A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on the book of Judges · Chapter 9
Judges CHAP. IX.
JUdges the Ninth contains the Hiſtory of Abimelech, the Sixth Judge of Iſrael, ſo called, though indeed he did Ʋſurp the Kingdom: He is deſcribed,
Firſt, By his Name, Father and Kindred, ver. 1.
Secondly, By his double State of Proſperity and Adverſity, from ver. 2. to ver. 28.
Thirdly, By his Deeds, in conquering the Seditious, and Beſieging the Tower, from ver. 29. to 49. And,
Fourthly, By his Death, as Jotham had foretold it, from ver. 50. to 57.
The Remarks are, Firſt, How great a miſchief many times is the Death of a good Governour (as it was obſerved before) the loſs of former Judges, was again and again a miſchievous loſs to Iſrael, both as to their Religion and Liberties. So here again, no ſooner is Gideon gone, but Iſrael is gone both from God, and from all Godlineſs; they make Baal-Berith their God, to whom they become profeſſed Covenanters, as the Name importeth, Judg. 8.33. Yea, this People were of ſuch a wicked Temper, that they neither remember'd the Favour of God, nor the Valour of Gideon, but ſo mad they were after their Idols, Jer. 50.38. that they neither feared God, nor Reverenc'd Man, Judg. 8.34, 35. Apoſtates from God, prove Devils to Man: Therefore, as God had ſcourged them for their former Folly, Apoſtacy and Idolatry, by Forreign Foes: So now he comes to plague them for the like Provocation, and worſe (as it was againſt more light and love, againſt more Means and Mercies added to the large number of all their former Deliverances) with the Plague of a Civil Ʋncivil War among themſelves, inſomuch that they are made to ſheath their Swords in one anothers Bowels, through Abimelech's, Ambition, &c. N.B. Gideon's Ephod (left behind him) did indeed become a Snare Judg. 8.27. making a moſt fearful Schiſm and Diviſion among the People, for ſome of them went to Worſhip God as Shilo, as they had done for many years, from Joſhua's Judgeſhip; others new-fangl'd were for this new Altar and Ephod at Ophrah: This was enough to ſow Seeds of Sedition, amongſt them, and becauſe good Gideon gave the occaſion hereof, he therefore got to himſelf a new Name; namely, [Jerub-boſheth, 2 Sam. 11.21. Boſheth, Hebr. (as Iſh-boſheeb) ſignifies a Man of Shame: Gideon got this Name of Shame, for leaving this ſhameful thing the Ephod behind him, but his Baſtard Son (he left) proved worſe, &c.
The Second Remark is, Abimelech's Proſperity in promoting his Plot and Project to compaſs a Crown and Kingdom: His Ambition rode without Reins; therefore goes he to Shechem, (where his Mother dwelt, Judg. 8.31.) Communes with his Kindred, Uncles and others, what might be the likelieſt means for effecting his Deſign, puts a ſtarch'd Speech into their Mouths, how to Court the Men of Shechem, ſuppoſing they would willingly enough comply with a Regal Government, which his Father had modeſtly refuſed; and upon this Suppoſition grounds he his Oration, That the Multitude of his Father's Sons was ſuch, they all affecting Domination (as he Inſinuated, meaſuring them by himſelf, for ſo ill minded Men do Muſe as they uſe) will occaſion horrible Diſſentions in dividing the Kingdom amongſt them all, that each may have his ſhare, this would cauſe diſmal Stirs in the State: All which confuſion might be prevented by making me King, (ſaith he) who am ſo nearly related to you; and therefore ſhall be your no ſmall Honour and Advantage, Chap. 9. ver. 1, 2. and his Glozing Wheedles did eaſily captivate the Men of Shechem: They readily complied, becauſe it ſeem'd to ſuit well with their Intereſt, which will not lie at any time, ver. 3. and now having got a Temple built for their Baal-Berith, after the Death of Gideon) which he would never have ſuffered while he lived) and endowed with conſiderable Revenues (for thoſe Men that were cloſe-ſisted in the Service of God, could be open-handed enough to their Idol's Contributions) they take out of this ſuppoſed Sacred Treaſury, Threeſcore and Ten pieces of Silver, ver. 4. N.B. All this the Devil in the Idol was willing to part with, that therewith he might purchaſe the Heads of Gideon's Threeſcore and Ten Sons, whom he found did Patrizare, and were like their Father in oppoſing Idolatry: With thoſe Seventy Silver pieces, Abimelech hired the Dehauched Deſperado's (as with Preſs-Money, or Entring Penny, promiſing them rich Plunder) to execute his Deviliſh Deſign: They march like a Ragged Regiment along with him to Ophrah, and there Maſſacre Gideon's Seventy Sons upon a Stone, as ſo many Sacrifices unto Baal upon this Altar, to revenge the wrong that their Father had done to Baal, in throwing down his Altar, Judg. 6.27, 28. Thus the Money out of Baal's Houſe was expended in Baal's Service; yet the Lord hid Jotham out of the Aſſaſſinates hands, ver. 5. he after did Jeremy and Baruch, Jer. 36.26.
The Third Remark concerning Abimelech's Proſperity, when he had thus bloudily removed thoſe Seventy Sons' of Gideon (excepting Jotham) that were Rubbs and Remora's in his way to his Regal Government, that his Bowl might run more roundly endways; then the Men of Shechem are call'd together to make him King, ver. 6. This may well be look'd upon as an highly preſumptuous Act, for one ſingle City to chuſe a King for all Iſrael, eſpecially conſidering how God had appropriated the choice of a King over all Iſrael to himſelf, Deut. 17.14, 15.
N. B. But it may be ſuppoſed, this City had many Advantages at this Juncture for promoting this preſumptuous Project. As,
Firſt, The eager inclination of the Iſraclites in general to Kingly Government, as appeared by their offer of it to Gideon, and to his Sons, Judg. 8.22. and though Gideon refus'd it for himſelf, yet could he not give it away from his Sons, to whom they then offered it alſo, as well as to him.
Secondly, There was now after Gidoen's Death, a General Defection of the Iſraclites from God to Baal, whoſe powerful Patron, Abimelech only pretended to be at this time.
Thirdly, The Proud Imperious Spirit of the Tribe of Ephraim, unto which Shechem belonged, did manifeſt it ſelf, Judg. 8.1. and 12.1. as if they had the prevailing power over all the other Tribes, and could cauſe them to cloſe with a King of their chuſing among their Brethren.
Fourthly, They here got the ſtart and whipping hand of all the other Tribes, actually at this time, putting the Crown upon Abimelech's Head, and having an Army already to maintain all this Cruelty and Tyranny, &c. Now the Men of Shechem having all thoſe Encouragements, make an Adventure to Inaugurate their new choſen King, to Rule over all Iſrael, as 'tis expreſly ſaid, ver. 22. and this was done in that famous noted place, where Joſhua had erected a Monument by an Oak, Joſh. 24.26, 27. for the more Solemnity of the Action.
The Fourth Remark is, The Relation of Abimelech's Adverſity, firſt begun by the Direful Curſes of God, that Jotham Thundred out from the very Mountain of Bleſſings, Deut. 11.29 and 27.12. Joſh 8.33. in a moſt Elegant Parabolical Oration, both againſt the Men of Shechem, and againſt their new King Abimelech, upon his Coronation Day, ver 7. to ver. 21. All which ſevere Apologue, could not but very much ſowre the ſweetneſs of that days Solemnity, if their Hearts had not been ſteeled, and their Conſciences ſeared with the Hot Iron of Ambition and Apoſtacy. What Jotham ſpake (in telling them their own) was by Divine Inſpiration, and a Spirit of Prophecy.
N. B. A ſhort Abſtract of this long Apologue, or Parable, is this, Jotham ſtanding upon the top of Mount Gerizzim, ſpeaks aloud to the Men of Shechem (who were Aſſembled in the Valley betwixt it and Mount Ebal, to Crown their new King.) And,
Firſt, He uſeth a perſwaſive Prologue to procure their Attention, ver. 7. Then
Secondly, He begins his moſt ſignificant Apologue, or Parable, the ſenſe whereof might more powerfully convince them of their Iniquity, as Nathan did David, and Christ did the Phariſees afterwards. The ſumm of the Similitude the Rabbies Interpret thus. Jotham meant Othniel, by the Olive-tree, that gave Iſrael the Oyl of gladneſs, &c. ver. 8, 9. by the Fig-tree, Deborah a Governeſs full of ſweetneſs, ver. 10, 11. and by the Vine-Tree, Gideon, who was exceeding fruitful in his Numerous Off-ſpring, ver. 12, 13. But all theſe aforeſaid refuſed to rule with Regal Soveraignty: Then comes in the Bramble Abimelech, a wicked and worthleſs Man (the Son of Gideon's Maid-Servant, ver. 18.) and ſeeks greedily this Regal Honour, that all the aforeſaid refuſed, when offered them. The Bramble (though not a Tree, but a Shrub, baſe, barren, prickly, good for nothing, but for ſtoping Gaps, or kindling Fires) thinks it a great matter to Reign over the reſt, and therefore though leaſt worthy of Honour, yet is moſt hot in the purſuit of it, as Abimelech was in courting the Shechemites to make him King, ver. 1, 2, 3, &c.
Thirdly, The Epilogue and Application drives the Nail to the Head, from ver. 16. to 21. wherein,
1. He taxeth them for being weary of God's Government, and for being over-deſirous of a King.
2. He vindicateth his Father for his Modeſty in refuſing the offer of it, and all his Brethren, with himſelf, for not any one of them Aſpiring after it. And,
3. He Stigmatizes and Brands that Bramble Abimelech, for his ſo thirſting after Regal Soveraignty, that (though wicked and worthleſs) he made way to it through a Field of Bloud, &c.
And Laſtly, After he had Ironically bid them Rejoice in their King, (which he hardly thought they ever would do,) he foretells them their Fate, that this Bramble would not only be like that which the Sheep ſhelters it ſelf under in bad Weather, where it is ſure to loſe part of his Fleece, if not of his Fleſh, but alſo that ſuch a fire of Diſcord would come out of it, as ſhall Devour the Cedars, namely, the Nobles, ſuch as the Houſe of Millo who were moſt forward in this work, and who met with Deſtruction from him, inſtead of Protection under him.
The Fifth Remark is, As Jotham's Prophetick Spirit had Abimelech's Adverſity, ſo the Seditious Spirit of his Subjects did procure it, and made him an example of that common Adage, [No Tyranny is of long continuance] for this baſe Bramble, after he had hoiſed himſelf up into an high Room, to Domineer over others, within three Years time, ver. 22. began to ſcratch, tear, and vex his Subjects ſo, that they began to hate him; yea thoſe very Men of Shechem, who had lent him their hand to lift him into the Throne, dealt treacherouſly with him, and laid Liers in wait for him, either to ſlay him, or to ſeize his Perſon, &c. For God moſt juſtly gave them up to a Reprobate Mind, and let looſe the Devil (that Make-bate, Kindle-Coal, and Sower of Sedition) among them, who, working upon their Corruptions on both ſides, fill'd them with Envy, Deceit, Debate, Malignity and Murther, ver. 23, 24, 25. and though Abimelech at this time eſcaped the Ambuſhment of the Shechemites, yet this preſent preſervation proved but a Reſervation for another time: Thoſe Men of Shechem might have foreſeen (if the God of this World had not blinded their Eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4, 5.) what kind of King Abimelech would be, by beginning his Reign in the Bloud of his Brethren, the Lives of 70 Innocent and near Relations muſt lay the foundation of his nocent Kingdom; but they were ſet upon it, and they ſoon had enough of it: Quos Deus vult deſtrui, priùs dementat. They were under ſublime Infatuation, becauſe deſtinated to utter Deſtruction.
The Sixth Remark relating to Abimelech's Adverſity is, The practick part of that Sedition againſt him, which is deſcribed, (1.) By its Author: And (2.) By its Evidence.
Firſt, As to its Author, it was Gaal, who he was, or of what Tribe, it is not told us, he muſt be ſome Man of a conſiderable Figure among them, both for Wealth, Strength, Intereſt, Counſel and Conduct; yea, and diſcontented with Abimelech's Miſgovernment, which cauſed the Shechemites to place Confidence in him, and to make him General of their Forces, ver. 26.
N. B. Note well. How changeable were thoſe Shechemites, they had put Confidence in Abimelech heretofore, and that Arm of Fleſh had failed them, and now getting no good by that diſappointment, they again put their Confidence in Gaal, whereas they ſhould have put their Confidence in God alone, Pſal. 56.3. But becauſe they truſted in Baal, they truſted in Gaal alſo. He is Curſed that truſts in Man, but he is Bleſſed that truſts in God, Jerem. 17.5, 6, 7. That this Gaal was an Ambitious Boaſting Thraſonical Fellow, appeareth by his words, ſaying, [Who is Abimelech, &c?] ver. 28. and [I wiſh this People were under my hand, &c.] ver, 29. Challenging Abimelech to a Battel, yet proved but a Coward therein, ver. 38, 40. Now the Shechemites truſting in ſuch a Braggadocio, was a ſign that they ripen'd apace for their own utter ruine.
Secondly, As to the Evidence of this Sedition againſt Abimelech, this appeared partly in the Shechemites Deeds, and partly in their Words.
Firſt, In their Deeds, both of their Robbing, and of their Rejoycing.
1. They Robbed all the Retainers of Abimelech in the High way, ver. 25. and under that pretence the Conſpirators, going beyond the bounds of their Commiſſion (which extended only againſt Abimelech's Party) robbed all Paſſengers promiſcuouſly, and thereby their Plot and Conſpiracy was diſcovered to Abimelech.
2. They Rejoyced one with another at the Gathering of their Vineyards, which they durſt not do for fear of Abimelech, until Gaal came in to head them; but with his Aſſiſtance they trod the Grapes, and made merry, which the Septuagint reads, [foreign] they made Dances, little dreaming how ſoon that Merry Dance would end in a moſt miſerable and diſmal Downfal. Notwithſtanding their Jovial Feaſting in the Temple of Baal-Berith, and praiſing that Idol, both for giving the Fruits of the Earth now received, and for their hopes of recovering their loſt Liberties, ver. 27. and in the midſt of this merry Mood, mad Merriment they not only Contemned, but alſo Curſed Abimelech, which they ought not to have done, ſeeing they had made him their Ruler, Exod. 22.28. Yet they Curſed him by Baal-Berith (as Goliah Curs'd David by his Gods, 1 Sam. 17.43.) and likely call'd upon their Idol to Ratifie their Curſes Denounced againſt him. And thus,
Secondly, Their Sedition was ſeen openly in their Words as well as Deeds, and not only by the Opprobrious and Contumelious words of the Shechemites themſelves againſt their King, whom they had Crowned, but alſo by the Seditious words of Gaal, whereby he moved the Shechemites to Sedition, ver. 28. ſaying, [Who is Abimelech, &c?] what is he but a baſe Bramble (as) Jothan rightly ſtyled him, that grew in the Hedge-Row of a Concubine, and hath ſcratch'd us with a Vengeance now, that he is ſcrambl'd up to be King of Iſrael, and ſhall ſuch a baſe-born Fellow hold the Soveraignty over you; and is Shechem ſo Puſillanimous and Contemptible a City, as to truckle under ſo ſordid a Tyrant? And ſhall this free Corporation (that ought to be govern'd by none, but by its own Magiſtrates) couch ſo low as to be Slaves to his Tyranny, &c. And is not he the Son of Jerub-Baal, who robb'd us of our Religious Worſhiping of Baal (by throwing down his Altar, &c.) which now is happily reſtored and re-eſtabliſhed? Thus this Crafty Sophiſter Muſters up many Arguments of all ſorts, wherewith to wind himſelf into the Shechemites Minds, and thus ingratiates himſelf into them to get the Government of the City into his hands, &c. ver. 28, 29.
The ſecond part of this Hiſtory of Abimelech, after his State and Fortune, is his Famous Facts and Exploits.
Firſt, His Victory over the Seditious Shechemites, which he got the first Day of the Fight; and then again the ſecond Day Fight alſo. In the firſt Day Fight Victory was obtained,
1. By the Crafty Counſel of Zebul, (Abimelech's Vice-Roy in Shechem) who had hitherto temporized and complyed with the Shechemites Seditious Humour and Plot againſt Abimelech, (poſſibly he had his Maſter's private Inſtructions thus to diſſemble for Abimelech's Advantage) but hearing both his Lord and himſelf ſo notoriouſly traduced, &c. He can hold no longer in, but becomes his Maſter's Secret Intelligencer, ſticking cloſe to him, though but an Ʋſurper, ver. 30, 31. and giving him advice to haſten away with thoſe Forces he had ready, and march all Night, that in the Morning he might ſet himſelf with ſome ſmall Party againſt the City (which was now in fortifying againſt him:) The other three Parties laying in Ambuſh out of their ſight, ver. 32, 33.
2. By the Politick Practice of Abimelech, according to Zebul's Crafty Counſel. Gaal ſaw Abimelech approaching, but was not ſo Valiant, as he was Vigilant, with a miſgiving Mind, tells Zebul of it, who ſtill ſeemed to ſide with him, that he might betray him into Abimelech's Hands; and here in a Jear anſwers, That he took Mountains for Men, and Shadows for Subſtances: But Abimelech really appearing, Gaal's Courage quailed, and thought of retiring into the City, to ſtand only upon his own Defence; upon which falſe Zebul replys, [Where is now thy Thraſonical Bragg, and Challenging Abimelech to a Duel? For ſhame go forth and Fight him, for thou ſeeſt he hath but a ſmall Company, ver. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.
N. B. Then Gaal goes forth, partly becauſe Zebul's Taunts made him aſhamed to retire; and partly, having hopes of prevailing over that handful which only appeared; but more eſpecially, becauſe God had his Holy Hand in it for his juſt Puniſhment; but being ſurprized by Abimelech's unexpected Ambuſhments, this proud Bragger and Inſolent Challenger betakes himſelf to his Heels, and all his Men after him; ſo more were ſlain in the Flight, than in the Fight; ſeeing Abimelech purſued them to the very Gates of Shechem, and ſlaughtered them all the way thither, ver. 39, 40. purſuing his Victory no farther in the firſt Fight.
N. B. Again, Abimelech retreating to ſee the effects of his firſt Victory, as well as to refreſh his Army, Zebul's Intereſt was not ſtrong enough to reduce the City into Obedience to Abimelech; he can only prevail with them to expel Gaal and his Brethren for their Cowardice, and miſmanagement of their Martial Matters in the firſt Fight: Then chuſe they a new General, recruits the Army, and goes forth to a ſecond Fight, to revenge upon Abimelech the former great loſs in the firſt, and if poſſible, to drive him away, not liking ſo Malicious an Enemy ſhould be ſo near a Neighbour.
N. B. Hereupon their rage againſt Abimelech (God alſo did harden their Hearts to fetch in their own Deſtruction) forced them forth not to their Grape gathering, for that was before; nor to their Husbandry (as Joſephus ſaith) but to renew the Battel, and to rid the Country of their odious Adverſary: Abimelech orders two Companies to fight them, and he with a third Company ruſhes in betwixt them and the City Gates, to prevent their Retreat, and to give the other two Companies opportunity to cut them off: This was the Iſſue of the ſecond Battle, Abimelech ſtorms the Town, and makes a moſt Mercileſs Maſſacre, the Streets run down with Blood. N. B. Shechem is again a moſt miſerable Stage of Blood-ſhed, as it had been before by Simeon and Levi, Gen. 34.25, 26, 27, 28, 29. even ſo it was the ſecond time here, ver. 42, 43, 44, 45. and worſe, for [He beats down the City, and ſowed it with Salt.] Thus this Bramble barbarouſly butchereth his own Native Country-men, and turns the place of his own Birth, into a place of Nettles, and Salt-pits, for a perpetual Deſolation, Zeph. 2.9. though he fail'd of his end; for it was Re-built again hy Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12.25. and Inhabited after, 2 Chron. 10.1. Jerem. 14.15.
The laſt Exploits of Abimelech was his burning the Tower of Shechem (ſuppoſed to be Millo, which Jotham Curſed, ver. 6.20, 57.) and the ſtrong hold of Baal-Berith, whither they fled from the Maſſacre, and where they hoped to be ſafe under the protection of their Idol, if not by the ſtrength of this Sanctuary, which was built upon high ground like Rome's Capitol, and Jeruſalem's Temple, and muſt be ſtrong, becauſe they laid up their Treaſure there, ver. 4. However Abimelech by a Witty and Woody Wile, makes a ſhift to burn both the Tower, and the Sacred Fort, wherein about a Thouſand Men and Women were burned, and Baal-Berith (their helpleſs Block) became a Burnt-Offering with them: From thence Abimelech marches to Thebez, near Millo, out of which fire came forth and devoured him, according to Jotham's Prophetick Curſe, ver. 20. The Towns People ran into their ſtrong Tower, that were not ſlain in the taking the Town; taking up great Stones to the top of the Tower (which was flat Roof'd) to beat off the Aſſailants: Abimelech, Intoxicated with his former Succeſs, was not Timerous, but too Temerarious; he, being Fool-hardy, went har'd to the Door to burn it alſo; but a Woman throws down a piece of a Mill-ſtone upon his Head, and breaks his Scull. There lay this Bramble Brained, and this brings in the laſt part of his Hiſtory, i. e. his Death, deſcribed by its Concomitants, and Conſequents.
Firſt, The Concomitants. He Died deſperately in his ſin; his Wicked Life, ended in a Woful Death; he taketh care of his Credit, but none of his Soul; ſaying to his Armour-bearer, [Slay thou me, and let it not be ſaid, a Woman ſlew me:] Yet this means, whereby he thought to ſmother it, did divulge it the more, 2 Sam. 11.21. N. B. Behold the Juſt Hand of God upon him; he had ſlain his Seventy Brethren upon a Stone, ver. 5. and now he loſeth his own Life by a Stone; his Head had ſtoln the Crown of Iſrael, and now a Woman of Iſrael breaks his Head into pieces for ſo doing: His Sin was writ upon his Puniſhment.
Secondly, The Conſequents of his Death; his Army immediately diſperſed, not ſtaying to take the Tower, &c. to Revenge their King's Death, but likely were glad to be rid of ſuch a Tyrant, who Entred like a Fox, Reigned like a Lyon, and Died like a Dog. This Curſed Bramble was fit for nothing, but as to burn others, ſo to be burnt it ſelf for the wrong done to his Father: That Hainous Sin, had an Heavy Puniſhment; and Jotham proves a True Prophet, though it was three Years after he had uttered his Prophecy, ver. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. to the end.