שופטים, פרק ט׳, פסוק י״ח

A sharp rebuke echoes through the narrative as Jotham confronts the deep ingratitude of the people of Shechem. After everything his father Gideon accomplished, the townspeople respond not with loyalty, but with violent betrayal.

Instead of repaying Gideon's family with basic kindness, the citizens chose the exact opposite path. [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם] point out the harsh contrast in Jotham's message: rather than simply failing to show gratitude, the people actively committed evil by rising up against Gideon's household and murdering his sons.

Adding insult to this betrayal, the city chose to crown Abimelech as their new leader. Jotham deliberately highlights Abimelech's lower social standing, noting that he is the son of a maidservant or concubine [ביאור שטיינזלץ], rather than a son born to a primary wife [מצודת דוד]. Despite this, he was elevated to rule over the prominent figures and lords of Shechem, the people who made up the city's core elite [רד״ק].

The true motivation behind crowning Abimelech was rooted entirely in personal interest rather than any respect for Gideon's legacy. The leaders of Shechem made him king simply because of their blood ties to his mother, the maidservant [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. It was a calculated move driven by local family connections, completely ignoring the honor owed to the leader who had previously protected them.