Judges 9:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

NIV: God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

NASB: Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

CSB: God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

NLT: God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.

KJV: Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

NKJV: God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

It didn't take long for Jotham's prophetic curse to be fulfilled (Judges 9:19–20). He had declared that because the leaders of Shechem acted without integrity, fire would come out from both Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem to devour each other. This imagery ties into Jotham's fable, which pictured trees choosing the worthless bramble to be king (Judges 9:8–15), despite it having nothing to offer but disaster.

The curse works itself out through the influence of an evil spirit sent by God. Not all references to spirits "between" persons implies a literal demonic presence. That can be the case, but God's sending of an "evil spirit between" two sides can refer to disagreement, division, hatred, and strife. This is not the only time God uses such methods. He does something similar with King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). He even allows Jesus to be tempted by the Devil in the wilderness to prove His blamelessness (Matthew 4:1–11). Later, Paul urges the Corinthians to turn an unrepentant sinner in their church over to Satan, so that sinner can be led to repentance and salvation (1 Corinthians 5:4–5). Whether the spirit that plagued Abimelech and Shechem is a being, or an attitude, God has authority over it. His sovereignty includes Satan and demons, and He can make use of even those beings to fulfill His will on earth.

In this case, God's will is to hold Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem responsible for their heinous acts (Judges 9:24). That includes the murder of Gideon's seventy sons (Judges 9:1–6). Judgment will come as the wicked persons turn on each other. After three years, tensions lead to a break between Abimelech and the leaders who put him in that position over Shechem. In some form or another, the leaders of Shechem betray their appointed ruler. They revolt against his control and betray him.

Judges 9:22–57 describes the brutal fulfillment of Jotham's curse against his brother, Abimelech, and the leaders of the city of Shechem. God allows the two sides to be split by an evil spirit. First, Shechem's leaders attempt to kill Abimelech. Then they plot with a man named Gaal to overthrow him. Helped by his officer in the city, Abimelech and his men ambush Gaal and Shechem. They kill all the people and destroy the city. They then move on to the town of Thebez to do the same, but Abimelech is killed. Jotham's prediction of divine vengeance (Judges 9:19–20) comes true.

Shechem's leaders conspire with a concubine's son to kill Gideon's other seventy sons. They make this man, Abimelech, their ruler. Gideon's youngest son survives, however, and delivers a curse. Using a fable, he says Abimelech and Shechem's leaders will destroy each other. God causes a division between Shechem's leaders and Abimelech. The noblemen attempt to kill Abimelech and unite behind a new leader. Abimelech discovers the plot and kills everyone in Shechem, destroying the city. When attacking a tower in a nearby town, however, Abimelech's skull is crushed by a thrown millstone. The curse is fulfilled.

Gideon successfully defeated Midianite raiders but declined to become Israel's official king. His sons, however, were held in high esteem during his remaining years (Judges 8). After Gideon's death, ambitious men conspire to kill almost all those heirs. This results in a series of bloody events. Eventually, judgment comes on those responsible. Israel fails to learn from the tragedies. Chapter 10 explains further idolatry and sin, before introducing the next major judge, Jephthah, in chapter 11.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).