(story told in Judges 8:31-9:57)
Abimelech was one of Gideon’s sons, born to a woman from Shechem. After Gideon’s death, Israel again turned away from God. Unlike his father, who refused to be king, Abimelech craved power. He went to his mother’s relatives in Shechem and convinced them to support him as ruler. To secure his throne, Abimelech did something terrible—he killed seventy of his brothers, leaving only one, Jotham, alive.
With his family’s help, the people of Shechem crowned Abimelech as king. But Jotham stood on a nearby mountain and told a parable about trees choosing a king. The story warned that Abimelech’s rule would bring destruction, not peace. After that, Jotham fled for his life, and Abimelech began his harsh reign.
For three years, Abimelech ruled over Israel, but his leadership was marked by pride and violence. Eventually, God allowed division to grow between Abimelech and the people of Shechem. They turned against him, and rebellion broke out. In his anger, Abimelech destroyed the city and burned its tower, killing many of its people.
Later, Abimelech attacked another city called Thebez. When he tried to burn down its tower, a woman dropped a heavy stone from above, crushing his skull. Realizing he was dying, Abimelech asked his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword so people wouldn’t say he had been killed by a woman.
Abimelech’s story is a warning about selfish ambition and pride. His desire for power led to betrayal, bloodshed, and his own downfall. It reminds us that leadership without humility and obedience to God always ends in ruin.