If Abimelech could gain control of Shechem (as opposed to some other less revered town), it would give him a political platform, a measure of credibility, and he would be able to extract the usual taxes from the many caravans which had to pass through this territory.
Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem: In verse two, Abimelech asks his mother's family to speak on his behalf to "all the leaders of Shecehm". Other Bible translations may say, "all the citizens of Shechem" or "all the men of Shechem". The Hebrew word which is being variously translated as men, citizens or leaders is baal. That is right. Abimelech is asking his family to plead his case to all the baals of Shechem. Baal is a Canaanite loan word. In other words, it is a Canaanite word which was simply incorporated as is into the Hebrew language. We can see this in today's technology lingo. The words "email" and "internet" are often used in many non-English languages without actually translating the word.
Baal can be used in a number of ways, both theologically and commonly. In a certain sense, it is not unlike the Hebrew word adonai. In its common usage, adonai merely means (a human) lord or master. However, after about 300 B.C., it was eventually used as a theological term that referred to the God of Israel because it was deemed inappropriate to pronounce God's formal name YHWH. Adonai could be correctly used to refer to a wealthy man or a powerful man. But adonai was also used much like the way we use the term "sir". The word "sir" is coined back to Europe in the days of aristocracies. "Sir" became a formal title, like Sir Arthur. However, it can also be used to simply denote respect to anyone of any status like when we say "sir" or "ma'am". So, the use of baal here in Judges is not the theological one referring to gods in general, and it is not referring to the specific chief god of the Canaanites, named Baal. Instead, it is being used as a word of respect and as a word of flattery with its meaning being "Canaanite lords".
It is ONLY because Abimelech is appealing to Canaanites that he uses the term baals. He would NEVER do that to curry favor with the Israelites who were loyal to God. Thus, we see the editor of Judges used the name Jerubbaal to refer to Abimelech's Hebrew father, Gideon. It is to make a point. Jerubbaal (Gideon) cut down Baal's image and fought Baal's people because he was the enemy of Baal. Abimelech, on the other hand, identified himself with Baal and Baal's people. This is just another one of hundreds of important subtleties through the Old Testament which goes over our heads if we do not look at the Hebrew language and acknowledge the biblical context of an Israelite culture.
2. (Judges 9:4-5) Abimelech murders his brothers
They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him. Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver: Abimelech's family is so connected to Baal, they go and take 70 pieces of silver from Baal's temple (called Baal-berith, or the Covenant of Baal) in order to help Abimelech succeed. They did not steal the money or do something wrong. Using temple treasury money for political purposed was quite normal in those days. The money was used to hire some worthless men to do Abimelech's bidding. These hirelings would be used as assassins to kill all of Gideon's sons.
But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself: The hit men followed Abimelech to Ophrah, and there they killed 69 of Gideon's 70 sons. The remaining one was the youngest named Jotham, who somehow escaped the slaughter. But it was not like he was overlooked. Abimelech would have known Jotham got away.
3. (Judges 9:6) The men of Shechem make Abimelech their king
All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.
They went and made Abimelech king: Verse six describes Abimelech's coronation. First, we should imagine what he is the king over. There were only four towns under his rule: Shechem, Beth-millo, Arumah (Judges 9:41) and Thebez (Judges 9:50). His territory probably also extended a little farther into the western parts of Manasseh. It was not much of a kingdom. Let us also understand that while this man saw himself as a king at the head of a monarchy, in fact he was merely a tyrannical dictator and murderer. He ruled ruthlessly and vengefully. He was a thug like Fidel Castro or Saddam Hussein. He cared nothing for the people, and he did not know how to build an economy or create loyalties and alliances.
Archaeologists have actually uncovered Abimelech's place of coronation. The pillar used was probably from Joshua's day. The temple of Baal-berith is also in the midst of the excavation. Thus, we have Gideon's son being made king of part of Israel in covenant with Canaanites and taking his vow in the name of Baal.
Shechem's association with rebellion continues for some time after Abimelech's rule. Following the death of King Solomon, Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned king of Israel, although the city of Shechem was in ruins at the time. "Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king" (1 Kings 12:1). Additionally, when Jeroboam rises up against Rehoboam and divides the kingdom, he also makes Shechem his home. "Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel." (1 Kings 12:25).
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