Judges 9:2

Judges 9:2. In the ears of all the men of Shechem— We are prepared for this exploit of Abimelech, by the mention of him in the 31st verse of the foregoing chapter. His mother, it is conjectured by some, gave him the name of Abimelech, i.e. my father a king, out of pride and arrogance; and possibly the early impressions of this sort which he received were the foundation of that cruel ambition which occasioned his ruin. What we render men of Shechem, Houbigant renders nobles or princes; because, says he, the citizens are evidently distinguished in the 45th and 46th verses from the nobles: for the citizens in the 45th verse are called העם haam, the people, but in the 46th verse, בעלי baali, nobles; who could not be the citizens of Shechem, as the house of their god Berith contained them all. The like distinction is made in the 51st verse: besides, the government of the tribes was aristocratical; and therefore the elders and chiefs, not the whole people, were to be consulted in the choice of a king. The same mode of expression is used in the foregoing chapter, Jdg 9:8 compared with Judges 9:6. By the pieces of silver mentioned in Jdg 9:4 it is generally thought that shekels are meant.