Judges 9:1

“And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, unto his mother’s brethren, etc.] It seems that though the mother of Abimelech lived at Shechem, he was taken and brought up in his father’s house at Ophrah, where he was when he died; and from hence he came to Shechem, to pay a visit to his uncles there; whether his mother was now living, is not certain: and communed with them; about the death of his father, the state of his family, and the government of Israel: and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father; that descended from his grandfather, the several branches of them, and of the family, the heads of them at least: saying, as follows.”

“ABIMELECH IS MADE KING BY THE SHECHEMITES. (Jdg 9:1-6) Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem--The idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into Israel during the latter years of Gideon was now openly professed; Shechem was wholly inhabited by its adherents; at least, idolaters had the ascendency. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place. Ambitious of sovereign power, and having plied successfully the arts of a demagogue with his maternal relatives and friends, he acquired both the influence and money by which he raised himself to a throne. communed . . . with all the family of the house of his mother's father--Here is a striking instance of the…”

“We are not told how soon after the death of Gideon these events happened. There must have been time for the apostacy and establishment of Baal-worship, and for the development of ill-will between Abimelech and his brethren. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Abimelech: Jdg 8:31 Shechem: Gen 33:18, Gen 34:2; Kg1 12:1 communed: Sa2 15:6; Kg1 12:3, Kg1 12:20; Psa 83:2-4; Jer 18:18 Judges 9:2”

“Jdg 9:1-2 Having gone to Shechem, the home of his mother ( Jdg 8:31), Abimelech applied to his mother's brothers and the whole family (all the relations) of the father's house of his mother, and addressed them thus: "Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the lords of Shechem," i.e., speak to them publicly and solemnly. שׁכם בּעלי, the lords, i.e., the possessors or citizens of Shechem (compare Jdg 9:46 with Jdg 9:49, where מגדּל בּעלי is interchangeable with אנשׁי a; also Jdg 20:5, and Jos 24:11): they are not merely Canaanitish citizens, of whom there were some still living in Shechem according to Jdg 9:28, but all the citizens of the town; therefore chiefly Israelites. "What is better for…”