ABIMELECH

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• One of Gideon's sons
• Served as judge of Israel, following the judgeship of Gideon
• Abimelech sought to rule Shechem
• Did this by killing all of the other sons of Gideon
• All sons were killed, except for the youngest one, Jotham

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• Abimelech then became king of Shechem
• After leading Shechem for three years, a conspiracy arose against Abimelech
• Civil war broke out, leading to a town called Thebez
• Abimelech cornered the leaders of the city in a tower
• Came near with the intention of burning the tower with fire

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• A woman in the tower dropped an upper millstone on his head
• It crushed his skull
• Abimelech called his armor-bearer
• He told hos armor-bearer this: "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me "A woman killed him""
• Abimelech was then killed

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• Led in such a manner that even his subjects sought to overtake him.
• In contrast to the positive leadership of his father, Abimelech focused on his personal gain, hurting many people
• Abimelech had flaws, focused on his gain rather than out of servicd to God