Dr Paul Allen

English: Abimelech was a son of the great judge Gideon (Judges 9:1) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “If then you have acted in truth and sincerity … then rejoice in Abimelech.… But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” (Judg. 9:19–20) Jotham does not leave the men of Shechem to puzzle out the meaning of his parable. Before fleeing into lifelong exile, he gives the interpretation, publicly charging Abimelech and the Shechemites with their heinous crimes and warning of the dire consequences that are sure to flow from their unholy alliance. The emphasis here is on “ ‘truth and sincerity’ ”; this is the salt with which all of life is to be seasoned in Israel (see Josh. 24:14). “ ‘If’ ” Jotham says, ‘ “you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and … if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, the

English: Nablus and Mount Gerizim Français : Israël - Naplouse et le mont Gerizim avant 1899 עברית: שכם והר גריזים (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’ ” ( Judg. 9:14). The men of Shechem have crowned Abimelech as king—despite the fact that he has just Carried out a mass fratricide. God is clearly judging Israel by leaving the people to their sin. As Matthew Henry notes, “It was a sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the progress of this threatening mischief.” However, God has not left Himself without a witness against evil. One of Gideon ’s 70 sons managed to survive the massacre— Jotham , the youngest of them all, who hid himself from Abimelech and his thugs ( Judg. 9:5). Does Jotham seek to raise an army to avenge his brothers or to defend his alleged crown rights? No, he contents himself with