The Kingdom of Abimelech

THE KINGDOM OF ABIMELECH, 12th to 11th, Centuries B.C.

The reign of Abimelech, the son of Gideon, which lasted for three years, represents a peculiar episode in the period of the Judges – an attempt to pass leadership on through inheritance, to establish a kingship. In his venture, Abimelech was aided by the older Canaanite population of Shechem, which considered him one of their own because of his maternal lineage. They provided him with “silver out of the house of Baal-berith” (Judg 9:4). The remains of this Canaanite temple, also called Beth-millo, were uncovered during excavations at Shechem. Abimelech refused, however, to commit himself to the rulers of Shechem and made Arumah, between Shechem and Shiloh, his capital. Soon after, relations deteriorated completely, since the Canaanites of Shechem were not prepared to accept him as an Israelite king (Judg 9:28). Abimelech razed Shechem to its foundations and, moreover, tried to extend his domination over the other Canaanite cities which remained in the midst of Manasseh in Mount Ephraim. He met his death at the siege of the fortress (tower) of Thebez, and thus ended his short “reign.” The location of Thebez is unknown. The identification with Tubas is highly doubtful. Thebez may be a corruption of the name Tirzah, an important Canaanite city near Shechem (Josh 12:24).

Article abstract from The Sacred Bridge