JU9-11: Any Kingdom Founded On Treachery And Lawlessness Is Doomed To Fail

“So the men of Sh’khem sent out men to ambush him on the mountaintops. They robbed everyone who went past them, and Avimelekh was told about it.“-Judges 9:25

Despite Yotam’s hilltop warning which he had shouted from the top of Mount Gerizim, the people of Shechem continued to follow the wicked Avimelech.

However, at exactly the 3-year mark, the Lord decided it was time to avenge the evil Avimelech had perpetrated. 

We’re told He sent an evil spirit, a demon, to get the Shechemites all riled up…and yes man, it was a real demon.

Of course, the people didn’t realize it was a demon who was agitating their spirits.

They just looked at the behavior of Avimelech, the man they had chosen to rule over them, and became increasingly irritated with him.

One major source of irritation was the fact that Avimelech had chosen to make his home in Arumah instead of Shechem.

Avimelech had appointed a man named Zevul to live in Shechem on his behalf.

This Zevul would serve as a sort of of quasi-governor who guided the people and regularly reported back to the big boss Avimelech…who again was living OUTSIDE of Shechem.

Understand this was a HUGE INSULT to the Shechemites.

Avimelech’s own family members lived in Shechem and they had risked their reputations to get Avimelech crowned king.

So it was assumed from the very beginning that for sure Avimelech would make the center of his government in Shechem.

This is similar to the irritation the American colonists experienced before the revolutionary war.

They were being taxed by a king who didn’t live in the American continent and because of this didn’t really represent them.

As a result, the American people revolted.

Again, this is EXACTLY how the Shechemites felt about their now long distant ruler who they had made king.

After 3 years the people began to see what this Avimelech was really all about.

That he only cared about furthering his own selfish agenda.

So they decided to get back at him.

And keep in mind the Shechemites also weren’t exactly the most moral people in the world themselves either.

Verse 25 says…

“So the men of Sh’khem sent out men to ambush him on the mountaintops. They robbed everyone who went past them, and Avimelekh was told about it.”

Okay, that’s a gross oversimplification of the situation.

Here’s what was really going on.

The people of Shechem decided to plant highway robbers in the twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim.

These robbers strategically nestled themselves inside the hills so they would have a clear view of the main trade highways that ran below them through Shechem.

These interconnecting highways allowed merchants and traders to crisscross with their caravans from the north to the south and from the east to the west.

Well, I’m sure you can guess what happened.

That’s right.

As soon as the caravans passed through the twin hills of Ebal and Gerizim, the hired thugs who were lying in wait would spring into action and rob the traveling traders and merchants.

It was a win-win situation for everyone except the poor traders and merchants who got mugged.

The robbers got wealthy from all the goods they stole and the people of Shechem were pleased because they knew this would cause Avimelech a great deal of trouble and frustration.

See, in those days, a major source of a king’s income came from the taxes and tolls he charged traders and merchants who traveled through any territory he governed.

The deal was if the merchants and traders agreed to pay the king his taxes and any other fees, the king promised to protect them from highway robbers and other nomadic thugs.

But if the king failed in providing protection, the merchants and traders would decide to no longer travel through that area.

And this would be a serious blow to a king’s income.

So this was the situation Avimelech was facing and he knew it.

He knew he had to take action to stop this situation now or his rulership would be in trouble.

Alrighty, the takeaway for today is simple.

Any kingdom founded on treachery and lawlessness is doomed to fail…EVEN THOUGH it may seem to be succeeding today.

Look at what happened to Nazi Germany or the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

And I betcha North Korea is also on God’s list of nations who will NOT stand the test of time.

We’ll continue on the next time we meet.