Juízes 8:22 Midrash: Aggadat Bereshit & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

[3] Another interpretation: "and Abimelech acted justly." This is in reference to the verse, "Before shattering, a man's heart is haughty" (Proverbs 18:12). This refers to Avimelech, whose heart became haughty, as it says, "And worthless and reckless men gathered to him, and they followed him" (Judges 9:4). "But humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). This is referring to Gideon his father, whom the Israelites said to him, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian" (Judges 8:22). And what did he say to them? "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "By your life, since you have said this, I will make a king come forth from you," as it says, "And Avimelech did right over Israel" (Judges 9:22). And how do we know that he was a king? As it says, "And they went and made Avimelech king" (Judges 9:6). You said three things, as it says, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Behold, I will give your sons kingship for three years, as it says, "And Avimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Therefore, "humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). And if Avimelech had been worthy, he would have lived a long life, as it says, "One who hates gain will prolong his days" (Proverbs 28:16). But he did not do so, and instead took gain from Israel, from the house of Baal Berith, as it says, "And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith" (Judges 9:4). Therefore, he did not live a long life. But in the future, when the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots the evil inclination from Israel, they will live long lives, as it says, "Like the days of a tree shall be the days of my people" (Isaiah 65:22).

(Prov. 18:12:) A PERSON'S HEART IS HAUGHTY BEFORE DESTRUCTION. This person was Abimelech, who was not destroyed until he had exalted himself and killed his brothers. (Ibid., cont.:) AND HUMILITY GOES BEFORE HONOR. This was his father, Gideon; for when they said to him (in Jud. 8:22): RULE OVER US, YOU, [YOUR SON, AND YOUR SON'S SON AS WELL], he said to them (in vs. 23): I WILL NOT RULE OVER YOU MYSELF, [NOR SHALL MY SON RULE OVER YOU; THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU]. They said three things to him, and he said three things to them. The Holy One said to him: You say this. By your life, I am raising up from you a son who will reign three years corresponding to the three things that you said. Ergo (in Prov. 18; 12): AND HUMILITY GOES BEFORE HONOR. Therefore (in Jud. 9:22): NOW ABIMELECH RULED [OVER ISRAEL THREE YEARS].

(Jud. 9:23:) THEN GOD SENT AN EVIL SPIRIT < BETWEEN ABIMELECH AND THE CITIZENS OF SHECHEM >. Also at the end < of the story > it is written (in vs. 57): AND UPON THEM CAME THE CURSE OF JOTHAM BEN JERUBBAAL. What is written there (in vs. 7)? BUT, WHEN THEY TOLD JOTHAM (about the Shechemites making Abimelech their king), [HE WENT AND STOOD AT THE TOP OF MOUNT GERIZIM]. Now why did he stand at the top of Mount Gerizim for cursing, when (according to Deut. 27:13-26) they only gave curses on Mount Ebal? It is simply that Jotham said this: The Samaritans are going to say: Mount Gerizim is ours because there were the blessings given; but they will not know that curses are given there. How is that? It is simply this: The ones who were standing on Mount Ebal and cursing, at whom were they cursing? Was it not at those who were standing opposite them (on Gerizim)? The ones who were blessing, at whom were they blessing? Was it not at those who were opposite them (on Ebal)? It turns out that the curses come upon Mount Gerizim, and the blessings, upon Mount Ebal. For that reason, Jotham said: I am standing only on Mount Gerizim when cursing my brother and the people of Shechem. He began by saying (in Jud. 9:8): THE TREES WENT < TO ANOINT A KING OVER THEMSELVES >…. R. Meshe said: These words that Jotham spoke are a parable. How? THE TREES WENT. These are Israel. (Jud. 9:8, cont.:) AND THEY SAID TO THE OLIVE TREE. This is Othniel ben Kenaz, in that he was from the tribe of Judah (cf. Jud. 1:13; 3:9-11). Thus it is stated (about Judah in Jer. 11:16): < THE LORD HAS CALLED YOUR NAME > A GREEN OLIVE TREE, < FAIR WITH GOOD FRUIT >. Now what did Othniel say to them (in Jud. 9:9)? SHOULD I LEAVE MY FATNESS? Olive oil is pure. They came to Deborah (according to Jud. 9:10): AND [THE TREES] SAID TO THE FIG TREE: < YOU COME AND REIGN OVER US >. This refers to Deborah. She said to them (in vs. 11): SHOULD I LEAVE MY SWEETNESS? (Cf. Jud. 5:1:) THEN DEBORAH SANG. (Jud. 9:12:) THEN THE TREES SAID TO THE VINE: < YOU COME AND REIGN OVER US >. It said to them (in vs. 13): SHOULD I LEAVE MY NEW WINE? TO THE VINE (in vs. 12) refers to Barak and Gideon (according to Jud. 8:22): RULE OVER US, YOU, < YOUR SON, AND YOUR SON'S SON AS WELL >. He said to them (in vs. 23): I WILL NOT RULE. When they saw this, (according to vs. 14:) THEN ALL THE TREES SAID UNTO THE BRAMBLE: < YOU COME AND REIGN OVER US >. This refers to Abimelech. Just as this bramble is full of thorns, so was Abimelech full of evil deeds. When they invited him to reign, what did he say to them (in vs. 2): AND REMEMBER THAT I AM YOUR BONE AND YOUR FLESH. So the Holy Spirit cries out (in Prov. 29:26): MANY SEEK AUDIENCE FROM A RULER, < BUT IT IS FROM THE LORD THAT ONE RECEIVES JUSTICE >. What did the bramble say to them (in Jud. 9:15)? COME AND TAKE REFUGE IN MY SHADE. Is it not better for you to make me alone king rather than seventy? Immediately (according to Jud. 11:11): AND [THE PEOPLE] SET HIM OVER THEM.¹⁰⁸The passage concerns the elders of Gilead and Jephthah, not the Shechemites and Abimelech. Jotham said to them (in Jud. 9:16 or 19, also vs. 20): IF < YOU HAVE ACTED > TRULY < AND UPRIGHTLY…. BUT IF NOT, LET FIRE COME FORTH FROM ABIMELECH AND DEVOUR THE PEOPLE OF SHECHEM >…. Then it written (in vs. 57): AND UPON THEM CAME THE CURSE OF JOTHAM. When? (In Jud. 9:23:) THEN GOD SENT AN EVIL SPIRIT < BETWEEN ABIMELECH AND THE CITIZENS OF SHECHEM >. Blessed are those who are righteous; for wherever they go, the Holy One preserves them; and they are recognized among the nations. Thus it is stated (in Is. 61:9): AND THEIR SEED IS KNOWN AMONG THE NATIONS.