2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.
Israel’s king was to be the Lord, not a man. Abimelech wanted to get the position of king that was reserved for God. Abimelech was selfish. He killed all but one of his 70 half brothers. There are people who have selfish desires and look to make them come about through ruthless ways. Make sure to examine your ambitions. Make sure they are not self centered. Make sure your ambitions are not at the expense of others’ well being and are definitely not ruthless. God centered ambitions always fulfill your desires in ways God would approve.
