Judges 9: A comparison of the narrative arch of Abimelech son of Gideon and Sisera general to Jabin king of Canaan.

This past week at one of the bible studies I attend we went through the rise and fall of Abimelech in Judges chapter 9. It reminded me that I had at some point done some work on the passage. I was able (thanks to Google drive) to go back and search through a study in Judges from 2017. Below are a few slides that show the fruits of study in narratives told in Judges 4 (Deborah & Sisera) and Judges 9 (Abimelech).

My apologies for any formatting errors that render from my Google Slides notes to this blog template.

At risk of being preachy, I will put the application of these discoveries here up front. It is my firm belief that scripture puts forward both Sisera and Abimelech as two sides of the same coin - terrible oppression that comes upon God's people as a result of rejecting God's righteous rule. Sisera is an example of what terrible oppression looks like when the oppression comes from sources outside of God's covenant people. Whereas, Abimelech is an example of what terrible oppression looks like when the oppression comes from sources within the community of God's covenant people.

Therefore, God's people (regardless of leadership status, title, or calling), must be vigilant in repentance, faithful in their reading of God's word to discern God's desires, and ready to act when God presents opportunity to slay sin (individually, and corporately).

Abimelech

1. The start of the cycle:
1. The Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals
1. Judges 8:33-35
2. The oppressor is introduced:
1. Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.’
1. Judges 9:1-2

Sisera (Beginning)

1. The start of the cycle:
1. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord
1. Judges 4:1-2
2. The oppressor is introduced
1. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years
1. Judges 4:2b-3a

Abimelech (Middle)

1. The downfall predicted -Jotham
1. “let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
1. Judges 9:20
2. Friends become enemies -Citizens of Shechem
1. Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.’

1. Judges 9:1-2

Sisera (Middle)

1. The downfall predicted -Deborah
1. “I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’
1. Judges 4:7
2. Friends become enemies -Kenite
1. Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.
1. Judges 4:17

Abimelech (End)

1. The destruction realized -predicted by Jotham
1.  Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
1. Judges 9:52-53
2. The legacy of the oppressor -The Lord reigns
1. Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
1. Judges 9:56-57

Sisera (End)

1. The destruction realized - predicted by Deborah
1. But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
1. Judges 4:21
2. The legacy of the oppressor -The Lord reigns
1. On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.
1. Judges 4:23-24