Judges 8:31
And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrasing "he called his name Abimelech" is unusual; it suggests Gideon might have given this ambitious name, meaning "my father is king," as a surname, perhaps foreshadowing or even encouraging the son's future royal aspirations. This detail hints at Gideon's own complicated legacy and the seeds of future conflict sown even in this seemingly simple lineage detail.
Fresh off Gideon's heroic victory and his refusal to be king, the narrative immediately shifts to the consequences of his actions, introducing a son born to him from a concubine in Shechem. This son, named Abimelech, carries a name that foreshadows ambition and kingship, directly setting the stage for the turbulent events and power struggles detailed in the following chapter.
Gideon had 70 sons, but this one son, born to a concubine from Shechem, bears a name that echoes his father's past and foreshadows his own future.
The name "Abimelech" itself is loaded with meaning. While translated as "my father is king," some scholars suggest it might mean "Melech is father," referring to a divine king.
A Title of Power
The mention of 'Shechem' is not just geographical; it's a reminder of a city with a history tied to Israel, a place that would later play a crucial role in Abimelech's life.
The fact that Abimelech's mother was from Shechem is highly significant, especially given the turbulent relationship between the Israelites and the Canaanite inhabitants of that region.
Roots in Division
Understand the original words
pilegesh · Hebrew Noun
A woman of secondary status in a polygamous or patriarchal society who had legal rights, though fewer than a primary wife. In biblical contexts, their children were often considered legitimate, though sometimes treated differently regarding inheritance.
Abimelek · Hebrew Proper Noun
A title meaning 'my father is king,' often indicating a desire for political power or monarchy. In this context, it highlights the irony of Gideon's rejection of kingship while naming his son in a way that suggests royal ambition.
The birth of Abimelech, a son from a concubine in the Canaanite city of Shechem, is presented not just as a family event but as a seed planted for future conflict and a stark illustration of the Israelites' spiritual decay and disregard for Gideon's legacy and God's law.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Gideon's Life and Judgeship
Gideon, a prominent judge, led Israel to victory against the Midianites. He had many wives and seventy sons from them, plus another son, Abimelech, from a concubine in Shechem.
c. 11th century BC
Gideon's Death
After Gideon's death, the Israelites immediately turned back to worshipping idols, abandoning the Lord. They also showed no gratitude or loyalty to Gideon's family.
c. 11th century BC
Abimelech's Ambition Ignited
Abimelech, Gideon's son by a Shechemite concubine, likely of Canaanite descent, leveraged his lineage and the name 'Abimelech' (meaning 'my father is king' or possibly 'king is father') to pursue power.
c. 11th century BC
Abimelech Seizes Power
Abimelech went to his mother's kinsmen in Shechem and persuaded them to make him king, using ill-gotten silver from the temple of Baal-berith.
This passage shows a father naming his son, Isaac, highlighting the significance of parental naming conventions which is echoed when Gideon names his son Abimelech.
Genesis 20:1-2The name Abimelech appears here as the title of a king, suggesting that Gideon's naming of his son carried royal connotations and perhaps an ambition for power, mirroring the context of the Judges verse.
Judges 9:1-6This chapter directly follows the birth of Abimelech and details his violent rise to power, illustrating the dangerous consequences of the ambition that his name may have signified.
1 Samuel 8:5The people demand a king 'like all the other nations,' revealing a desire for centralized, monarchical rule that parallels the underlying sentiment that could have influenced the naming and aspirations of Abimelech.
gillJudges 8:31: "And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech."
And his concubine that was in Shechem,.... Which was not an harlot, but a secondary or half wife; such were generally taken from handmaids, and of the meaner sort, and were not in such esteem as proper wives, had not the management of household affairs, only a share in the bed, and their children did not inherit. This concubine of Gideon's seems not to have been taken into his house at…
pulpitJudges 8:31: "And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech."
Verse 31. - Whose name he called. This is badly translated; it should he, he gave him the name of Abimelech - literally, he set his name Abimelech. There are two phrases in Hebrew. The one, he called his name Seth, Noah, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, etc., as the case may be. And this is the phrase always, though not exclusively (see, e.g., Genesis 35:10; Judges 6:32), used of the name…
The phrasing "he called his name Abimelech" is unusual; it suggests Gideon might have given this ambitious name, meaning "my father is king," as a surname, perhaps foreshadowing or even encouraging the son's future royal aspirations. This detail hints at Gideon's own complicated legacy and the seeds of future conflict sown even in this seemingly simple lineage detail.
Fresh off Gideon's heroic victory and his refusal to be king, the narrative immediately shifts to the consequences of his actions, introducing a son born to him from a concubine in Shechem. This son, named Abimelech, carries a name that foreshadows ambition and kingship, directly setting the stage for the turbulent events and power struggles detailed in the following chapter.
Fresh off Gideon's heroic victory and his refusal to be king, the narrative immediately shifts to the consequences of his actions, introducing a son born to him from a concubine in Shechem. This son, named Abimelech, carries a name that foreshadows ambition and kingship, directly setting the stage for the turbulent events and power struggles detailed in the following chapter.
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c. 11th century BC
The Reign of Abimelech
Abimelech ruled oppressively for three years, during which time he warred against the city and its inhabitants after they rebelled against him.
c. 11th century BC
Abimelech's Violent End
Abimelech was killed by a millstone thrown by a woman from the tower of Thebez, after which he ordered his armor-bearer to finish him off to avoid dying by a woman's hand.
"And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech." — The phrasing "he called his name Abimelech" is unusual; it suggests Gideon might have given this ambitious name, meaning "my father is king," as a surname, perhaps foreshadowing or even encouraging t…
