“And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.”
In order to understand the context of this verse, we need to explore the preceding events.
Abimelech was the son of Gideon, a judge who delivered Israel from their oppressors. After Gideon’s death, Abimelech sought to seize power and become a ruler over Israel. He convinced the people of Shechem to support him and helped them kill all of his brothers, except for one named Jotham who managed to escape.
In this particular verse, the men of Shechem, who had initially supported Abimelech, turned against him. They ambushed him by setting “liers in wait” in the top of the mountains. This means that they stationed armed men in hiding, ready to attack anyone who passed by that way.
These men not only ambushed Abimelech but also robbed anyone who came along that path.
It is essential to note that Abimelech was not a righteous leader. He had taken the throne through deceit and bloodshed.
This verse indicates a shift in the people’s loyalty towards Abimelech, as they now sought to harm him. The verse does not provide further details about the outcome of the ambush, but it informs us that the news of the ambush reached Abimelech.
