In Judges 9, we witness the consequences of unchecked ambition and what can happen when we lose sight of God's leadership. After the death of Gideon, who had been a faithful though imperfect judge, his son Abimelech seeks to seize power for himself—not by calling upon the Lord or seeking the well-being of his people, but through manipulation, bloodshed, and pride. What unfolds is not just a historical account; it is a powerful reflection of what can happen among us when we put our own interests above God's purposes, when loyalty gives way to selfish ambition, and when justice is replaced by cunning.
Abimelech, whose mother was a concubine from Shechem, goes to her relatives and persuades them to support his rise to power. He appeals to their shared bloodline and frames his proposal as though he’s offering them a better future. “Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?” he asks. He convinces them that it is in their best interest to support him alone, rather than the seventy sons of Gideon. To us, this scene warns of the dangers of manipulating others through fear and flattery. Rather than seek unity under God’s guidance, Abimelech stokes division for his own gain.
With silver from the temple of Baal-berith, Abimelech hires reckless men to help carry out his plan. These men accompany him to Ophrah, Gideon’s hometown, where they murder all seventy of Gideon’s sons on one stone. It’s hard to read this without feeling the weight of the tragedy. It was not just a slaughter—it was the extinguishing of a generation of leaders who could have continued to guide the people in righteousness. Only Jotham, the youngest, escapes. This moment is a jarring contrast to the way the Lord had raised up leaders before. Here, we’re not seeing someone called by God, but a man grasping power by force. When we forget to wait on the Lord and instead take matters into our own hands through unjust means, the consequences are always devastating.
After this mass killing, Abimelech is made king by the people of Shechem, who align themselves with him without fully grasping the cost of their choice. But God is not blind to injustice. Through Jotham, the surviving son, God gives the people a parable—a warning cloaked in a story. Jotham stands on Mount Gerizim and calls out to the leaders of Shechem with a tale about trees choosing a king. The noble trees—olive, fig, and vine—refuse kingship, content with the good they already do. But the bramble accepts and offers to reign, threatening fire on anyone who resists. This parable speaks to us, challenging us to consider what kind of leadership we value. Do we choose leaders for their wisdom and fruitfulness, or are we drawn to the ones who flatter and threaten but bear no good fruit? The bramble represents Abimelech—useless, dangerous, and quick to bring destruction. Jotham’s warning ends with a plea for justice: if the people have acted honorably, let them rejoice. But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and consume them—and vice versa.
As the story unfolds, this curse begins to take root. God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. Their alliance begins to crumble. This is a clear sign that when injustice is planted, it cannot sustain peace. God allows the broken relationship to bring about justice for the blood of Gideon’s sons. The people of Shechem, who once welcomed Abimelech, begin to turn against him. They set ambushes in the mountains, rob travelers, and stir unrest. A man named Gaal rises up and challenges Abimelech’s rule, speaking arrogantly and calling for rebellion.
Abimelech hears of Gaal’s defiance and responds with calculated violence. He and his men lie in wait overnight and strike early in the morning. Gaal’s forces are routed, and Zebul, the ruler of the city loyal to Abimelech, drives Gaal out. But Abimelech doesn’t stop there. He moves on to destroy the entire city of Shechem. He kills its people, razes the city, and sows it with salt—a symbol that it should never be rebuilt. Then, when the leaders of the nearby tower flee to a stronghold in the temple of their god, Abimelech sets fire to it, killing about a thousand men and women. The very ones who made him king are consumed by his wrath. Jotham’s warning has come true—fire from the bramble indeed consumed the cedars of Lebanon.
Yet, Abimelech’s own downfall is near. He attacks another city, Thebez, and as he approaches its strong tower, a woman throws an upper millstone from the wall, crushing his skull. Mortally wounded and shamed by the idea of dying at the hands of a woman, he asks his armor bearer to kill him. He dies not with honor, but in disgrace and futility. His violent rise ends in violent ruin.
In the end, the chapter tells us that God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech and the evil of the leaders of Shechem. Their sin returned upon their heads. For us, this is a sobering reminder. When we reject God's guidance and chase after self-serving power, we invite chaos and destruction into our lives. When we allow evil to grow unchecked—when we remain silent in the face of injustice—our complicity becomes part of the judgment. But God sees. Even when we feel powerless, we are assured that His justice will come, and those who destroy others for personal gain will not escape His hand.
Judges 9 challenges us to look closely at the roots of leadership, ambition, and justice in our communities. It’s a call to examine where we place our trust and to remember that peace and righteousness come not through force or manipulation, but through humble obedience to God. We are invited to choose well, to speak truth even when it’s unpopular, and to remember always that God holds every life, every kingdom, and every motive in His perfect justice.