JU9-2: Why Chapter 9 In The Book Of Judges Should NOT Exist In Our Bibles

Following on the heels of yesterday’s conversation, let’s take stock of where we’re at.

So the situation is that one of Gideon’s sons called Avimelech who was the product of Gideon’s union with a Canaanite concubine was making an appeal to the city of Shechem to be their ruler because as he put it…

…”Which is better for you
— that all seventy sons of
Yeruba‘al rule over you,
or that one person rule
over you?” 

Now understand, in these tribal cultures, one’s bloodlines mattered.

Plus, any son whose father used to be the leader over all Israel obviously possessed certain political advantages.

So again, what we have here is a mixed half-Canaanite and half-Hebrew son of Gideon born from a concubine pitting himself against the 70 pure Hebrew sons of Gideon who were born from proper legal wives.

That’s the situation we’ve got here and it was fraught with both racial and political tension.

Gideon would be appealing to the Canaanite population residing in Shechem while the 70 pure Hebrew brothers would naturally be inclined to show favor to the Israelites living in the area.

Which reminds me that oh yeah I forgot to tell you…Shechem was a mixed city comprised of Canaanites and Hebrews living together side-by-side.

Which undoubtedly meant there was a ton of intermarriage going on.

Again, as I mentioned yesterday, this was a situation that never should have happened.

Israel was NEVER supposed to mingle with let alone intermarry with the Canaanites.

God’s orders to Joshua were to boot the Canaanites out of the land…COMPLETELY.

If Joshua had done his job properly per the Lord’s instructions, we wouldn’t even have a Chapter 9 in the Book of Judges.

I find this thought interesting because this is one of those chapters that shouldn’t even exist in our Bibles if the Israelites had fully obeyed the Lord in driving out the Canaanites.

Now to be clear, Shechem was mostly an Israelite city and for the most part was under Hebrew control…but not completely.

That’s why Avimelech’s mother’s family (and the other Canaanites living in the area) would see this as a strategic opportunity to gain the upper hand of power in the region.

Or at the least, as a chance to establish a half-blooded Canaanite leader who would be sympathetic to the plight of the Canaanites in the area.

And actually there was another important reason why Avimelech had his eyes on Shechem.

It was situated at the crossroads of all the major trade routes and was located smack dab in a region teeming with fertility. 

And not only that, the city of Shechem played a key role in both Israel’s spiritual heritage and cultural history.

So if Avimelech gained control of this town, he’d gain control of a powerful political platform that would significantly raise his status and reputation in the area.

This would obviously make it easier for him to exercise his authority and collect taxes from the tons of trading caravans that regularly passed through the area.

Again, I know I keep harping on this but this situation should never have been.

This is what happens when you’re half-hearted in your obedience to the Lord’s commands because you prefer convenience and comfort to compliance to the commands.  

That’s your takeaway for today.

Ya hear me homies?