When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.

The Israelites asked the Lord (for the ark of God’s covenant was there in those days;

but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?

After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers.