Abimelech was an evil man. He killed sixty-nine of his half-brothers to rule unchallenged over the area around the town of Shechem. The men of Shechem wanted Abimelech to rule over them and supported him in the slaughter of his brothers. These events are recorded in Judges 9. 

Judges 9:23 provides an interesting detail about this period. After three years of Abimelech’s rule, the Bible says that “God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.” Some translations say that God sent an “evil spirit.” 

After this spirit came upon the men of Shechem, they not only turned against Abimelech, but also began ambushing and robbing people who traveled through the area. Shechem was on a trade route, and the robberies apparently kept Abimelech from collecting tolls/taxes. The men of Shechem turned against Abimelech and stole from the governmental coffers. When Abimelech found out what was happening, he killed the men of the city.  

We are told that God sent this evil spirit for the purpose of avenging the blood that Abimelech and the men of Shechem had spilled when they slaughtered his brothers (v 24). God would punish them for their sin. Immediately after the death of the men of Shechem, Abimelech was killed in a very dishonorable way. All these men died because of the evil they had done.  But what was this “spirit of ill will,” or “evil spirit”? There are three possibilities.  

One possible interpretation, as some commentaries suggest, is that this spirit was a demon or a fallen angel. In that case, God instructed the spirit to do whatever was necessary to promote animosity between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The spirit could lie or use any other evil means toward this end. Were that the situation, God would be utilizing an evil being in order to achieve His purposes among His chosen people. Punishing these people was just, and God can use evil spirits to accomplish what is just. 

God used Satan to teach Job. According to Revelation, evil spirits will play a role in judging the world in the last days. But Abimelech’s case is different. If this spirit was a fallen angel, did God tell it to lie to discipline His people? Did God Himself enlist the help of an evil being, then send it out? This is not in keeping with the character of God. Why didn’t God kill them Himself, without the aid of an evil spirit?      

A second perspective to consider is that an unfallen angel is in view. The NKJV reading—“a spirit of ill will”—allows for this spirit to be a good spirit—an angel. This spirit did not have to lie or do any other evil act. It could have reminded the people of Abimelech’s evil deeds. What kind of man would kill sixty-nine of his brothers? Why would the people of Shechem want somebody like that to rule over them? Many of these men might have been friends of the brothers. They had made a serious mistake. During his reign of three years, such a man had no doubt done many other evil acts. The men of Shechem were victims of his abuses. When the spirit reminded them of these realities, they took it upon themselves to rebel against him. 

In other words, by pointing out the truth, the spirit sent by God caused a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men concluded that Abimelech was not worthy of their loyalty. Abimelech overreacted and killed them, just as he had done to his brothers. With a man like Abimelech leading men like those in Shechem, such an outcome was inevitable and just. When God deemed the time right, He sent a spirit that set His purposes in motion.  

A third view, essentially a modification of the second, is that the word spirit does not refer to a literal being, but an attitude or mindset. In the same way that God hardened Pharoh’s heart, He could have influenced the hearts and minds of these men to remember Abimelech’s deeds and become resentful towards him. 

Our world is full of evil. We have seen many men like Abimelech. God is sovereign and He uses many means to accomplish what is just.