Joshua 9
Judges 9 introduces Abimelech, Gideon's son, who, with the help of the people of Shechem, kills his brothers and becomes king in Shechem. This chapter highlights the typical "absence of leadership" in the time of the judges and "the danger of human monarchy," and records in detail the establishment of Abimelech's rule, Jotham's parable, and ultimately Abimelech's downfall.
1verseWhen all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
2versethey gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3verseBut when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4versethey also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wineskins,
5verseand old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
6verseThey went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
7verseThe men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us? How could we make a covenant with you?”
8verseThey said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
9verseThey said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of his fame, all that he did in Egypt,
10verseand all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11verseOur elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us.”’
12verseThis our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.
13verseThese wineskins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14verseThe men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the LORD’s mouth.
15verseJoshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.
16verseAt the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
17verseThe children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18verseThe children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
19verseBut all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
20verseWe will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21verseThe princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
22verseJoshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?
23verseNow therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
24verseThey answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25verseNow, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
26verseHe did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them.
27verseThat day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the LORD’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.
Main Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-6: Abimelech persuades the people of Shechem and becomes king of Shechem after killing all but himself among the 70 sons of Gideon (Jerubbaal).
- Verses 7-21: From the top of Mount Gerizim, Jotham rebukes Abimelech's wicked kingship through a parable (the parable of the trees) and delivers a message of warning.
- Verses 22-57: God sends an evil spirit between the people of Shechem and Abimelech, bringing judgment to begin; the conflict between Abimelech and Shechem, Abimelech's violence, and judgment for that violence—Abimelech dies with his skull broken as a result of a woman's millstone.
Overall Meaning and Characteristics
Abimelech's bid for the throne can be seen as the first attempt at a monarchy Israel had made, but it clearly shows that the position was established through human ambition, slaughter, and betrayal, apart from God's will. Jotham's parable symbolically reveals how human desire for power and foolish choices by the community eventually lead to outcomes that harm themselves. The overall narrative sheds light on the themes of power and rule, responsibility, God's sovereignty, and judgment on evil.
Meditation Points
- When leaders and the community do not share the right purposes and values, what kind of destruction can occur?
- We can also reflect on the outcomes brought by human desire for power, and how God's justice is realized.
Applying It to Myself
- Let's reflect on how my choices and decisions can have either a beneficial influence or a harmful influence on the community.
- When I have authority and influence, I can use this as an opportunity to check whether I prioritize responsibility, justice, and God's will for myself.
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