The prophecy of Jotham was not to be immediately fulfilled. He would destroy all the people of Shechem, both those who went out to work in the fields and those back in the town who took shelter in the city stronghold (42-49). gat them up to the top of the tower--The Canaanite forts were generally mountain fastnesses or keeps, and they often had a strong tower which served as a last refuge. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. Others may have shown as mighty works, as great displays of power; nay, even the blessed Lord Jesus Himself said, "Greater works than these shall ye do." Respectfully submitted as my Scriptural understanding; I share with you what His Spirit has shared with my spirit. So it was a pretty good-sized tower, actually. Start you journey by obeying God's First Commandment given to New Testament Believers in Christ found in Acts 2:38. They decide on matters first, and the case becomes only another instance of man's folly in dealing with evil. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. God held even to the distant tie of connection a most striking proof and witness of the ways of our God. WebGod tells us every human life has value. His application is very close and plain. Who troubles himself with the Koran or the Shastres, save their votaries? And so when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. After this we find how the pride of the men of Ephraim takes fire at a person of such an origin as Jephthah, spite of the signal deliverance by his means for Israel, so that they come forth to fight. His secret was to keep his hair uncut, with all strength annexed to it. The answer however was incorrect. i. Commentary Judges Chapter 7 This is exceedingly instructive. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare From the top of Gerizim you can call down in the valley and they can hear you quite plainly, sort of a natural amphitheater. It was bad enough when Gideon had only three hundred that God would employ. We see a man, not without faith indeed (Hebrews 11:32), though his confidence was largely in the strength with which God had invested him, rather than in Him who would yet prove Himself the sole source of it; a man who was roused by personal affront and desire of vengeance, not by a solemn duty; a man who slowly and weakly wakes up to any sense of his mission, who is ever too ready to sink down again into the lowest indulgence of fallen nature among the enemy. The case before us, in Judges 17:1-13; Judges 18:1-31, is one where God was openly, deliberately, and systematically dishonoured. Let no man question that Samson was in prison or that he lost his eyes for nothing. Chapter 9Now here's what happened. Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech: We can be certain that God will repay wickedness, either in this life or the life to come. It was the energy of His Spirit who thought of His people showing out by the way, as we have remarked, in that wayward man the fallen state to which they were reduced by their own sin, with the highest claims outwardly but morally in as low a condition as could then be conceived. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. They took it quietly, and passed along their way. When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused. For a good useful man some would even dare to die. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. 9 So he said to the men of Peniel, When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower. i. But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech! And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. what shadow or protection can there be in a bramble? Judges 9:8 Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, . One man who is your brother who comes right of Shechem, who understands your needs and all or all of the sons of Jerubbaal? This latter view is the more probable, from the Shechemites ( Judges 9:24 ) aiding in it. i. No way. There is no difficulty in principle either way. Such then was the bloody crisis at which a deliverer of Israel arrives in his unsparing resentment. Literally, the Hebrew text reads that they committed fornication with the idol, which reflects the marriage language that God often uses when conveying his . Even his father and mother knew nothing about their son's movements. If Ammon could or would not seek to recover it previously, they had no title to claim now from Israel. Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem. The earth is destined to be the theatre where God will display righteousness reigning; but even now, while things are out of course, and His enemy is in power, He holds to His own character, owning and using all He can. Brambles bore no fruit and offered no shelter or protection. In both they put the utmost contempt imaginable upon Gideon. Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and god to be promoted over the trees? 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines, and he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife" (Judges 14:1-20). Let none expect to do ill and fare well. Alas! Men then, as now, feel not for a lie or a libel of God; they are sensitive when their own rights are touched. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. When they had it in their thoughts to choose a king they did not offer the government to the stately cedar, or the lofty pine, which are only for show and shade, and not otherwise useful till they are cut down, but to the fruit-trees, the vine and the olive. He who could imbrue his hands in the blood of his brethren in order to get into power, was not likely to stop at any means to retain that power when possessed. There is something about the elastic atmosphere of an Eastern clime which causes it to transmit sound with wonderful celerity and distinctness [HACKETT]. The olive pleads (Judges 9:9; Judges 9:9), Should I leave my wine, wherewith both God and man are served and honoured? Judges 9 Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, Judges 9 WebJudges 9:8. Note, Those who expect God to hear their prayers must be willing to hear reason, to hear a faithful reproof, and to hear the complaints and appeals of wronged innocency. Invariably, when you listen to the written word of God, range yourself on His side. Parable of the Trees - Judges 9:8-15. Samson is now absolutely isolated on the rock Etam. Those whose extraction and education are ever so high know not to what difficulties and straits they may be reduced. Never then let the breath of suspicion enter your soul. Go out and take him on. WebJudges 9:8. serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? But the vine said to them, So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him. b. But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day." He extricated failing Samson from the direct consequences of his sinful association; but He dealt retributively with treachery by the hands of their own people. [2.] Dear Pilgrims Christianity is singular and not plural all things plural become corrupt Jesus begins each letter/epistle in Revelation to a church (plural) but He ends each letter/epistle addressing individual/s (singular) (i.e. But again, "And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." And Jotham ran away, and he fled, to Beer, and dwelt there, for the fear of Abimelech his brother. They don't have their sound pollution like we have here. The Parable of the Trees: Intro (Judges 9:8-15) i. God was in none of their thoughts. for oil and wine were used both at God's altars and at men's tables. is this the tribe that men praise? What avails the show of Jehovah's name, or form of consecrating a Levite to be priest? We have seen before, from the earlier part of the book, the remarkable manner in which, either personally or in the weapons that were employed, God was acting mysteriously at this period of Israel's history. Gideon had rejected, with abhorrence, the proposal to make himself or any of his family king, and there is no evidence that any of his other sons coveted the title. In Samson's case, tested in a seemingly little sign but a sign of entire subjection to God, and this in separation from all others, it was obedience; not so in our case, where we have the highest treasure in earthen vessels, but obedience in everything, and this formed and guided by the Spirit according to the written word, now set in the fullest light, because seen in the person, and ways, and work, and glory of Christ. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. But, in order for us to know the sweetness of that care, it becomes us to care for Him, His name and glory. Difficulties, where they exist for us, would only exercise faith in God. So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt. Web3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, He is related to us. 4 They gave him seventy shekels[ a] of . And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, and lying there in wait. After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers. Here's old Abimelech down there, you know, trying to set the door on fire and she "knock" drops the millstone and cracks his skull. And the bramble said to the trees, WebJudges 9:15 Commentaries: "The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from another point, still more important, going along with it. Yet there is a more secure tower than the tower of Shechem. And in Thebez there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women, fled to the tower there in Thebez. So dangerous is apt to be the reaction against one ever so honest; the more you have trusted, when you begin to doubt, the worse it is apt to be, even with poor erring man, who knows not what a serious thing it is. But there is one thing that God's Spirit always assumes the perfect goodness and the unswerving holiness of God. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them. The more you read and the more you live the Word the more you gain confidence in the Word and in your life. 4. the house of Baal-berith--either the temple, or the place where this idol was worshipped; Baal-berith, "god of the covenant," by invocation of whom the league of cities was formed. What is to become of you then? Both outside and inside the city, they effectively attacked and killed the people of Shechem (even those not directly involved in the rebellion). Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. So Gaal spake again and said, Look there are people coming down by the middle of the land, another company is coming along the plain of Meonenim. He plainly intended to testify to their state by the agents whom He used for their good. Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? And so he's lying there and he says to his armourbearer, "Quick, thrust me through. Could, at the beck of the Philistine, there be found at once three thousand men so willing and prompt to betray the champion of Israel? But verse 30 seems adverse to this view.
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