Truth and Sincerity

Jotham does not leave the men of Shechem to puzzle out the meaning of his parable. Before fleeing into lifelong exile, he gives the interpretation, publicly charging Abimelech and the Shechemites with their heinous crimes and warning of the dire consequences that are sure to flow from their unholy alliance.

The emphasis here is on “ ‘truth and sincerity’ ”; this is the salt with which all of life is to be seasoned in Israel (see Josh. 24:14). “ ‘If’ ” Jotham says, “ ‘you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and … if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.’ ” Simply put, Jotham is saying that all will be well with Abimelech and the Shechemites—if what they have done was done out of obedience to God. Did God command that Abimelech be made king? And did He command the execution of Gideon’s sons? The answers to these questions determine whether the Shechemites acted in sincerity and truth.

Jotham leaves no doubts as to his opinion about what has happened. First, he believes Abimelech and the Shechemites have acted unjustly against Gideon’s household. “ ‘My father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian,’ ” he says, “ ‘but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons.’ ” Gideon did good for the people of Israel, Jotham reminds them, but they have treated him shamefully. In so doing, they have treated God shamefully, taking innocent lives. This is not true and sincere obedience. Also, Jotham says, they have made Abimelech king “ ‘because he is your brother.’ ” They have chosen a man to be ruler simply because he is related to them. But God did not command that a king be crowned, and He was not consulted in the choice. There is no true and sincere obedience in Abimelech’s crowning.

Time will tell, Jotham says. If this alliance is illegitimate, Abimelech and the Shechemites soon will devour one another. “He lodges the appeal with the divine providence,” Matthew Henry writes. “If they prospered long in this villany, he would give them leave to say they had done well.… But if they had, as he was sure they had, dealt basely and wickedly in this matter, let them never expect to prosper.”