Abimelech is legitimized in Judges 9:6 by human decision rather than divine endorsement.
In this passage, we read, “All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.” (v.6) Even though this verse at first might appear to be a brief statement of a political event, it carries significant weight in understanding Israel’s tumultuous period during the days of the judges. Shechem was a city located in the central hill country of Canaan, historically significant for its role in shaping the covenant history of Israel (Joshua 24:1). The reference to the “oak of the pillar” is likely a sacred spot or a site that was tied to significant oaths or coronation traditions, indicating that Abimelech’s rise to power was presented with a sense of official ceremony. Beth-millo may have been a fortress-like structure or district within or near Shechem, and together with the people of Shechem, they collectively agreed to acknowledge Abimelech as their king.
Abimelech stands in a tenuous historical continuity: he was one of the sons of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), who lived during the late 12th to early 11th century BC. Gideon had been a judge of Israel, and after Gideon’s death, Abimelech sought to grab power for himself. His crowning by the men of Shechem underscores how the people placed their trust in a self-appointed leader rather than continuing to rely on the Lord’s guidance, foreshadowing the later times when Israel would patternedly demand a king (1 Samuel 8:5). From a broader biblical perspective, Abimelech’s unsteady rule and self-elevation stand in sharp contrast to the humble and righteous kingship ultimately exemplified in Jesus, who taught that the true King lays down His life to serve and save His people (John 18:37).
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Judges 9:6 meaning
In this passage, we read, “All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.” (v.6) Even though this verse at first might appear to be a brief statement of a political event, it carries significant weight in understanding Israel’s tumultuous period during the days of the judges. Shechem was a city located in the central hill country of Canaan, historically significant for its role in shaping the covenant history of Israel (Joshua 24:1). The reference to the “oak of the pillar” is likely a sacred spot or a site that was tied to significant oaths or coronation traditions, indicating that Abimelech’s rise to power was presented with a sense of official ceremony. Beth-millo may have been a fortress-like structure or district within or near Shechem, and together with the people of Shechem, they collectively agreed to acknowledge Abimelech as their king.
Abimelech stands in a tenuous historical continuity: he was one of the sons of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), who lived during the late 12th to early 11th century BC. Gideon had been a judge of Israel, and after Gideon’s death, Abimelech sought to grab power for himself. His crowning by the men of Shechem underscores how the people placed their trust in a self-appointed leader rather than continuing to rely on the Lord’s guidance, foreshadowing the later times when Israel would patternedly demand a king (1 Samuel 8:5). From a broader biblical perspective, Abimelech’s unsteady rule and self-elevation stand in sharp contrast to the humble and righteous kingship ultimately exemplified in Jesus, who taught that the true King lays down His life to serve and save His people (John 18:37).