72. ABIMELECH.

[JUDG. IX.]

But with Gideon departed the faith and the gratitude of the people. They turned to idolatry, and the worship of Baal became again general in the land. A time of confusion and bloodshed followed. Abimelech, ambitious and unscrupulous, aspired to the sole rulership over Israel. He shrank from no crime to secure this end. He first stirred up the people of Shechem: What is better for you-that seventy persons, all the sons of Jerub-baal, reign over you, or that one man reign over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.' He found sympathy and support, and proceeding to his father's house at Ophrah with a number of reckless and evil-minded men, he slaughtered all his brothers upon one great stone, possibly an old altar of Baal. Jotham alone, the youngest, escaped the terrible massacre. The men of

Shechem now proclaimed Abimelech king. But Jotham, young as he was, felt deeply his wicked brother's atrocity, and longed to avert the danger that threatened the people. He went up to Mount Gerizim, and when large numbers of Shechemites had assembled, he addressed to them the following fine parable-the first we read of in the Bible:

Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken to you. Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive-tree, “Reign thou over us"; but the olive-tree said to them, "Should I leave my fatness, which God and man honour in me, and go to wave over the trees?" Then the trees said to the fig-tree," Come thou and reign over us"; but the figtree said to them, "Should I forsake my sweetness and my choice fruit, and go to wave over the trees?" Then

the trees said to the vine, "Come thou and reign over us"; and the vine said to them, "Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?" Then all the trees said to the bramble, "Come thou to reign over us"; and the bramble said to the trees, "If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon."

Concluding the parable with an appeal which implied the interpretation, Jotham exclaimed: Now, therefore, if you have done truly and sincerely, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his hands deserve for my father fought for you, and exposed his life to the danger, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian if you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerub-baal and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out of Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.'

As Jotham ceased speaking, he disappeared from the mountain top; and fearful for his life, he fled from Gerizim to Beer, where he remained in concealment.

Abimelech was now undisputed ruler, at least over some districts, and he maintained the power for three years. But then a spirit of mutual hostility arose between him and the people of Shechem; the latter waylaid and plundered the followers of Abimelech, who, feeling no longer safe in his old stronghold of Shechem, took up his abode in Arumah. Gaal, the son of Ebed, dexterously fostered the dissension; at a vintage-feast, when all the people were assembled in a great temple of Baal, venting their

wrath against their late tyrant in maledictions, he said: 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerub-baal, and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; for why should we serve him?' He asked to be entrusted with the leadership against Abimelech; he obtained it, and made at once preparations for an attack. But Zebul, Abimelech's faithful and vigilant general, was informed of the plans, and frustrated them; he advised his master to march with his army towards Shechem, to wait in an ambush during the night, and then to fall upon the town. The scheme succeeded completely. Abimelech surprised Gaal, who was compelled to flee, and he took Shechem, which, after a fearful carnage, he razed to the ground. Many Shechemites, with women and children, had escaped to a fortified sanctuary of the god BaalBerith; Abimelech kindled fire around it, and more than a thousand souls perished in the flames. Then he quickly advanced upon the town Thebez; but here his sanguinary career was to come to a disgraceful end. The inhabitants sought refuge in the strong tower, where they tried to hold out against the besiegers. They climbed up to the top, and looked upon the well-equipped army beneath them. The daring Abimelech had already fought his way up to the very gates; he was on the point of hurling the burning firebrands into the midst of his enemies, when a woman, in her rage and despair, threw down a mill-stone upon his head and crushed him. In the agonies of death, he cried hurriedly to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and slay me, lest men say of me, a woman slew me.'

Thus ended the short and evil reign of Abimelech. A unity, which had little of strength and nothing of liberty, was broken up; the Israelites dispersed to their homes; Jotham's curse was realised.

73. TOLA-JAIR-JEPHTHAH.

[JUDG. X.-XII.]

After the time of Abimelech, the Bible mentions briefly two Judges, but gives us hardly more than their namesTola, of the tribe of Issachar, who dwelt in the town Shamir in Mount Ephraim, and judged Israel for twentythree years; and Jair, a Gileadite, who was leader for twenty-two years: he had thirty sons, who possessed as many cities in Gilead, and who are described as 'riding each upon his ass colt.'

After the death of Jair, the Israelites fell back into the darkest idolatry, and worshipped many gods of the surrounding nations. As usual, idolatry was the forerunner of misery and bondage. The heathen nations, ever watchful and ready to take advantage of dissensions, attacked the Hebrews. First the Philistines vexed them, and then the Ammonites fell upon the tribes of Gilead in the east of the Jordan, made them tributary, and imposed upon them heavy burdens, under which they sighed for eighteen years.

Soon afterwards, the Ammonites, forcing their way across the Jordan, attacked the powerful tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Benjamin. There was mourning and consternation among the Israelites, who could not but feel that their own sins and offences had called down upon them this terrible scourge. They prayed earnestly for deliverance; and promising faithful obedience, they eagerly destroyed their idols. In greater force than ever, and flushed by their victories, the Ammonites were assembled in the land of Gilead, prepared for warfare. The Hebrews held council at Mizpah in trembling fear; for there was none who durst lead them against the mighty hosts of the heathen. At last they bethought themselves of an ab

chieftain, and to him they appealed in their despair. Jephthah, a Gileadite, renowned for his valour, had been driven from his father's house by his brothers, who disputed his share in the inheritance. He had fled to the land of Tob, where he lived a wild and reckless life, surrounded by a band of lawless followers. To him came the elders of Gilead, entreating him to return with them, and lead the Hebrew hosts against their dreaded enemy. He agreed to their request, but he insisted upon one condition, which was accepted-that, should he defeat and drive back the Ammonites, he was to be the sole chief and ruler of the people of Gilead. Then he felt, probably for the first time, that he was chosen to fight as the warrior of the Lord for the glory of His name and the rescue of His people. In this solemn turning-point of his life, inspired by a feeling of religious enthusiasm, he made the following vow to the Lord: If Thou shalt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, then it shall be that, whosoever comes forth to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer him up for a burntsacrifice.' And unenlightened as he was, he meant to perform a pious act, a deed of extraordinary devotion.

After fruitlessly attempting a peaceful settlement with the king of Ammon, Jephthah went forth at the head of the Hebrew army. He fought well and bravely, utterly subdued the Ammonites, smiting them in the length and breadth of their country, and taking twenty cities. The Hebrew tribes of Gilead were delivered from their bondage. The news of the glorious victories reached Mizpah, where Jephthah's household was established. He had an only child, a daughter, affectionate, devoted, and heroic. She went out joyfully, playing the timbrel and dancing, to meet her father, when he returned from the battle-field. As he saw her approach in her unconscious gladness, bitter