Judges 9:2

Men of Shechem. The Hebrew word here translated “men” is the plural of ba‘al, signifying “possessors,” or “citizens.” The inhabitants were of mixed nationality, some being Israelites, some Canaanites, and some, like Abimelech, perhaps shared the blood of both. They lived side by side, amalgamating to a certain extent, yet sharing a mutual dislike. Verse 28 indicates that the Canaanites were predominant in this particular city.

Whether is better? Abimelech thought this an overwhelming argument. We need not necessarily conclude that all the 70 sons of Gideon were seeking to gain for themselves the ruling authority of their father. Abimelech was stating the case in the worst possible light, playing on the fears and prejudices of the populace.

Your bone. Abimelech seems to be appealing to the Canaanite group of the populace. Even if this were not the case, the Israelites in Shechem were of the tribe of Ephraim, and he well knew of their ambition to be the leading tribe. They had no doubt resented the fact that Gideon, a man of Manasseh, should be the chief man of the whole area. Therefore they would readily grasp at the opportunity to elevate Gideon’s son from Shechem to the office of his father.