All Articles For Abimelech, His Usurped Rule and Downfall

Appearing on a rock, above the rabble that crowned Abimelech king, Jotham, like a impersonation of conscience, speaks his parable. The thrust of this remarkable production already has been given in my analysis of the vile strategy that Abimelech employed in achieving his purpose. Let us now examine with care the argument of this significant discourse. Jotham lays before the Schechemites the facts, when he says to them (verses 17, 18), “For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: and ye are risen up against my father’s house...

In treating this subject, we must set out with once more directing attention to Gideon’s doing of making an ephod from the donations of the people. The ephod, as has already been explained, had a high priestly significance. It was a special sacred garment worn by the high priest. With it was connected the Urim and the Thummim through which the people could contact God and to which the judges and rulers in Israel could thus apply, through the high priest, for divine direction in any national crisis and in the management of the affairs of the state. This explains...