9:1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his {a} mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
(a) To practice with his kinsfolk for attaining the kingdom.
9:1-6 The men of Shechem chose Abimelech king. God was not consulted whether they should have any king, much less who it should be. If parents could see what their children would do, and what they are to suffer, their joy in them often would be turned into sorrow: we may be thankful that we cannot know what shall happen. Above all, we should fear and watch against sin; for our evil conduct may produce fatal effects upon our families, after we are in our graves.
