The Book of Judges mentions 13 leaders. These leaders get the term “judges” from the text stating that each of them “judged Israel.” But not all actually say that, the text states only 11 actually “judged Israel”. Most websites and biblical resources account for just 12 judges. These resources consider the 11 mentioned above plus Gideon, although Gideon was never mentioned in the text to “judge Israel.” Why do these resources count Gideon as a judge but not abimelech? Should abimelech be considered a judge of Israel?
Abimelech became leader of Israel after his father Gideon died. Abimelech was one of Gideon’s seventy sons. He wasn’t chosen by the protagonist to lead Israel, rather he “appointed” himself. He went to Shechem to meet his mother’s relatives, sometimes translated to his mother’s brothers, so we assume he went to speak with his uncles. He told them, “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” (Judges 9:2)
The uncles then persuaded the leaders of Shechem to allow Abimelech to be the “ruler” because he was of their blood. So they paid him in silver and Abimelech then hired worthless and reckless followers. To make the decision easier for the leaders, Abimelech killed all but one of his brothers.
“And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.” (Judges 9:5-6)
Later in his rein Abimelech was told that all of the leaders were gathered in the Tower of Shechem. Abimelech and his men cut down brush, piled the brush around the Tower of Shechem and set fire to it. This burned and killed about a thousand men and women.
Abimelech then went to Thebez, the men and women along with the leaders fled to a tower in Thebez. Abimelech was about to set fire to this tower as well, until a woman on the top of a building threw down a millstone ( a heavy stone used to grind grain) and crushed his skull. Before this could kill him, he told one of his men “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.'”(judges 9:54). Abimelech was then dead.
What should be noted is that the protagonist is the one that “raised up” the leaders. Although Gideon was never said to “judge Israel” he was given the reins by the protagonist. Gideon was also a prominent ruler because he actually freed the Israelites from the Midianites. Because of his accomplishments Gideon is considered one of the “Judges”.
Abimelech on the other hand did the opposite. He didn’t save the Israelites at all, instead he brought trouble among them. So the protagonist had Abimelech killed, “God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.”(Judges 9:56)
My conclusion is that Abimelech was a ruler of Israel, a terrible ruler. He also wasn’t by definition a judge of Israel, he wasn’t appointed by the protagonist, and he didn’t save or free the Israelites from any of the oppressors so therefore he should NOT be considered a judge!
Old Testament 