Background:
Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) and his concubine from Shechem, is a significant figure in the Book of Judges. After Gideon's death, Abimelech sought to establish himself as a ruler over Israel, specifically targeting the city of Shechem, where his maternal family resided. His account is primarily found in Judges 9.

Rise to Power:
Abimelech's ambition led him to Shechem, where he convinced his mother's relatives and the leaders of Shechem to support his claim to leadership. He argued that it was better for them to be ruled by one man, his kin, rather than by the seventy sons of Gideon. The leaders of Shechem were persuaded and gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, which Abimelech used to hire reckless adventurers to follow him.

Massacre of Gideon's Sons:
With his newfound support, Abimelech went to his father's house in Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Gideon, on one stone. However, the youngest son, Jotham, escaped by hiding. This massacre was a brutal attempt to eliminate any potential rivals to his claim to leadership.

Jotham's Parable:
After the massacre, the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered by the oak at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech as king. Jotham, the sole surviving son of Gideon, stood on Mount Gerizim and delivered a parable to the people of Shechem. In this parable, he likened the leaders' choice of Abimelech to trees choosing a bramble to be their king, warning them of the consequences of their actions. He concluded with a curse, stating that if they acted in good faith, they would rejoice in Abimelech, but if not, fire would come from Abimelech to consume the leaders of Shechem and vice versa.

Conflict with Shechem:
Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years before God sent an evil spirit between him and the leaders of Shechem, leading to treachery and conflict. The leaders of Shechem set ambushes against him, and a man named Gaal son of Ebed moved into Shechem, gaining the trust of its leaders. Gaal openly defied Abimelech, leading to a confrontation.

Battle and Destruction:
Abimelech responded by attacking Shechem. He divided his forces into three companies and launched a surprise attack. Gaal and his followers were driven out, and Abimelech captured the city. He razed it and sowed it with salt, a symbolic act of utter destruction.

The Tower of Shechem:
The leaders of the Tower of Shechem took refuge in the stronghold of the temple of El-berith. Abimelech and his men cut branches and set the stronghold on fire, killing about a thousand men and women inside.

Siege of Thebez:
Following the destruction of Shechem, Abimelech moved against the city of Thebez. The people of Thebez fled to a strong tower within the city. As Abimelech approached to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, cracking his skull. Realizing he was mortally wounded, Abimelech called his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword to avoid the disgrace of being killed by a woman. The young man complied, and Abimelech died.

Biblical Reference:
The account of Abimelech's attack on Shechem and his subsequent downfall is detailed in Judges 9. The narrative highlights themes of ambition, betrayal, divine retribution, and the consequences of unrighteous leadership. The Berean Standard Bible provides a clear translation of these events, capturing the dramatic and tragic nature of Abimelech's rise and fall.