Who was Abimelech in the Book of Judges? | GotQuestions.org Job 5:24 does not involve sin, but chata' appears in the verse: "You shall know that your tent is in peace; you shall visit your habitation and find nothing amiss." He also kept Abimelech from killing Abraham for lying to the king. Now the Lord has blessed you. - Genesis 26:27-29. by H.-J. Abimelech was a son of Gideon, the King of Israel, and his concubine from Shechem. A series of incidents involving wells followed, and a covenant concluded the hostilities (26:17-32). The king was angry that Isaac had lied. Abimelech sent for Isaac. It more clearly delineates the deviation. Isaac was afraid that the men might kill him in order to take his wife for themselves. Anyone who does not study Scripture is far less likely to remember his name and appearance. Then the king commanded that he, with the other priests who stood beside him, 86 in all, should be slain with his family. Youve become more powerful than we are. 17 So Isaac moved from there and encamped in the Gerar Valley, where he settled. We read about a fear Abraham has regarding his wife. The Prophecies of Balaam (Part Two). According to Genesis, Gerar was halfway between Gaza and Beersheba. However, it makes the point that God will override even the natural order of things, if need be, to bless Israel. That son was Abimelech (Judges 8:31). Are You Expecting Too Much from Friendships in the Church? 2007 BibleLessons4Kidz.com All rights reserved worldwide. He has made it even simpler by inspiring I John 3:4 (KJV): "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.". He asked Isaac why he had lied. Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and reviseded.). Abimelech, however, clearly did not consider himself to be the only one at fault. Ishmael and his wife had twelve sons. ( Genesis 12:11-12) Abraham did not lack confidence in his marriage, but he seemingly lacked confidence in God's plan, and in God's protection. Good. Salem Media Group. Pray to Him and listen to His leading all through the day. Hold an object (such as an apple) about two feet away from the child, just to the left or right of their center of vision. All Rights Reserved. Jotham's name means "Yahweh is perfect" or "complete" instead of perfect. And he had one son who wasn't born to his wives, but to a concubine in Shechem. How Long Was Joseph In Potiphars House? He told Abraham to choose any land that he wanted and even gave him gifts of sheep, cattle, silver, and servants. This famine was different from the previous famine that had occurred earlier, during Abrahams lifetime. This time the King of Gerar took Sarah into his palace. That means they are able to see all the things all around them, all the time. King James Version. His story is cautionary. The twelfth chapter of Genesis also sets the foundation for a conflict that occurs in chapter 20. Ahimelech | The amazing name Ahimelech: meaning and etymology ; E.A. However, Abraham is chronologically not the first person the Bible shows prophesying. They even conspired with Gaal son of Ebed (9:26), a non-local and non-Israelite personage, who headed an army of his own and who seduced the Shechemite population by underscoring the city's descent from Hamor the Hivite, its ancient founder (9:2829). Genesis 20:1-16 narrates the story of Abraham emigrating to the southern region of Gerar, whose king is named Abimelech. We always treated you well. But God blessed Isaac. Stay here for a while. Abraham died at the good old age of 175. Source: Hanoch Reviv and Nahum M. Sarna, Encyclopaedia Judaica. Abimelech in Hebrew means: Father of the King. Move your eyes around exaggeratedly. Abimelech (Judges) - Wikipedia 2. Abimelech - Jewish Virtual Library The placing of his story in the Book of Judges is apparently due to its connection with the traditions about the house of Gideon. John W. Ritenbaugh Aside from villains, sometimes people who only played minor roles also give us ideas to talk about, like Jobs friends, or Noahs sons. How Many Wives Did Abraham Have in the Bible - Missional Manifesto Notice God's forbearance. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. The son of Gideon (also called Jerubbabel) by a Shechemite concubine (Judg 8:31) in a matrilineal marriage (one in which the wife lives in the parental home and the children belong to the clan). ); van der Meersch, in: Verbum Domini, 31 (1953), 33543; Milik, in: Verbum Domini, 31 (1953), 33543; Milik, in: RB, 66 (1959), 55075; Naor, in: BIES, 20 (1950), 1620; Fensham, in: BA, 24 (1962), 4850; Gevirtz, in: VT, 13 (1963), 5262 (Eng.). Abimelech prayed to God and all the women were subsequently healed. Abraham in the Land of Abimelech - Amazing Bible Timeline with World His relationship with God is similar and different in ways from our own. 26:1 Later on, a famine swept through the land. Here, chata' is translated as "amiss": Nothing is wrong; the habitation is as it should be. God ALWAYS keeps His promises. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo. Seeing Abrahams wife Sarah, as Abraham sojourned with his flocks in his country after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the king or Abimelech of Gerar took her, intending to make her his wife. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman. (Genesis 20:3). He trusted that God would take care of him, even in the middle of a famine, and God certainly provided for him and his family! This had happened before, in Abrahams time. 16 Then Abimelech ordered Isaac, Move away from us! Abimelech obliges. What the Bible says about Abimelech - Bible Tools However, within any given context, the deviation and especially the attitude involved in the conduct are often revealed more specifically by other terms. Judges 9 GW - Abimelech Kills His Brothers - Bible Gateway There is more than one Abimelech in the Bible, but he is most commonly referred to as the King of Gerar. a-bim'-e-lek ('abhimelekh, "father of a king"): A name borne by five Old Testament persons. Thank your volunteers. Say: Horses eyes are on the sides of their heads, so they have incredible peripheral vision. What is the Book of Judges? He said, I am the God of your father Abraham. Most commentators regard Abimelech (Ps 34) as a copyist error for Achish or a confusion with Abimelech found earlier (1 Sam 21:1). Despite playing a minor role, this single chapter featuring Abimelech offers enough content to give readers lessons to learn. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord . It is found right after the book of Joshua and before 1 Samuel. He gave Abraham a chance to repent, to confess both to God and Abimelech what the truth was, but he never did it. His name can best be interpreted as "my father is king", [2] [3] claiming the inherited right to rule. It does not report on this until the book of Jude: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints'" (Jude 1:14). Say: Still cant guess? Possibly it can be tr. 31 They woke up early the next morning and made the treaty. Here Enoch, before the Flood, prophesies of the return of Jesus Christ with the saints. 9 Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, "So she is really your wife! Promise that you wont harm us. Neither was this his original name, according to Martin Buber, for Judges 8:31 says that his concubinebare him a son; and he called his name Abimelech. The expression to appoint a name is not used of the giving of a name at birth, but of giving a new name as in the case of Abraham (Neh 9:7) or Jacob (2 Kings 17:34). Fifteen or twenty years! We just need to be like Abimelech, willing to learn, willing to change. 1322-1319.) Easily See 6017 Years of Biblical and World History Together! [ABRAHAM] (B.C. Gods blessings on Isaac were even seen by the Philistines who were an ungodly people (Judges 10:6). Abimelech is also involved with both patriarchs in quarrels over wells (21:25; 26:1516, 1821). ABIMELECH IN THE BIBLE - King James Bible Online It is considered one of the 16 historical book of the Bible. Note to Teacher: The Abimelech in Genesis 20 was most likely the grandfather of the Abimelech in Isaacs day. According to the Hebrew Bible, Abraham's well was seized by Abimelech's men ( Genesis 21:25 ), and Isaac 's servants also dug a well at Beersheba ( Genesis 26:25 ). I am the God of your father Abraham, he told him. Now we will do well in the land. (Genesis 26:22), From there Isaac went up to Beersheba. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. Kenya. Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1). Say: These are blinders, also called blinkers. ( 2Samuel 11:21 ) and lest he should be said to have died by a woman, he bade his armor-bearer slay him. [1] Now, there are atleast three Abimelechs mentioned in the Bible. We found water! they said. Judges 9 GOD'S WORD Translation Abimelech Kills His Brothers 9 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal [Gideon], went to Shechem to see the uncles on his mother's side of the family. Again, no sin is involved. As he acted outside of Gods ideal, he set himself up to reap consequences. Abraham replied that he did not know there was any consideration for God here and that upon seeing his wife he would be killed to get her. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Find answers to your Bible questions with Bible Gateway Plus. Also, Beer-Sheba figures on each occasion (21:31; 26:33). Let's dive in. The latter was another slick talker and thus the dissension was sown in Shechem (9:28, 29). The same is true about a man named Abimelech. Abimelech - Wikipedia That being said, Abimelech is a human, a sinner, much as we are, and that makes his story great for us to learn from. In 1 Chronicles 18:16 his name is Abimelech according to the Masoretic Text,[1] and is probably the same as Ahiah (1 Samuel 14:3, 18). A son of Abiathar. 12. Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26) | Bible.org He named it Rehoboth which means wide spaces. He said, Now the Lord has given us room. God is faithful, even when His children are not. The reappearance of the name Phichol (26:26 cf. Just in time, God sent terrible diseases to Pharaoh and his family because Sarah was in his palace. The Bible does not count Abimelech among the Judges. It is probable that the Manassites submitted to him because of his paternal lineage, though it is possible that he attained power solely by means of the support of his hired regiment. From his perspective, he did nothing wrong. - Romans 4:20, Props: one set of blinders (two toilet paper tubes tapes together to resemble binoculars); 3 signs, large enough to be seen by your back row of students: Gods Promises, Trouble, Fear (signs are included at end of lesson); any two objects, such as an apple and a stapler. A Prayer for Durable Joy - Your Daily Prayer - June 25, A Powerful Morning Prayer to Start Each Day, 10 Uncomfortable Topics Pastors Should Still Preach About, A Prayer to Remain Present - Your Daily Prayer - June 26, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Why Christians Should Avoid Debt and 6 Steps for How to Start, The One Thing Satan Really Wants to Take from You. seemingly, Sarahs barrenness was left with Abimelech. Who Is Jotham in the Book of Judges? After his fathers death he murdered all his brethren, 70 in number, with the exception of Jotham, the youngest, who concealed himself; and he then persuaded the Shechemites to elect him king. and (2.). Students may or may not know the stories of Abraham. That would be Enoch. The Man Who Rebuked Another for Lying Abimelech would have taken Sarah, Abraham's wife, into his harem, but learning that she was the wife of another, returned her uninjured. Judges 9:29 chapter context similar meaning copy save. Also, Ezekiel 44:10 reads, "And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity." God worked everything out. Isaac resided as a foreigner in the Philistine territory and around the city of Gerar for a long time and would have had to meet King Abimelech many times. Sarah's honor is saved through a dream theophany in which Abimelech's life is threatened; timely detection of the subterfuge preserves Rebekah's virtue. The sins wreaked destructive results, even though they were committed by simple carelessness, laziness, indifference, or not considering the end. As a result, youve been tremendously blessed by the LORD. 30 So Isaac held a festival for them, and they ate and drank. later between Isaac and another Abimelech of Gerar (26:1-11), king of the Philistines. Isaac claimed that Rebekah was his sister and when Abimelech attempted to move in, God intervened. David writes in Psalm 58:3-4: "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies. 1. Amazing Bible Timeline with World History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham#Abraham_and_Abimelech, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27King_Abimelech_Restores_Sarah_to_her_Husband,_Abraham%27,_Flemish_tapestry_by_Frans_Geubels,_Dayton.jpg. What Should We Know about Darius the Mede? That night the Lord appeared to him. (1997); Y. Amit, Judges (1999), 17380; D. Herr and M. Boyd, in: BAR 28/1 (2002), 3437, 62. 14 He owned so many sheep, cattle, and servants that the Philistines eventually became envious of him. Weve found water! they said. Ask: Does this story sound familiar to anyone? Because they did not quarrel over that one, Isaac named it Rehoboth, because he used to say, The LORD has enlarged the territory for us. In the course of time a conflict arose between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, who had chosen him as their leader (Judg. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. "Iniquities" is translated from the Hebrew avon, which suggests "perversity.". According to the aggadic commentary on his words Behold it is for thee a covering of the eyes (Gen. 20:16), he said to Abraham You covered my eyes (i.e., by saying that Sarah was your sister), therefore the son which you will beget will be of covered eyes (i.e., blind). Abimelech is the king of the area and presides over the Philistines. took. Seven Suicides in the Bible | Bible.org 3 Remain in this land, and Ill be with and bless you by giving all these lands to you and to your descendants in fulfillment of my solemn promise that I made to your father Abraham. He advocated for himself by speaking to God about his innocence (Genesis 20:4). Did Abram Really Lie? | Answers in Genesis That was because the Lord blessed him. (Genesis 26:12) Did you hear that? How Many Men Named Jotham Appear in the Bible? - Christianity See, how God withheld the king from touching Abrahams wife, and again the stern warning, that if you dont return her, You and all yours will die. When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had revolted, he was struck mortally on his head by a mill-stone, thrown by the hand of a woman from the wall above. Abimelech - Lockyer's All the Men of the Bible - Bible Gateway He also pitched his tents there and his servants dug a well. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). They wanted a peace treaty with Isaac, even though Isaac had never shown any signs of being unpeaceful. . After Abimelech had reigned three years, the citizens of Shechem rebelled. Possibly Abiathar had a son also called Ahimelech, or the two names, as some think, may have been accidentally transposed in 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 18:16, marg. However, others believe "Agag" to be a royal name or title among the Amalekites, much like "Pharaoh," "Hadad," and "Abimelech" were to the Egyptians, Syrians, and early Philistines. How many sons of Gideon were slain? - Apparent Bible Contradiction of Either way, the name means "father of the king." Some of the Philistines kings are called "Abimelech." For example, the king of Gerar who took Sarah into his harem is called "Abimelech" in Genesis 20:2. Abimelech hastened to Shechem and attacked Gaal and his confederates (9:3940). God said, I will do all of those things because Abraham obeyed Me. The King instantly returned Sarah to Abraham. reflexively, he appointed for himself the new name: this usurper and son of a concubine boasts that my father before me was really a king. He currently contributes work to iBelieve, Crosswalk, and supports various clients through the platform Upwork. Wife-sister narratives in the Book of Genesis - Wikipedia His attempted seizure of Sarah is explained by the fact that he was childless, and that he hoped to be blessed with offspring by marrying such a pious woman (PdRE 26). This is a scribal error for Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, as shown by 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 24:6 and the LXX and 12 MSS of 1 Chronicles 18:16. Isaac stayed in Gerar, just as God had instructed him, and the Lord blessed him. ADD. This is the first Israelite man in the Bible to form his name with the divine designation melech. Standing up for himself Abimelech responded saying that he was innocent, had not laid a hand on her and had been informed that she was Abrahams sibling not his wife. It records that, although he had heard of Rebekah's great beauty, Abimelech remembered his previous punishment, and therefore left her alone (Ag. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! He then invested Thebez (9:50 ff.). Sin, Christians, and the Fear of God, Find more Bible verses about Abimelech: How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in the city of Gerar. She is definitely your wife! he accused him, So why did you claim, Shes my sister?, Isaac responded, Because I had thought otherwise, Ill die on account of her., 10 What have you done to us? Abimelech asked. What can we learn from the story of the Levite and his concubine. Keep your eyes on His loving promises. (Genesis 20). Right away the king knew Isaac had lied and that Rebekah was really his wife. 50+ premium resources ($2,400+ value!). Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. Isaac must have considered going to Egypt to find food. Gerizim and cried out his famous fable which placed a deliberate slur upon Abimelech as a worthless bramble incapable of offering the men of Shechem security or profit; to the contrary, it grimly predicted their mutual destruction (Judg 9:7-21). Dont be afraid, because Im with you. Later some twenty-five m. from Gerar, a series of disputes broke out between the servants of the two men over the water wells. Finally, the covenant at a well which they called Beersheba, well of seven or swearing, was made by Abraham and Abimelech (21:22-34). Application: Wherever God meets with you is a place worth staying at! Isaac made an oath of peace with the men. Allow us to make a treaty with you 29 by which youll agree not to do us any harm, just as we havent harmed you, since weve done nothing but good for you after we sent you away in peace. I will give all of these lands to you and your children after you. In this chapter, the couple travels to Gerar. Sometimes people like Pharaoh and KingNebuchadnezzar offer their own bits of wisdom through the unfortunate lives they lived. Sometimes four or more depending on the translation. Ask: Where have we heard these promises before? The first person who is named a prophet is Abraham. A corrupt teacher has an effect on his students. How long did God forbear with converted Abraham? She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. Related names Abimelech in the Bible - 3 Important Lessons - Crosswalk Question Who was Abimelech in the Book of Judges? When the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife. They will kill me but let you live. (Genesis 12:11-12). You cant guess? He is first mentioned in Judges 8:30-31 where we read, " [Gideon] had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. Isaac lied and told the men that she was his sister. He asked, What if one of the men had taken Rebekah for himself? The king said then they would have all been guilty of doing wrong. We sent you away in peace. Attractive design ideal for your home, office, church . Their destination - the promised land where God would make Abraham into a great many nations. After returning home, he fathered 70 sons by many wives. However, even though there are clearly 2 sons of Gideon that weren't slain (Abimelech and Jotham), the chapter says several times that Abimelech killed all 70 of Gideon's sons. 20 But the herdsmen who lived in Gerar quarreled with Isaacs herdsmen. 1. Say: What? New International Version (NIV). There is more than one Abimelech in the Bible, but he is most commonly referred to as the King of Gerar. Here, the fathers missed achieving God's standard, that is, the level of conduct He would have exhibited were He involved in the same situation as they. God promised these things to Isaacs father, Abraham. Remain with God by reading and obeying His perfect Word (John 15:10). At its simplest, sin is a deviation from what is good and right. Abraham, again fearing for his life as he had with Pharaoh (Gen 12:10-20), declared that Sarah was his sister. Again, without turning your head, tell me what I am holding up. 26 Later, Abimelech traveled from Gerar to visit Isaac . However, Abraham is chronologically not the first person the Bible shows prophesying. Abraham did not lack confidence in his marriage, but he seemingly lacked confidence in Gods plan, and in Gods protection. Faith looks at the promise. (Charles Bridges) At times, each of us is overwhelmed by hard situations or difficult people in our lives. At first glance, his story does not sound too different from other characters in the Bible, or even our own. What the Bible says about Abimelech. He descended from Eli in the line of Ithamar. Try it free today. What is the Armor of God and How Can We Put it On Daily? Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham along side his wife Sarah. Top 50 American Jews Join our mailing list Join Support JVL Donate Abimelech (Heb. Rabbinical literature linked the extermination of the male descendants of David with the extermination of the priests of Nob by Saul - deeming it divine retribution because David's action had provoked Saul's outburst - and also linked the survival of David's descendant Joash with that of Ahimelech's son Abiathar.[2]. J. Skinner, Genesis (ICC, 19302), S.V. The second view: Title If Abraham died, on account of his wife or for another reason, God would not fulfill His promise. The water imagery shifts in the second clause of verse 7 from the land's abundance to the people's fertility. It seems Isaac may have been searching for God to reveal the right spot to settle down. A king of Gerar in the time of Abraham ( Gen. 20; 21:22-32; 26:1-16, 26-31 ). Without turning your head, tell me what I am holding up. Ask for a volunteer. my father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as "Pharaoh" was of the Egyptian kings. God came to Abimelech in a dream and said, "You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for . His crops grew and his livestock multiplied. 12 Isaac received a 100-fold return on what he planted that year in the land he received, because the LORD blessed him. A priest in the days of David (1 Chron 18:16). and Phoen. Other non-monarchal rulers governed in Shechem at different times: Hamor the Hivite, ruler of Shechem in the days of Jacob (Gen. 34:2), was "chief of the country"; Lab'ayu, chief of Shechem during the 14th century B.C.E., known from the el-Amarna letters, was another such example. He was the twelfth High Priest, and officiated at Nob, where he was visited by David (he gave David and his companions five loaves of the showbread) when David fled from Saul (1 Samuel 21:19). Geographers have long noted that, for its size, the land of Israel is one of the most geographically and climatically diverse areas on earth. Whether Abraham was implying that she was doubly protected as E. Speiser has maintained on the basis of the Nuzu documents is uncertain. ( Judges 8:31 ) (B.C. After Abimelech exercised his political rights as king and took Sarah for himself, he received a terrifying dream from God. Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. If Abraham died, on account of his wife or for. All rights reserved. Horse Blinders. Possibly this reflects a split within the local population, part supporting Abimelech and part opposing him. esp.). There is no evidence of any doublet between (1.) Furthermore, Abimelech was being led to sin because of Abraham and Sarahs sin of lying.