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Questions and Answers
What trees did the rest of the trees ask to rule over them?
What trees did the rest of the trees ask to rule over them?
- Bramble (correct)
- Olive tree (correct)
- Fig tree (correct)
- Vine (correct)
How did Abimelech convince the people of Shechem to follow him?
How did Abimelech convince the people of Shechem to follow him?
He appealed to them by saying he is their brother.
Who was Abimelech's father?
Who was Abimelech's father?
Jerubbaal.
Who did Abimelech commune with in Shechem?
Who did Abimelech commune with in Shechem?
Where did Abimelech go to get support for his plan to rule?
Where did Abimelech go to get support for his plan to rule?
What did Abimelech ask of his mother's family?
What did Abimelech ask of his mother's family?
Who did Abimelech turn to in order to become ruler?
Who did Abimelech turn to in order to become ruler?
What did Abimelech do at Ophrah?
What did Abimelech do at Ophrah?
How did the men of Shechem respond to Abimelech's appeal?
How did the men of Shechem respond to Abimelech's appeal?
What reason did the men of Shechem give for following Abimelech?
What reason did the men of Shechem give for following Abimelech?
How much money did the people of Shechem give Abimelech?
How much money did the people of Shechem give Abimelech?
Where did the money come from which was given to Abimelech at Shechem?
Where did the money come from which was given to Abimelech at Shechem?
What did Abimelech do with the money from Shechem?
What did Abimelech do with the money from Shechem?
How did Jotham react to Abimelech being made king?
How did Jotham react to Abimelech being made king?
Where did Abimelech kill Jerubbaal's sons?
Where did Abimelech kill Jerubbaal's sons?
What did Abimelech do with his mother's family?
What did Abimelech do with his mother's family?
How many of Gideon's sons did Abimelech kill?
How many of Gideon's sons did Abimelech kill?
On what did Abimelech kill his brothers?
On what did Abimelech kill his brothers?
Who killed his brothers at Ophrah?
Who killed his brothers at Ophrah?
Where were Gideon's sons killed?
Where were Gideon's sons killed?
How did Jotham avoid getting killed?
How did Jotham avoid getting killed?
Who made Abimelech king?
Who made Abimelech king?
Where was Abimelech made king?
Where was Abimelech made king?
Who was made the first king of Israel?
Who was made the first king of Israel?
What appeal did Abimelech make to the people of Shechem?
What appeal did Abimelech make to the people of Shechem?
What response did the olive tree give to the other trees?
What response did the olive tree give to the other trees?
What response did the fig tree give to the other trees?
What response did the fig tree give to the other trees?
What response did the vine give to the other trees?
What response did the vine give to the other trees?
What response did the bramble give to the other trees?
What response did the bramble give to the other trees?
How was Abimelech killed?
How was Abimelech killed?
What did the men of Shechem set at the top of the mountains?
What did the men of Shechem set at the top of the mountains?
Who escaped the slaughter at the stone at Ophrah?
Who escaped the slaughter at the stone at Ophrah?
What message did Jotham give the people of Shechem and Millo?
What message did Jotham give the people of Shechem and Millo?
Where did Jotham flee to after his announcement in Shechem?
Where did Jotham flee to after his announcement in Shechem?
Who sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem?
Who sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem?
How long did Abimelech reign over Israel?
How long did Abimelech reign over Israel?
How did God end the reign of Abimelech?
How did God end the reign of Abimelech?
Why did God bring about discord between Abimelech and Shechem?
Why did God bring about discord between Abimelech and Shechem?
In whom did the men of Shechem put their confidence during the reign of Abimelech?
In whom did the men of Shechem put their confidence during the reign of Abimelech?
What position did Zebul have in Shechem?
What position did Zebul have in Shechem?
From where did the Shechemites curse Abimelech?
From where did the Shechemites curse Abimelech?
What taunt did Gaal make about Abimelech?
What taunt did Gaal make about Abimelech?
Who was Abimelech's officer?
Who was Abimelech's officer?
Who did Gaal tell the Shechemites to serve?
Who did Gaal tell the Shechemites to serve?
What did Gaal say he would do about Abimelech?
What did Gaal say he would do about Abimelech?
Who was the father of Gaal?
Who was the father of Gaal?
What did the death of Abimelech accomplish?
What did the death of Abimelech accomplish?
What happened to Zebul when he heard Gaal speak about Abimelech?
What happened to Zebul when he heard Gaal speak about Abimelech?
What did Zebul do in response to Gaal's pronouncement?
What did Zebul do in response to Gaal's pronouncement?
What advice did Zebul give to Abimelech?
What advice did Zebul give to Abimelech?
What did Abimelech do in response to Zebul's message (or Gaal's threat)?
What did Abimelech do in response to Zebul's message (or Gaal's threat)?
On the morning when Shechem was attacked, what did Gaal say to Zebul?
On the morning when Shechem was attacked, what did Gaal say to Zebul?
What became of Abimelech's army once he died?
What became of Abimelech's army once he died?
After Gaal saw additional troops coming at him, what did Zebul say to him?
After Gaal saw additional troops coming at him, what did Zebul say to him?
Who led the men of Shechem to fight against Abimelech?
Who led the men of Shechem to fight against Abimelech?
Where did Abimelech spend the first night of his battle against Shechem?
Where did Abimelech spend the first night of his battle against Shechem?
Who told Abimelech that Gaal had been kept out of Shechem?
Who told Abimelech that Gaal had been kept out of Shechem?
Who threw Gaal out of Shechem?
Who threw Gaal out of Shechem?
How far were Gaal's fighters overthrown?
How far were Gaal's fighters overthrown?
How did Abimelech attack Shechem?
How did Abimelech attack Shechem?
Where did the men of the tower of Shechem flee to escape Abimelech?
Where did the men of the tower of Shechem flee to escape Abimelech?
Where did Abimelech gather his troops when attacking the tower of Shechem?
Where did Abimelech gather his troops when attacking the tower of Shechem?
After cutting a bough with an axe, what did Abimelech instruct his soldiers?
After cutting a bough with an axe, what did Abimelech instruct his soldiers?
How many people died in the tower of Shechem?
How many people died in the tower of Shechem?
How many men died in the tower of Shechem?
How many men died in the tower of Shechem?
What city did Abimelech attack after he burned the tower of Shechem?
What city did Abimelech attack after he burned the tower of Shechem?
Where did the citizens of Thebez flee to?
Where did the citizens of Thebez flee to?
How did Abimelech intend to overtake Thebez?
How did Abimelech intend to overtake Thebez?
How was Abimelech injured at Thebez?
How was Abimelech injured at Thebez?
What did Abimelech sow Shechem with?
What did Abimelech sow Shechem with?
What response did Zebul give to Gaal when he saw people coming down from the mountains?
What response did Zebul give to Gaal when he saw people coming down from the mountains?
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Study Notes
Key Characters and Entities
- Abimelech: Son of Jerubbaal, sought to rule Shechem by persuading its people.
- Jotham: Youngest son of Jerubbaal who escaped Abimelech’s slaughter.
- Gaal: Son of Ebed, challenged Abimelech's authority in Shechem.
- Zebul: Ruler of Shechem and Abimelech’s officer, played a key role in strategy against Gaal.
Abimelech's Rise to Power
- Abimelech gained support by appealing to his heritage as the son of Jerubbaal and convincing Shechem's men that one ruler would be better than many.
- Utilized financial backing from the temple of Baalberith, receiving 70 pieces of silver to gather supporters.
- Killed his 70 brothers at Ophrah to eliminate rivals, leaving only Jotham alive.
The Trees' Parable of Kingship
- Various trees (olive, fig, vine) refused to rule over the others, illustrating the burden of leadership, while the bramble accepted the role but warned of destruction.
Jotham's Curse
- After escaping, Jotham cursed Shechem for its choice of Abimelech, stating mutual destruction would ensue between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.
Abimelech's Reign and Struggles
- Abimelech ruled Israel for three years before discord arose between him and the men of Shechem, initiated by God.
- Triggered by the treachery in Shechem and the massacre of Jerubbaal’s sons, conflicts intensified.
Gaal’s Challenge to Abimelech
- Gaal openly questioned Abimelech's legitimacy, rallying the people of Shechem against him.
- Zebul mediated the conflict, sending warnings to Abimelech, leading to a surprise attack on Gaal.
Abimelech's Military Campaigns
- Abimelech used strategic ambush tactics to defeat Gaal and his followers in Shechem and later attacked the tower of Shechem, resulting in significant casualties.
- He employed intimidation and direct assaults, ultimately leading to the destruction of Shechem.
The Fall of Abimelech
- In Thebez, Abimelech was mortally wounded by a millstone thrown by a woman, showcasing the theme of poetic justice.
- His death sparked further turmoil, demonstrating the consequences of his violent ascent to power.
Final Actions
- Abimelech sowed salt in Shechem as a symbol of desolation after its destruction, ensuring the city would remain uninhabitable.
- His violent campaign led to the total demise of those in positions of power while reinforcing the cyclical nature of violence in the struggle for leadership in Israel.
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