Abimelech

Abimelech (Judges 8:33–9:57)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   introduction: Israel's sin8:33–35anticipates Israel's sin against Gideon's family
2. b
   Gideon's seventy sons killed by Abimelech9:1–6setting: town north of Shechem; killing involves a stone (and presumably a sword); sons of Gideon killed by fellow Israelites
3. c
   Jotham's curse upon Shechem and Abimelech9:7–21calls for strife between Abimelech and Shechem; prominence of trees (ʿēṣîm); speaks from top of the mount (rōʾš har) (Gerizim); calling for fire (ʾēš) to come out from Abimelech and consume lords of Shechem
4. d
   TURNING POINT: God intervenes to help9:22–25summary of Abimelech's rule
5. c′
   Jotham's curse upon Shechem fulfilled: Shechem destroyed by Abimelech9:26–49strife breaks out between Abimelech and Shechemites; trees or wood (ʿēṣîm) used against Shechem; tops of mountains (rōʾšê hehārîm); fire (ʾēš) used by Abimelech to destroy Shechemites
6. b′
   Gideon's son, Abimelech, is killed9:50–55setting: town north of Shechem; killing involves a stone and a sword; son of Gideon killed by fellow Israelite
7. a′
   conclusion9:56–57looks back on how God punished Shechem and Abimelech for their sin against Gideon's family