Comparing Two Abimelechs in the Bible

The name Abimelech appears in two different books of the Bible, Genesis and Judges. However, these two Abimelechs are not the same person. In this article, we will compare and contrast the two Abimelechs and their stories.

Abimelech in Genesis

The first Abimelech we encounter in the Bible is mentioned in Genesis 20. He was the king of Gerar, and he took Sarah, Abraham's wife, into his harem. However, God intervened and warned Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was Abraham's wife and that he should return her. Abimelech obeyed and returned Sarah to Abraham.

Later, Abimelech went to Abraham and made a covenant with him, acknowledging that God was with him and that he wanted to make sure that Abraham would not deal falsely with him or his descendants.

Key Characteristics:

• King of Gerar
• Took Sarah into his harem
• Obeyed God's warning and returned Sarah to Abraham
• Made a covenant with Abraham

Abimelech in Judges

The second Abimelech we encounter in the Bible is mentioned in Judges 9. He was the son of Gideon and his concubine, and he ruled over Shechem. He had seventy brothers, and he convinced the people of Shechem to make him their king instead of one of his brothers.

Abimelech then killed all of his brothers except for one, Jotham, who escaped. However, Jotham cursed Abimelech and the people of Shechem, predicting that they would all be destroyed because of their wickedness.

Eventually, Abimelech's reign came to an end when a woman dropped a millstone on his head, crushing his skull. This fulfilled Jotham's curse, and the people of Shechem were destroyed.

Key Characteristics:

• Son of Gideon and his concubine
• Ruled over Shechem
• Killed all of his brothers except for one
• Was cursed by Jotham
• Died when a woman dropped a millstone on his head

Comparison

Conclusion

Although both Abimelechs are mentioned in the Bible, they are not the same person. The Abimelech in Genesis was a king who took Sarah into his harem but then returned her to Abraham and made a covenant with him. The Abimelech in Judges was the son of Gideon and his concubine who ruled over Shechem and killed his brothers but was eventually killed himself. By comparing and contrasting these two figures, we can gain a better understanding of their stories and their places in the Bible.

So, are there two Abimelechs in the Bible? The answer is yes, and we have examined them both.