John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren ,.... 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... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:1-6
We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and made himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some towering ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying royalty in it, might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has buried his father nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will succeed him in the government of Israel, directly contrary to his father's will, for he had declared no son of his should rule over them. He had no call... read more