We are seeing the parable of Jotham, of fire coming from Abimelech and the devastation that would occur. It should have been the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, held in Sept. of the year. They should have been coming together for a time of joy, but sadly the men of Shechem had turned their back on their God and were worhipping Ba'al.

They cursed Abimelech, the same people who had made him their king. Ga'al says, "Who is Abimelech?" Abimelech highlighted his relationship to his mother and put down his father, and now Ga'al is reminding of the relationship to his father to stir up resentment.

It's easy to boast when the enemy is far away. We need to be very careful of boasting, unless boasting in the Lord.

Ga'al went out and attempted to live up to his boast, but Abimelech chased him off. We see the bramble is burning, as was prophesied in verses 15 and 20: Abimelech causes devastation.

Shechem is destroyed, and it was over a century before it was rebuilt.

They go into the house of their god to be protected, but their god was powerless to protect them from Abimelech's fury. They are hiding in the very place in which they had cursed Abimelech.

God is righteous even in His judgments, limiting it to those who were deserving.

When we get into a rage we do not think well. Abimelech got careless. A woman casts a stone, a piece of an upper mill-stone, probably 30-60cm in diameter and 5-10cm thick, on to his head. The man who had slain his brethren upon one stone was himself crushed by one stone.

Once their leader was dead they all went home. Thus Yotham's prophecy had been fulfilled.

The coming man of sin will display all the characteristics of Abimelech. He will exhibit selfish ambition and cruelty.