1. Abimelech
Judges 8:22 – 9:57

2. Background You know the story of Gideon
Tested God with the fleece
Tested army with how they drank water
Won the battle with pitchers and torches
But the story does not end there
This is the story of Gideon and his son, Abimelech

3. THE PLOT Gideon was asked to become their king
Judges 8: Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian." 23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you."
He lived away from Shechem – at Ophrah

4. THE PLOT Gideon was asked to become their king
Judges 8:24 Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
Gideon made an ephod (garment of the high priest)
The people of Ophrah used it as an object of worship (idol).
It became a snare to Gideon.

5. THE PLOT THICKENS Gideon had 70 sons from many wives
Judges 8: Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
Abimelech decides he should be king.
Kills all his 70 brothers – except one – to become king
Judges 9:5 Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

6. THE FABLE
Judges 9:7-15
Will the Olive tree be king?

7. THE FABLE Judges 9:7-15 Will the Olive tree be king?
Will the Fig tree be king?

8. THE FABLE Judges 9:7-15 Will the Olive tree be king?
Will the Fig tree be king?
Will the Grape vine be king?

9. THE FABLE Judges 9:7-15 Will the Olive tree be king?
Will the Fig tree be king?
Will the Grape vine be king?
Will the bramble bush be king?
Abimelech was the bramble bush
Reigned for 3 years

10. THE PLANS Now Shechem regrets making him king
Judges 9: After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

11. THE PLANS
Judges 9:46 Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.
Abimelech and his men laid branches around and burned the tower – killing 1,000 men and women.
Next town was Thebez
Judges 9:52 So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

12. THE END
Judges 9: But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. 54 Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, 'A woman killed him.' " So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Abilelech is dead. His great plans died with him.
Many in Shechem died at the hands of their bramble bush king.

13. THE END
Judges 9: Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
God punished Abimelech
The wicked men of Shechem were punished
The curse of Jotham came on them
Judges 9:20 Jotham said, „Let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!"

14. THE LESSONS TO LEARN
Good things can become bad – Gideon's ephod

15. THE LESSONS TO LEARN
Good things can become bad – Gideon's ephod
Bad things can become evil – Abimelech killed his brothers

16. THE LESSONS TO LEARN If not stopped – bad becomes worse.
Good things can become bad – Gideon's ephod
Bad things can become evil – Abimelech killed his brothers
If not stopped – bad becomes worse.

17. THE LESSONS TO LEARN God is still in control.
Good things can become bad – Gideon's ephod
Bad things can become evil – Abimelech killed his brothers
If not stopped – bad becomes worse.
God is still in control.
Daniel 4:25b till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.