being now greatly vex'd and inraged at their Defeat, 'tis like Zebul ſuggeſted to them that the Cowardize and ill Conduct of Gaal and his Brethren had been the cauſe thereof, and ſo he eaſily procur'd them to be caſhier'd, and ſent away out of the City. The Shechemites then chooſing for themſelves a new Commander in whom they might more confide, and having recruited their Army, reſolved to march out the next morning to be revenged on Abimelech for their former loſs, and to drive him out of the Country. Abimelech hearing they were come out againſt him, He marched towards them, and then dividing his Army into three parts, He deſigned with one of them (which he kept with himſelf) to lie in Ambuſh, and to ſurprize the City on a ſuddain, whilſt the Shechemites were ingaged with the other two Brigades of his Army, or at leaſt to keep them from ſallying forth to aſſiſt thoſe that were ingaged in the Fight, and to prevent thoſe in the Field from making any Retreat if they were worſted. Accordingly whilſt Abimelech, and thoſe that were with him, ran and got to the Gate of the City, his other two Parties ran upon the Shechemites in the Field, and made a great ſlaughter of them. Having thus vanquiſhed the Field-Army, he fought againſt the City all that day, and at laſt took it, and put to the Sword all that came in his way. Many of the Shechemites had (it ſeems) got into the Tower of Shechem, or Houſe of Millo to ſecure themſelves, but hearing the dreadful Cries and Shreekes of their dying Fellow-Citizens, they forſook that, and betook themſelves to the Houſe of Baal-berith; either truſting more to the ſtrength of the Place, or elſe flying to it as to a Sanctuary in this their great Extremity: Abimelech hereupon went to Mount Zalmon, a Hill near Shechem, and cut down a Tree and laid it on his Shoulder, and encouraged his Souldiers to do the like, and with thoſe he fired the Houſe of Baal-berith, and there deſtroyed about a thouſand men and women of the Shechemites. He then ras'd the City of Shechem to the ground, and in deteſtation, and for an exemplary Puniſhment, he ſowed it with Salt, as a ſign of an utter Vaſtation, and perpetual Deſolation. But herein he failed of his end, for it was afterwards rebuilt by Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12.25. and inhabited, 2 Chron. 10.1. Jer. 21.5. and afterwards it was called Sychar, Joh. 4.5. Some of the Inhabitants of Shechem had [it ſeems] during theſe Diſaſters betaken themſelves to Thebez, a Town near Shechem, which had a ſtrong Fort or Caſtle in it. Thither now Abimelech marches with his Army. The people of Thebez betook themſelves to the Caſtle as the only place of Security. Abimelech reſolving to ſet fire on the Gate of it, went ſo near to it himſelf, to give Orders about it, that a woman from the top of the Tower caſt a piece of a Mill-ſtone upon him, and brake his Skull; *Thus Phyrrhus was ſlain by a woman caſting a Tile on his head, at the taking of Argos.He finding he had received his deaths wound, bad his Armour-Bearer run him through with his Sword, that it might not be ſaid that a woman kill'd him.(b)De Abimelech verum erat illud, ingreſſus eſt ut vulpes, regnavit ut Leo, mortuus eſt ut Canis. Thus we ſee how Jotham's Propheſie was fulfilled, That a fire ſhould come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem, and a fire ſhould come out from the men of Shechem and ſhould devour Abimelech. Thus He who had ſlain his Brethren all upon one ſtone, receives his own death by a ſtone. He that had before managed this War politickly and ſucceſsfully, now by one raſh unadviſed Action (going too near to the Gate of the Caſtle) is ignominiouſly deſtroyed. When the people that followed Abimelech ſaw he was dead, they departed every one to his own home.
Judg. Ch. 9. whole Chapter.
SECT. CXLII.
AFter Abimelech, Tola the Son of Puah, a man of the Tribe of Iſſachar, Tola the Sixth Judge.was raiſed up by God to Judge Iſrael, and fitted with Heroick Gifts of Wiſdom, Courage, Fortitude and Zeal for the Execution of his Office. And indeed the people at that time needed a wiſe and able Judge to reduce them to their former Government overthrown by Abimelech, and to aboliſh Idolatry (which much prevailed in his licentious Reign) and to reſtore God's pure Worſhip, which 'tis like had been much corrupted. Though there is no mention made of Enemies that invaded the Land during his Government, yet there might be ſome ſuch Invaſions and Oppreſſions, though not ſo vexatious as the former. He dwelt in Shamir, a Town bordering on Mount Ephraim, that ſo he might be near the Tabernacle at Shiloh, and there was buried, having judged Iſrael three and twenty years.
Judg. 10. verſ. 1, 2.
SECT. CXLIII.
AFter Tola aroſe Jair, dwelling in Gilead, in the Tribe of Manaſſeh, Jair the Seventh Judge.beyond Jordan, and judged Iſrael twenty two years. It ſeemed he was a man of great Quality before he was raiſed to be Judge; for he had thirty Sons (to wit, by ſeveral Wives,) that rode on Aſſe-Colts, which was a token of Dignity and Authority. He was deſcended (it ſeems) of that Jair, who having taken the Cities of Argob, called them after his own Name Havoth-Jair; that is, the Villages of Jair, Numb. 33.41. Deut. 3.14. Thoſe Villages were at firſt only twenty three, 1 Chron. 2.22. but this Jair coming to inherit theſe Towns which his Anceſtor had taken from the Amorites, divided them among his Sons, and they were increaſed either by themſelves, their Father or Grandfather to thirty, and the old Name continued to them.
In this time it ſeems the Iſraelites were horribly corrupt, and their Apoſtacy and Idolatry was far worſe than that of their fore-Fathers. *Iſraelitae admodum proni erant in Idolatriam, cujus cauſae erant. 1. Quia finitimas gentes… Idolatricas florere videbant, ſe autem inopia premi. 2. Multitudo Idololatrarum collata cum ipſorum paucitate. 3. Cultus Dei ſeverior erat, & triſtior: Non in eo Theatra, Saltationes, Comaediae, vel Tragaediae, qua omnia erant in cultibus Idolorum, immo etiam ſaepe turpia & libidinoſa. P. Martyr.For now they worſhipped all the Idols of the Nations round about them, Baalim and Aſhtaroth, the Idols of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philiſtines, and ſo wholly gave themſelves up to the Worſhip of falſe gods, that at length they quite laid aſide the Worſhip of the true God in the Tabernacle; And therefore the Text ſays, They forſook the Lord, and ſerved him not. 'Tis like Jair did what he could to reſtrain them from this abominable Idolatry, but was over-born by them. So that about the beginning of the fifth year of his Government, the Lord being extremely angry with them, ſold them into the hands of the Ammonites, who oppreſſed(c)The years of the Oppreſſions are not to be reckones apart from the years of the Judges, ſee in Chap. 3.11. them ſorely on the other ſide of Jordan, and into the hands of the Philiſtines, who invaded thoſe Tribes that were within Jordan, ſo that they were invaded both on Eaſt and Weſt; on the Weſt by the Philiſtines on the Eaſt by the Children of Ammon. The fifth Oppreſſion by the Ammonites.The Ammonites having oppreſſed the two Tribes and half without Jordan for eighteen years, and Jair dying, they proceeded further and paſſed over Jordan, and oppreſſed the Iſraelites within Jordan alſo.
Judg. Ch. 10. from verſ. 3. to 10.