Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem - i:e., in the course of Providence, jealousy, distrust, secret disaffection, and smothered rebellion appeared among his subjects, disappointed and disgusted with his tyranny; and God permitted those disorders to punish the complicated crimes of the royal fratricide and idolatrous usurper.