SERIES H --- THE JUDGES --- LESSON 09

MURDER

A PARABLE OF THE TREES

From Judges 9:1-24

Gideon’s son Abimelech went to Shechem one day to visit his mother’s relatives. His mother, who had been Gideon’s concubine, had made her home in Shechem. ‘Why don’t you have a talk with the men of Shechem,’ said Abimelech. ‘Ask whether they would rather have Gideon’s other seventy sons rule them as seventy kings or have only one king. Naturally, I would be that king, for I am one of your own family.’ Abimelech’s relatives talked with the men of Shechem about this. Since Abimelech was one of their own, they decided to make him king. ‘He’s our own relative!’ they said. The men of Shechem gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver from the offerings which had been presented to the idols to go with him to Gideon’s home at Ophrah, where he killed all seventy of Gideon’s other sons, except Jotham the youngest, who had hidden himself. Then the people of Shechem and Beth-millo knelt under the oak by the monument at Shechem and proclaimed Abimelech king. When Jotham learned that Abimelech was king, he stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to the men of Shechem below. ‘Listen to me, men of Shechem, if you want YHVH to listen to you!’ He said: ‘Once the trees made plans to anoint a king. ‘Rule over us!’ they said to the olive tree. But the olive tree refused. ‘Why should I stop giving olive oil, which honours YHVH and man, to sway over the other trees?’ ‘Then you become our king,’ the trees said to the fig tree. But the fig tree answered, ‘Should I stop giving rich fruit just to raise my head above the other trees?’ ‘Then you be our king,’ the trees said to the grapevine. But the grapevine answered, ‘Should I stop giving wine, which cheers both YHVH and man, to sway over the trees?’ ‘At last, the trees talked to the thorn bush. ‘Rule over us,’ they said. The thorn bush answered, ‘If you honestly want me for your king, then bow down beneath my shadow. If you do not want me, let fire come forth from me and destroy the great cedars of Lebanon.’ ‘If you have done what is right in making Abimelech king,’ Jotham continued ‘and if you have been honest and true with Gideon and his family, as his deeds deserve, then be glad for Abimelech.’ ‘But remember how my father fought for you, risking his life to rescue you from the Midianites. Yet you have rebelled against my father’s family, killing seventy of his sons at one place and have made Abimelech, son of Gideon’s concubine, your king just because he is your relative.’ ‘If you have done what is right with Gideon and his family, then you and Abimelech will rejoice in each other. But if not, may fire come from Abimelech to devour the people of Shechem and Ben-millo and may fire come from the people of Shechem and Ben-millo to devour Abimelech.’ After he had spoken these words, Jotham ran away to Beer to hide, for he was afraid Abimelech would kill him. For three years Abimelech ruled as a king. Then YHVH sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the people of Shechem so that they rebelled against him. Thus, Abimelech and the people of Shechem began to get what they deserved for the shameful way they had treated Gideon’s sons.

COMMENTARY

TREES OF THE BIBLE

After Gideon’s death, one of his sons murdered his brothers so that he alone could rule. This man Abimelech was helped in his evil acts by relatives in the city of Shechem. In a parable about trees, they were warned about the results of their evil and foolish actions. The Israelites depended greatly on trees for daily necessities. Medicine, cosmetics, perfume, dyes and various fabrics came from them, as did food, beverages, household utensils, rope, footwear and wood for fuel and building. Many trees had symbolic meanings that lasted into modern times.

CEDAR OF LEBANON

When Solomon used deep red cedar wood in his temple, the majestic evergreen covered the mountains of Lebanon. Because of its beauty and fragrance, foreign rulers sought it for their palaces. Builders wanted it for its amazing durability. Tallest and widest of any Near Eastern tree, the {Prince of Trees} was a living symbol of strength, grandeur and dignity.

LAUREL

Brightened with small greenish-white flowers, the laurel is better known today as the bay tree. Medicine came from its leaves, bark, roots and berrylike fruit. Then as now, the bay leaf is a cooking spice. Because it stays green all year, David chose the laurel as a symbol of prosperity.

TAMARISK

The twisted branches of the tamarisk are covered with tiny pink blossoms in the spring. It stays green all summer, growing best in sandy desert areas where most trees cannot survive. It is sometimes used for building and to make charcoal. Hagar placed her son Ishmael in the shade of the tamarisk, waiting for him to die.

ACACIA

The acacia is the most common desert tree. The orange-brown wood was chosen for the Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle altar. It remains prized by cabinetmakers. The yellow flowers once scented perfumes and a resinous wood extract was used both as a drug and in tanning leather. Pods and foliage still serve as cattle feed.

HOLM OAK

As the cedar held the highest respect among evergreens, so the oak was the symbol of strength among those trees that drop their leaves every year. In fact, the Hebrew word for {oak} and {might} is the same. Oaks mark the site of many important events in the Old Testament.

ALMOND

Opening its pink blossoms before any other plant, the almond tree or {wakeful tree,} symbolizes the awakening of spring. The Israelites used the nut in cosmetics, ointments and oil and almond extract still flavours food today. The budding of Aaron’s rod; an almond tree branch; convinced the Israelites of his authority.

CYPRESS

Like cedar, cypress wood is extremely durable. Cypress mummy coffins have lasted thousands of years. Cypress was used to carve idols and build ships. Noah’s ark may have been built of cypress wood.