Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7 ERV, Ch. 8-9 NASB, Ch. 10-11 GNT

Support

Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here.

Thoughts

Let’s look briefly at Abimalech.

He was one of Gideon’s 70 sons. Yes, seventy. Gideon had many wives and concubines. It was one of his concubines that was the mother of Abimalech.

As we read today, Abimalech was not the kind of brother that anyone would want, because in an effort to take control of Shechem, he killed all of his brothers except for the youngest, Jotham. With the success of his murder spree, he did become king of Shechem. 

After three years as king, according to chapter 9, verse 22, “…God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem…”, and a civil war broke out. There was a battle in the town of Thebez, where a woman dropped a millstone on Abimilech’s head from a tower. It did not immediately kill him, but he knew he was done for, so he called for his armor-bearer to kill him, so that it would not be said that a woman had killed him. His death brought the defeat to Abimilech’s army.

This guy is a study on how not to be a leader. He led by force. He murdered those who might be in competition with him, and his leadership style caused his subjects to rebel against him. He was only out for himself, and it caused his downfall.

Contrast Abimalech to his father, Gideon, and you see that in just one generation, things can go south very quickly. Beloved, each generation has a solemn duty to pass on a love and fear of God, and Godly values and training in righteousness, because once lost, these are very difficult to restore.