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bimelech murders his brethren, and is made king. (1-6) Jotham
rebukes the Shechemites. (7-21) The Shechemites conspire against
Abimelech. (22-29) Abimelech destroys Shechem. (30-49) Abimelech
slain. (50-57)
Verses 1-6: The men of Shechem chose Abimelech king. God was not
consulted whether they should have any king, much less who it
should be. If parents could see what their children would do,
and what they are to suffer, their joy in them often would be
turned into sorrow: we may be thankful that we cannot know what
shall happen. Above all, we should fear and watch against sin;
for our evil conduct may produce fatal effects upon our
families, after we are in our graves.
Verses 7-21: There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they
are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was
there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the
Lord was their King. Those who bear fruit for the public good,
are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more
than those who merely make a figure. All these fruit-trees gave
much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the
trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the
trees. To rule, involves a man in a great deal both of toil and
care. Those who are preferred to public trust and power, must
forego all private interests and advantages, for the good of
others. And those advanced to honour and dignity, are in great
danger of losing their fruitfulness. For which reason, they that
desire to do good, are afraid of being too great. Jotham
compares Abimelech to the bramble or thistle, a worthless plant,
whose end is to be burned. Such a one was Abimelech.
Verses 22-29: Abimelech is seated in the throne his father refused. But
how long does this glory last? Stay but three years, and see the
bramble withered and burned. The prosperity of the wicked is
short and fickle. The Shechemites are plagued by no other hand
than Abimelech's. They raised him unjustly to the throne; they
first feel the weight of his sceptre.
Verses 30-49: Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for
slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him
formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as
instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and
they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their
welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly
find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of
lies.
Verses 50-57: The Shechemites were ruined by Abimelech; now he is
reckoned with, who was their leader in villany. Evil pursues
sinners, and sometimes overtakes them, when not only at ease,
but triumphant. Though wickedness may prosper a while, it will
not prosper always. The history of mankind, if truly told, would
greatly resemble that of this chapter. The records of what are
called splendid events present to us such contests for power.
Such scenes, though praised of men, fully explain the Scripture
doctrine of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the
human heart, the force of men's lust, and the effect of Satan's
influence. Lord, thou has given us thy word of truth and
righteousness, O pour upon us thy spirit of purity, peace, and
love, and write thy holy law in our hearts.
