Abimelech conspired to rule and was made king by the leaders of Shechem. Abimelech killed all of his brothers with the exception of his youngest brother, Jotham, who hid from Abimelech. Jotham questioned the faithfulness of the leaders of Shechem because of their actions toward his father’s household. Abimelech ruled for three years, then God sent an evil spirit between him and the leaders of Shechem. Abimelech fought his enemies until he was struck by a millstone thrown by a woman at Thebez. Abimelech instructed his armor-bearer to kill him with his sword to prevent him from dying at the hands of the woman. The evil committed against Abimelech’s father was returned to the men of Shechem.