Abimelech Went to Shechem - Judges 9:1

In the book of Judges we learned how, “it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side. Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.” and in chapter nine and verse one of Judges, we learn how, “Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem” where we read,

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren,

and communed with them, and with all he family of the house of his mother’s father, saying … 

The verse reads, “And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, …” The writer began with the words, “and Abimelech” whose name means “"Melek is father" or "my father is king” “the son of Jerubbaal” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Jerubbaal whose name means ‘contend with Baal’ and was the name given to Gideon by his father Joash” “went to Shechem” which means “departed and left to Shechem whose name means “back or shoulder” and was “a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Samaria” “unto his mother’s brethren” or “to his, Abimelech’s, immediate female progenitor and ancestor’s brothers”. The writer shared how “Jerubbaal or Gideon’s” male offspring by his concubine named “Abimelech” departed to “Shechem” where the brothers of his “mother” were located.

The verse continues, “… and communed with them, and with all he family of the house of his mother’s father, saying ….” The writer added the words, “and communed with them” which means “and spoke, conversed and talked alongside his mother’s brothers”, “and with all the family” which means “and alongside each, every and the whole of the relatives” “of the house of his mother’s father” or “belonging to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to his, Abimelech’s immediate female progenitor’s immediate male progenitor and ancestor or his grandfather on his mother’s side”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the words found in our next verse.. The writer shared how “Abimelech” talked with his “mother’s brothers” and everyone of his relatives who were part of the dwelling place of his “grandfather on his mother’s side” and said the words discovered in our next verse. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we notice not only that “Abimelech”, who was “Gideon’s” male progeny from his paramour, not only departed to “Shechem”, but he also went there to meet with his “mother’s” brothers and family. He spoke to them with words which we shall discover in our next verse. For now, let us agree that there was motive for “Abimelech” to make this move, and we should remember that God is not only watching over Israel at this time, but He also sees their turning away from Him again. God wants us to stay in fellowship with Him, and this relationship begins when we receive His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of us all, and when He rose from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and lead us according to His plan and purpose for our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8: Revelation 4:11) 

Next time learn how Abimelech said, “Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".