Thomas Paine and the Judge Gideon

Recently I wrote an article where I talked how Thomas Paine made reference to the prophet Samuel in his book “Common Sense.” In the same chapter titled, “Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession,” he makes mention of the judge Gideon.

The story of Gideon is told in Judges, chapters 6-8. After the Midianites and Amalekites were defeated ,with only 300 men, Israel wanted Gideon and his sons to become their rulers. Gideon declined the offer. He knew that God gave them the victory and was the only true king.

Gideon served as a judge, not as a king. In Moses’ time, God had given the children of Israel the Law, and everyone was subject to it, regardless of class. When a dispute would take place, both parties would go to the judge, and he would make his decision based to the Law. This was not a theocracy which some claim that I support. The priesthood was not set up to rule Israel, but to be the intercessor between God and Israel.

It was very fortunate for Israel that Gideon turned down their offer. He had seventy sons, one was named Abimelech whose mother was from Shecem. Abimelech was a bloody butcher who killed all his half-brothers but one. Only Jotham, Gideon’s youngest son escaped the massager. The people of Shecem made him king and he enslaved Israel for three bloody years. Finally God brought forth his wrath by putting strife between the Shecemites and Abimelech’s men. The city of Shecem was destroyed. Afterwards an old woman busted Abimelech's skull with a piece of millstone. He then ordered his assistant to slay him, so people would not say that an old woman killed him. Israel was free again, and a man named Tola served as Israel's judge.

Thomas Paine went on to write that Israel for a time had learned their lesson about having a king. Then as we already know that in Samuel's day they started asking God for a human king once again. In the future I plan to write more about the book of Judges, and also write about the difference between patriots and loyalist.

The Shamgar Report

October 2009