Juízes 9:5 Midrash: Otzar Midrashim, Aggadat Bereshit & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

Another interpretation: This is what the verse says: "Behold how good and how pleasant etc." (Psalms 133:1). And so you find that never were there brothers who loved each other like Moses and Aaron, as it says "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses etc." It teaches that most brothers hate each other: Cain hated Abel, as it says "And Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him" (Genesis 4:8). And Ishmael hated Isaac, as it says "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian laughing etc." (Genesis 21:9). And Esau hated Jacob, as it says "And Esau said in his heart: 'The days of mourning for my father will draw near, and I will kill Jacob my brother'" (Genesis 27:41). And similarly Abimelech killed his brothers, as it says "And he came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and killed his brothers" (Judges 9:5). And similarly Jehoram killed his brothers, as it says "And Jehoram rose up...and killed all his brothers by the sword" (II Chronicles 21:4). [It teaches that] brothers hate each other, but Moses and Aaron loved each other and cherished each other, and both were great and equal, as we read regarding "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses."

Chapter 26: Prophets [1] And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years (Judges 9:22). "Your friend and your father's friend do not forsake" (Proverbs 27:10). "Your friend and your father's friend" refers to Hanun son of Nahash, king of Ammon. David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash" (2 Samuel 10:2). What did Hanun do? "Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half of their beards" (2 Samuel 10:4). Hanun said, "My god has failed me, but my people have not" (2 Samuel 10:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity for all time" (Deuteronomy 23:7), yet David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash." Immediately, they cut off David's messengers' garments (2 Samuel 10:4), and that was "your friend and your father's friend." "And do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Jehoram, king of Judah, as he rose and killed all his brothers, as it says, "And Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the officers of Israel" (2 Chronicles 21:4). "A near neighbor is better than a distant brother" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Abimelech son of Gideon, who killed his brothers. (Legends of the Jews 4:2:54) The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "The wickedness of the world would have been better off without you, Abimelech, son of your father's maidservant," because his father's kinship was with Abraham, and he was more honored than he. "And he said, 'Behold my land'" (Genesis 20:15). Furthermore, he said to Sarah, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver" (ibid. 16). This refers to Doron. What did he do for Sarah? He made her a carriage and adorned her with royal garments, as it says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes" (Genesis 20:16). Why did he not still want to claim her? Rather, he hears that she is a queen and is afraid to say, "Who can sue a queen?" Therefore, he says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the son of Gideon, "See how your father's kinsman, Abraham, honored him, yet you stood and killed your brother." As it says, "And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone" (Judges 9:5). Therefore, I will shorten your days, as it is said, "And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Why? The fear of the Lord will add days and years to your life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short (Proverbs 10:27).

[2] Another interpretation: "and Abimelech acted justly." As it says, 'He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.' (Proverbs 26:27) Anyone who kills his brother with a staff, Jehoram stood up and killed the sons of his father's belly, as it says, 'Moreover, you have killed your brothers, your father's household, who were better than you.' (2 Chronicles 21:13) And because he killed the sons of his father's belly, therefore his bowels came out with his sickness, as it says, 'And they went on for days, and at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of his sickness.' (2 Chronicles 21:19) Why does it say, 'He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him'? Cain killed his brother with a stone, as it says, 'And Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.' (Genesis 4:8) And how did he kill him? He took a stone and struck him on all his organs with blows until he died. How do we know this? Because Lamech said to his wives, 'I have killed a man for wounding me.' (Genesis 4:23) And even Cain was killed with a stone, as it says, 'And Cain went out.' (Genesis 4:16) A stone fell on him and killed him. Why does it say, 'And whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him'? Abimelech also killed his brothers with a stone, as it says, 'And he killed them on one stone.' (Judges 9:5) And he was also killed with a stone, as it says, 'And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.' (Judges 9:53) Woe to him who rolls a stone, for it will come back on him."