WOUNDED UP TO THE ENTRANCE

       “ And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.” (Judges 9:40)

Abimelech reigned three years over Israel. During that time, “God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem” (9:22-23). A wicked man named Gaal moved in among the men of Shechem, gaining their trust. With his men, he went into the house of his god and began to curse Abimelech. They shouted “Who is Abimelech,” and “why should we serve him?” (9:26-28). Word got back to Abimlech about the insolence of Gaal through Zebul, the governor of the city. As a result, Abimelech rose up by night and laid wait against Shechem, where Gaal resided. He divided his men into four companies. When Gaal saw the vast companies of men, he said to Zebul, “Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains.” Zebul then mocked him saying, “Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” When Gaal again said he saw people, and detected there were several companies of them, Zebul again chided him, saying “Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?” He then challenged him, “go out and fight with them.” The boastful Gaal then “went out before the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech” (9:36-39). It is at this point that our text is given. Not only did Abimelech utterly defeat Gaal, he again attacked the city of Shechem, fighting against it “all the day.” Scripture records that “he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.” He then proceeded to the tower of Shechem and the strong of the temple of Berith, whom they worshiped. Thus did God deal with the men of Shechem, after he had caused friction between them and Abimelech.
I thought when I read of many being slain “up to the entrance of the gate,” how the language suites our times. There is a “narrow” gate that leads to life, and into which men must enter to be saved (Matt 7:13). Alas, all around the world, and even up to that gate, many lie wounded and even dead, slain because they were outside of the “way that leads to life.” As with Gaal, we must learn well that there is no safety if we venture outside of the gate that leads to life. If you will look into that dreadful domain–outside the gate–you will see wounded and dead all about. It is a realm of hurt and death. See to it that you stay inside the gate, progressing to life.