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One-sentence summary: Gideon's son Abimelech- born through a concubine- kills his 70 brothers, one survives (Jotham) by fleeing and curses him, the people of Shechem make Abimelech king, and both Abimelech and Shechem fall under Jotham's curse and are judged by God.
The men of Ephraim ask Gideon why he did not call them to fight with them, so he says that what he has done is nothing compared to what they have done in battle, and their anger subsides. When Gideon and the 300 men come to the Jordan, they cross over, "exhausted but still in pursuit." He asks the men of Succoth for bread for his people, and they refuse, so Gideon says that once he has complete victory, they will fight against them, too. And the men of Penuel do the same, and he speaks to them the same way as well. There are some left of the people of the east, and Gideon attacks their army and pursues them and takes two kings. Then, he returns from battle. He catches a young man of Succoth to interrogate him and writes down all the leaders of Succoth, and shows him the two kings, and he takes the elders and "tears their flesh with thorns" (Ew!) Then, he tears down the tower of Penuel and kills the men of the city. He tells his firstborn to kill the two kings to avenge his brethren, but the man is afraid, because he is still young, so the kings tell him to kill them himself, which he does. Then, the men of Israel tell Gideon and his son to rule over them, but he says he will not, that the Lord will rule over them. He instead asks for the earrings of their plunder, and they agree. He makes the gold into an ephod and sets it up in his city. But all Israel "[plays] the harlot with it there, and it become a snare to Gideon and his house." Then, the country is quiet for 40 years in the days of Gideon.
Gideon dwells in his own house. He had 70 sons from many wives. His concubine also bore him a son named Abimelech. And Gideon dies "at a good old age." As soon as he is dead, Israel "plays the harlot with the Baals" and forgets the Lord again. They don't show kindness to Gideon's house either.
Abimelech goes to Shechem and speaks to his mother's family. He says he should be the leader of the people, and they agree. Then, he goes to his father's house and kills all his brothers, the 70 sons of Gideon (referred to here as Jerubbaal because he broke down Baal's altars) on one stone. However, one son, Jotham, survives because he hides himself. All the men of Shehem gather and make Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree. When Jotham finds out, he stands on Mt. Gerizim and cries out, "Listen to me, men of Shechem, that God may listen to you..." He gives them a parable about trees. He says if they have acted "in truth and sincerity" in making Abimelech king and "done well" to Gideon's house as he deserves- because he fought and risked his life for them but they have risen up and killed all his sons- then then can rejoice in Abimelech, and let Abimelech rejoice as well. But if not, let fire come and devour the men of Shechem and Abimelech. Then, he flees to Beer and dwells there. After Abimelech reigns three years, God sends a spirit of ill-will between him and the men of Shechem, and they "deal treacherously with him" so that the crime would be settled and the blood of his 70 brothers be on him and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him in the mountains to rob people, and Abimelech finds out. A man named Gaal goes to Shechem, and they "put their confidence in him." They are gathering grapes and making merry, and they go into the house of their god and eat and drink and curse Abimelech." Gaal says, "Who is Abimelech and Shechem that we should serve him?...If only this people were under my authority, then I would remove Abimelech." He tells Abimelech to "increase his army and come out." When the ruler of the city, a man named Zebul, hears, he is angry and sends word to Abimelech. He tells him to get up by night and lie in the field, then to rise early and rush upon the city the next morning. When Gaal goes out and stands in the entrance of the city, Abimelech and his men rise, and when Gaal sees the people, he says, "Look! I see people coming!" But Zebul tells him it is just shadows, and says to him, "Where is your mouth now when you said who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out.. and fight with them now." So Gaal goes with the people of Shechem, but he ends up fleeing from Abimelech, who chases him. Zebul drives out Gaal and his brothers also so they cannot dwell in Shechem. The next day, the people go to the field and tell Abimelech, and he divides his people into three companies. He sees the people coming out of the city, and he rises and attacks them. So he takes the city of Shechem and kills the people, demolishing it and "sowing it with salt" (to make the land unproductive.) When the men of the town hear, they enter the stronghold of a temple god. Abimelech hears this, and he and his people take an ax and cut boughs from the trees and put them against the stronghold and set it on fire so that 1,000 men in the tower die. Then, Abimelech takes another city. However, there is a strong tower, and all the people of the city flee there to the top of the tower. When Abimelech draws near the door of the tower to burn it with fire, a woman drops a millstone on his head and crushes his skull. He calls his armor bearer quickly and tells him to draw his sword and kill him so that people will not say that a woman killed him. When Israel sees that he is dead, they all depart to their homes. So God repays the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by killing his 70 brothers. And He also returns the evil of the men of Shechem on their heads, and they incur "the curse of Gideon."
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Suffice it to say that things did not go well for Israel when they decided to have a king. Things never go well when we do don't do things God's way.