One of Israel's most well-known judge was Gideon. He followed the Lord's instructions to the letter, in His plan to deliver Israel from their enemy, the Midianites.
During this time the Israelites suffered for seven years at the hands of the Midianites because of God's judgment upon Israel. For they were untrue to their God and began playing a harlot in serving the false god Baal. They had even built an altar to worship Baal, instead of the One True God of Israel.
But God raised up Gideon who destroyed the altar to Baal, and on hearing it the men of the city sought out Gideon to kill him.
(Gideon and his men destroying the altar of Baal and cutting down the wooden idol beside it.)
On reaching his home, they demanded that he be brought out to die. But Gideon's father interceded and said "If Baal is a god, let him plead for himself." Therefore Gideon's name became known as Jerubbaal, which means "Let Baal Plead."
Amazingly enough, the name Jerubbaal has been found on an inscription which likely is a reference to Gideon. The inscription, written in ink on a pottery sherd, was discovered in 2019. While only part of the inscription has survived, five of the letters indicate the personal name Yrbl (Jerubbaal). This artifact was unearthed in a silo at a level that is dated to the late 12th or early 11th centuries BC, roughly the same time as the book of Judges and the story of Gideon.
(Ostracon from Khitbet er-Ra'I bears the name Jerubbaal, the same nickname given to the Biblical judge Gideon.)
Gideon was a God-fearing man. After the defeat of the Midianites, the men of Israel wanted to make him their king. But Gideon refused saying: "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you."
But unfortunately, after the death of Gideon, the Israelites played the harlot once again and began worshiping the false god Baal-Berith. According to Judges 9:46, they also turned the Lord's sanctuary into a temple dedicated to Baal Berith at Shechem.
This temple would be burnt with fire by one of Gideon's sons, Abimelech, who was an evil man. Unlike Gideon, he was so enamored with power that he murdered the seventy sons of his father Gideon so that he could be declared the uncontested king of Israel.
Later Abimelech destroyed the temple of the false god, 'Baal-Berith', not because he was a God-fearing man, but because there came men to Shechem who plotted to overthrow Abimelech.
After finding out about the plot, Abimelech defeated them in battle and those who survived entered the temple of Baal Berith at Shechem seeking protection inside its walls. But Abimelech then winds up burning the temple down with his enemies inside. This burning of the temple was confirmed by archaeologists in 1926 and once again at excavations conducted at Shechem from 1956 to 1966.
While Abimelech was trying to burn down another fortress tower in a nearby city where citizens were likewise taking refuge, he was killed by a woman who dropped a millstone from the top of the fortress tower falling down upon and crushing Abimelech's head. God thus brought His judgment upon Abimelech for the killing of Gideon's seventy sons, as well as upon Israel by destroying the temple of the false god Baal-Berith.
(The Death of Abimelech - Gustave Dore)
But what is even more fascinating is at this very site at Shechem is what is believed to be the Witness Stone set up by Joshua hundreds of years earlier than the time of Abimelech, as recorded in Joshua 24:20-27.
During Joshua's final address to the Israelites, he gathered all the tribes to Shechem and exhorted them not to follow any false gods like those of Egypt whose land they once dwelt, or the false gods of the Amorites whose land they now conquered. Then Joshua gives his famous line "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Then Joshua tells the people that if they forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then the Lord will turn and do them harm, and consume them. And the people replied "No, but we will serve the Lord."
Joshua then set up a large stone and set it under an oak tree that was by the sanctuary of the Lord, and said to the people: "Behold, this stone is a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you lest you deny your God."
(Joshua Setting up the Witness Stone under the oak tree at Shechem.)
Unfortunately, Israel would in fact turn from the Lord and begin serving Baal at the very sanctuary spot in Shechem where the witness stone faced.
You see, according to the archaeological find at Shechem, in front of the temple, about 21 feet east of the entrance, stood a large rectangular altar made of earth and stone. It measured 5.4 feet wide, 7.2 feet long, and 1.2 feet high, probably meant for animal sacrifice.
About 6 feet from the altar stands a large limestone stone. The stone is almost 5 feet wide and 1.5 feet thick, and the original intact stone probably stood about 10 feet tall. This is believed to be the very Witness stone Joshua had placed underneath the oak tree.
(Witness Stone At Shechem)
And it was at this very site where the men of Shechem made Abimelech king over them. (Judges 9:6) "Then all the citizens at Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar at Shechem to crown Abimelech king."
So this stoned witnessed Israel breaking their pledge to have no strange gods before them. As well as placing a man as king over them, even though they were told only the Lord was to rule over them. God was to be their king.
The breaking of mans pledges, to not turn away from the one true God, has been played over and over throughout history and the lives of individuals.
Many people who were once younger made a pledge to follow Christ at a confirmation service, a baptismal service, a church joining ceremony, or a service honoring them for making a statement of faith, who have now turned their backs on the Lord and are now following the ways of the prince of this world.
Jesus spoke of these men many times. The parable of the sower being the foremost.
Jesus said: "The ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; but they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward when tribulation or persecution arises for the words sake, immediately they stumble."
"Now the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:16-19
But the Lord teaches us to turn back to him in the parable of the prodigal son. In this parable the prodigal son turns his back on the Lord and sets out to seek the pleasures of this world, only to realize that what he had done was a big mistake. So he wisely returns to his Father and says to Him: "I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son."
But the father called out to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. And bring out the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was lost and now is found."
Are you lost, or are you willing to return to your heavenly Father?
JOSHUA'S WITNESS STONE AT SHECHEM
This article on Joshua's Witness Stone at Shechem is taken from our book series "Bible Believer's Archaeology" which can be downloaded for your ebook reader by visiting our resource download page by Clicking Here.
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Sources used in compiling data and illustrations for this article, Along with additional info:
The Holy Bible, Author: The Lord God. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version unless noted.
Video: Expedition Bible: "The Discovery of Joshua's Great Witness Stone at Shechem."
Ancient Near Eastern Texts - Relating to the Old Testaments - James B. Pritchard. Third Edition with Supplement 1969. ISBN0-691-03503-2 During conquest of Canaan by Joshua, which included Shechem, the Amarna letters mention a certain ruler of Shechem named Labayu who surrendered the city and surrounding area to the Hebrews. His sons also allied themselves with the Hebrews.
Amarna letter EA#289: "Or shall we do like Labayu who gave the land of Shechem to the Apiru (Hebrews)" Anet 489
EA#254: Letter sent to Egypt by Labayu trying to defend himself before the pharaoh: "Concerning my son I did not know that my son was associates with the Apiru(Hebrews)" Anet 486
EA#244: "Labayu has carried out hostilities against me . . . and now his face is set against Megiddo." Anet 485
EA#280: "Labayu is dead, who seized our towns."Anet 487
EA#287: "The sons of Labayu who have given the land of the king to the Apiru(Hebrews)" Anet 488
EA#250: "The two sons of Labayu have determined to destroy the land of the king." Anet 485
Biblical Archaeology Society Library - BAR Magazine - July/August 2003 - The Shechem Temple -Where Abimelech Massacred a Thousand.
Archaeology and Bible History - Author Joseph P. Free. Revised and Expanded by Howard F. Vos. ISBN 0-310-47961-4 pg.121 Archaeological evidence of the burning of the house of Berith was found by archaeologist Sellin at Shechem in 1926 and confirmed by the Drew McCormick excavations (1956-1966) under the direction of G.E. Wright.
Engraving - Gideon destroying the altar of Baal. from 'The Holy History of Lahure 19th century' Private Collection.
Death of Abimelech who is killed by a woman who drops a millstone at the siege of Tebez. Illustration by artist Gustave Dore 1832-1883.
Engraving - Joshua Setting up the Witness Stone under the oak tree at Shechem.
Pen and Ink drawing of Ostracon from Khirbet er-Ra'I bearing the name Jerubbaal based upon the artifact photo by Dafna Gazit / Israel Antiquities Authority.
Pen and Ink drawing of the witness stone found at Shechem based upon a photo of the artifact.
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