Abimelech, the Bramble King (3): Abimelech’s Coronation (Judges 9:6-7) by Rev. Angus Stewart
Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:1, 14-33
I. The Shechem Location
II. The Unholy Ceremony
III. The Gerizim Curse
Psalms: 2:6-12; 89:1-6
Matthew Henry on Judges 9:6: “Way being thus made for Abimelech’s election, the men of Shechem proceeded to choose him king (Judges 9:6). God was not consulted whether they should have any king at all, much less who it should be; here is no advising with the priest or with their brethren of any other city or tribe, though it was designed that he should reign over Israel (Judges 9:22). But, the Shechemites, as if they were the people and wisdom must die with them, did all; they aided and abetted him in the murder of his brethren (Judges 9:24), and then they made him king ... these gathered together, not to prosecute and punish Abimelech for this barbarous murder, as they ought to have done, he being one of their citizens, but to make him king ... His wickedness was rewarded with a diadem. What could they promise themselves from a king that laid the foundation of his kingdom in blood? The rest of the Israelites were so very sottish as to sit by unconcerned. They took no care to give check to this usurpation, to protect the sons of Gideon, or to avenge their death, but tamely submitted to the bloody tyrant, as men who with their religion had lost their reason, and all sense of honour and liberty, justice and gratitude.”
C. F. Keil on Judges 9:6: “The inhabitants of Shechem, the worshippers of Baal-berith, carried out the election of Abimelech as king in the very same place in which Joshua had held the last national assembly, and had renewed the covenant of Israel with Jehovah the true covenant God (Josh. 24: 1, 25, 26).”