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ted a spirit of disaffection and hostility to arise between the usurper and his subjects. The course of divine Providence led to this. Events were so ordered that the occasions for calling out the angry passions on both sides were afforded. All was just and holy so far as the agency of God was concerned. Where there was sin, it was human agency alone that partook of it. We are told that "God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: that the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother which slew them, and upon the men of Shechem which aided him in the killing of his brethren ?" It would thus be made to appear how the sinful ambition of man furnishes the means of its own punishment.

The oppression of Abimelech provoked the Shechemites to endeavor to throw off the yoke. They plotted against his life, and stationed men on the top of the mountains to lie in wait for him, as he should pass that way on a return from some excursion that he was making, and put him to death. Disappointed in the accomplishment of their object, these men could not refrain from deeds of violence, attacking and plundering every one who came within their reach. Abime

lech soon heard of this, and began to take measures for his personal security, and the maintenance of his power.

In the meanwhile Gaal the son of Ebed, probably one of the Canaanites, and a person of distinction and influence, perceiving this state of things, determined, if possible, to take advantage of it, and subserve his own ambitious designs. He went to Shechem and succeeded in gaining the confidence of the people. On a certain occasion, when they had gone out into the vineyards and gathered and pressed the grapes, and were making merry, according to their idolatrous practices, in the house of their god; and venting forth their curses against Abimelech; Gaal availed himself of the opportunity to excite them still more strongly to rebellion. He spoke in the most contemptuous manner of Abimelech, and of his officer Zebul, the governor of the city, urging the Shechemites to discard at once the authority of their present sovereign, and to choose for their ruler some one of the descendants of Hamor, the ancient prince of their people. Being probably himself one of these descendants, it is not difficult to see the motive by which this aspiring individual was actuated. "Would to God," he exclaimed, "this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. In crease thine army," he continued, as if address

ing the latter in a taunting manner, come out."

" and

The indignation of Zebul was kindled when he heard of these things, and he immediately despatched messengers to his master with as much secrecy as possible. They were directed to inform Abimelech that Gaal and his party had come to Shechem, and that the city was in a state of defence to resist him should he endeavor to regain his dominion there. Zebul, also, urged him to hasten forward by night with his forces, and to lie in wait near the city, and in the morning, by commencing an assault, to draw out Gaal and the rebels, and either make them prisoners, or destroy them, as he might deem best.

Sad degeneracy of human nature! How full is the history of our race of the enmity which man bears both towards God and towards his fellowmen. The usurpation of the fratricide Abimelech, and the intrigues of Gaal, with the consequent evils which befell them and the Shechemites, are but specimens of innumerable similar transactions that have taken place in all ages and countries. It is the acting out of the spirit of selfishness and of sin. It is the opposite of that spirit of christian love, which yields the entire homage of the heart to God, in a cheerful obedience to his commands, and goes forth in self-denying good will to others, seeking to pro

mote their best interests, temporal and eternal. Nothing but divine grace will impart this spirit. Nothing but divine grace will cherish and preserve it in the breast.

My young friend, which of these two opposite dispositions of the soul have you? Unless your heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, you have no true love to him and to your fellowmen. Every thing of a moral nature within you is selfishness and sin. And these are the principles that contend against all that is right and good, and prepare the heart, where they continue to maintain their ascendency, for inconceiv able wretchedness.

CHAPTER XV.

Abimelech takes and destroys the city of Shechem. His death. Tola. Jair.

Abimelech, on receiving the message from Zebul, lost no time in following his counsels. The same night found him and his men, in four bands, lying in wait in the vicinity of Shechem.

As the morning began to dawn, and while he

was making with his forces some movements to wards the city, they were descried by Gaal standing in the entering of the gate. "Behold," said he to Zebul, who appears to have been near him at the time, "there come people down from the top of the mountains." On Zebul's replying that he mistook shadows for men, Gaal assured him it was not so, and that two distinct bands were evidently approaching the city. Zebul soon perceiving that this was indeed the case, began to taunt Gaal with his former bravado against Abimelech, and urged him now to carry it into effect. "Where is now thy mouth," (or loud boastings,) "wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them."

The challenge could not be declined. A battle ensued, in which Abimelech was victorious, and Gaal and his party were obliged to retreat within the city. They did not, however, remain there long. Zebul succeeded in exciting so much opposition to them, probably on account of their late want of success in repelling Abimelech, whom he represented as cowardly and shameful, that the inhabitants thrust them out in disgrace, and we hear no more of them. They were glad, doubtless, to retire to their homes with as much secrecy and despatch as possible.

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