Judges 8:31

8:31 His concubine, ¹  who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech. ² 

Judges 9:26

9:26 Gaal son of Ebed ³  came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. ⁴ 

Judges 9:41

9:41 Abimelech went back ⁵  to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. ⁶ 

[8:31]  ¹ sn A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).

[8:31]  ² sn The name Abimelech means “my father is king.”

[9:26]  ³ sn The name Gaal derives from, or at least sounds like, a Hebrew verb meaning “to abhor, loathe.” His father’s name, Ebed, means “servant.” Perhaps then this could be translated, “loathsome one, son of a servant.” This individual’s very name (which may be the narrator’s nickname for him, not his actual name) seems to hint at his immoral character and lowly social status.

[9:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “trusted in him.” Here the verb probably describes more than a mental attitude. It is likely that the Shechemites made an alliance with Gaal and were now trusting him for protection in return for their loyalty (and probably tribute).

[9:41]  ⁵ tc Heb “stayed.” Some scholars revise the vowel pointing on this verb from that of the MT, resulting in the translation “and he returned to.” The Lucianic recension of the LXX understands the word in this way.

[9:41]  ⁶ tn Heb “drove…out from dwelling in Shechem.”