Judges 9:23

23 And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem; who began to detest him,

Judges 9:23 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:23

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of
Shechem
Permitted, yea, gave a commission to Satan, the evil spirit, to go among them, who stirred up suspicions, jealousies, hatred, and ill will to one another, and sowed the seeds of discord and contention among them; or God gave them up to their own hearts' lusts, to think ill of one another, grow jealous, and meditate revenge:

and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
did not openly declare their minds, but secretly conspired against him, and privately consulted ways to find means to get rid of him, and shake off his government.

Judges 9:23 In-Context

21 And when he had said thus, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech, his brother.

22 So Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.

23 And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem; who began to detest him,

24 And to lay the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided him.

25 And they set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking spoils of all that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.