People & Characters

Abimelech

A son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who murdered his seventy brothers to become the first self-declared king of Israel.

Seeking power, Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to slaughter all his brothers save one (Jotham, who escaped). He was crowned king by the leaders of Shechem. His reign was short and violent. After three years, the citizens of Shechem rebelled against him. During the siege of a tower, a woman threw an upper millstone from the wall, crushing Abimelech’s skull. To avoid the shame of being killed by a woman, he ordered his armor-bearer to run him through with a sword.
Scripture References 1