Judges 9:3
And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that "he is our brother" wasn't just about kinship; it was a shrewd political calculation for the leaders of Shechem. They saw Abimelech, the son of Gideon who had ties to their city through his mother, as a way to gain influence and power, readily believing whatever served their own ambition.
Following Gideon's death and his son Abimelech's violent seizure of power, his mother's family in Shechem lobbies the city's leaders to support his claim to kingship. The passage highlights how their shared lineage and the promise of personal gain ("He is our brother") swayed the Shechemites, leading them to embrace Abimelech's illegitimate rule and reject Gideon's true offspring. This political maneuvering sets the stage for the ensuing conflict and the tragic downfall that will soon follow.
Why did the leaders of Shechem agree to follow Abimelech? It wasn't just about his words, but about who was speaking them.
Family Ties and Political Power
When Abimelech, the son of Gideon, showed up in Shechem, he didn't come alone. He brought his 'mother's relatives' – a powerful group within the city who acted as his advocates. They spoke to the leaders of Shechem, essentially making Abimelech's case for him.
The key phrase here is that Abimelech's relatives spoke "in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem." This wasn't a public announcement; it was a strategic, behind-the-scenes persuasion, leveraging their existing relationships and influence.
Why it Worked:
Abimelech wasn't the only one with ambition. The people of Shechem had their own deep-seated desires that made them receptive to his plan.
The Lure of Kingship
This event didn't happen in a vacuum. The people of Shechem were explicitly looking for a king. The verse notes that their "hearts inclined to follow Abimelech," not just because of his relatives' persuasion, but because they were already leaning in that direction.
Understand the original words
lebab · Hebrew Noun
The inner person, including the seat of intellect, will, desire, and moral decision-making; the center of one's spiritual and emotional life.
The verse highlights how political expediency and kinship ties, rather than justice or divine will, motivated the leaders of Shechem to support Abimelech. Their decision ignored Gideon's prior refusal of kingship and paved the way for a brutal period of conflict.
c. 11th Century BC
Gideon's Ministry and Gideon's Refusal of Kingship
Gideon, a judge of Israel, delivers the people from Midianite oppression but refuses offers of kingship, stating that the Lord will rule over them. He fathers many sons, including Abimelech, through a concubine in Shechem.
c. 11th Century BC— this verse
Abimelech's Usurpation of Power
After Gideon's death, his son Abimelech, with the support of the men of Shechem and his maternal relatives, murders his 70 half-brothers to seize control of the city and claim kingship, though his rule is short-lived and turbulent.
c. 11th Century BC
Abimelech's Reign and Destruction of Shechem
Abimelech's tyrannical reign is marked by conflict, culminating in his destruction of Shechem and the subsequent death of his own kinsmen who had aided him.
c. 11th Century BC
Abimelech's Death at Thebez
Abimelech is ultimately killed by a millstone thrown from a tower during his assault on Thebez, a fate foreshadowing divine judgment.
This passage highlights a similar tribal/factional division where a 'worthless fellow' incites rebellion based on regional identity, mirroring how Abimelech's maternal ties swayed the Shechemites.
1 Kings 12:16When the people heard that Rehoboam would not lighten their burden, they exclaimed, 'What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.' This shows how appeals to kinship or shared identity can be used to justify secession and political division.
Philippians 3:3While the context is spiritual, Paul speaks of those who 'glory in the flesh,' meaning they rely on human lineage or outward qualifications. The Shechemites' inclination to Abimelech because 'he is our brother' reflects a similar misplaced reliance on human connection over true righteousness.
John 7:42The people questioned Jesus, 'Has not the Scripture said that the Christ, from the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was, comes?' This shows how appeals to heritage and perceived rightful claims can influence popular opinion and political outcomes.
clarkeJudges 9:3: "And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother."
He is our brother - We shall be raised to places of trust under him, and our city will be the capital of the kingdom.
gillJudges 9:3: "And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother."
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of the men of Shechem all these words,.... Got them together in some certain place, and laid before them all that Abimelech had suggested to them, and spake in his favour to them: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, he is our brother…
What's easy to miss here is that "he is our brother" wasn't just about kinship; it was a shrewd political calculation for the leaders of Shechem. They saw Abimelech, the son of Gideon who had ties to their city through his mother, as a way to gain influence and power, readily believing whatever served their own ambition.
Following Gideon's death and his son Abimelech's violent seizure of power, his mother's family in Shechem lobbies the city's leaders to support his claim to kingship. The passage highlights how their shared lineage and the promise of personal gain ("He is our brother") swayed the Shechemites, leading them to embrace Abimelech's illegitimate rule and reject Gideon's true offspring. This political maneuvering sets the stage for the ensuing conflict and the tragic downfall that will soon follow.
Following Gideon's death and his son Abimelech's violent seizure of power, his mother's family in Shechem lobbies the city's leaders to support his claim to kingship. The passage highlights how their shared lineage and the promise of personal gain ("He is our brother") swayed the Shechemites, leading them to embrace Abimelech's illegitimate rule and reject Gideon's true offspring. This political maneuvering sets the stage for the ensuing conflict and the tragic downfall that will soon follow.
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Why a King?
This desire for a king, fueled by self-interest and a rejection of God's established order, set the stage for the tragedy that unfolded in Shechem.
"And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”" — What's easy to miss here is that "he is our brother" wasn't just about kinship; it was a shrewd political calculation for the leaders of Shechem. They saw Abimelech, the son of Gideon who had ties to…
