The word God (Elohim) is used here and in verses Judges 9:56–57 because God appears in this chapter as the righteous, sovereign judge. The use of “Lord” (Yahweh) is hardly appropriate, for Israel had rejected him (see Judges 8:34), and the loyalty that was to characterize covenantal life had disappeared (see Judges 8:35).
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,