Gideon’s Son Abimelech - Judges 8:31

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-one of Judges, we learn how, Gideon had a son named, “Abimelech” where we read,

And his concubine that was in Shechem, 

she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

The verse reads, “And his concubine that was in Shechem,” The writer began with the words, “and his concubine” which means “and his, Gideon’s, mistress or paramour” “that was in Shechem” or “who lived within 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) south- east of Samaria” did the following. The writer shared how the paramour of “Gideon” did the following. 

The verse goes on to say, “she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.” The writer continued with the words “she also bare him a son” which means “she, the concubine, even so and indeed begot, engendered and brought forth to him, Gideon, a male progeny and offspring”, “whose name he called Abimelech” which means “whom Gideon named or made known as Abimelech whose name means ‘Melek is father or my father is king’”. The writer shared how “Gideon’s” paramour indeed produced a male child for him that he named “Abimelech”. 

When we think though the words in this verse, we learn how “Gideon” not only had “many wives”, but he also had a “paramour” with whom he had a male child that he named “Abimelech”. We shall see what happens with “Abimelech” in our next few verses, but for now let us consider the grace and mercy of Jehovah God that is being demonstrated here. God allow this in “Gideon’s” life, and He will use in to manage His Kingdom. Sometimes acts and deeds of people do not align with God’s perfect will for their lives, and for this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our errors and sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us even when we have made an error in judgment according to His perfect purpose and will. (See John 3:16; 1 John 1:9)

Next time we learn how, “Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age”, 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".