1. Judges 9:25 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What would the Shechemites’ robbing passers-by accomplish?

Judges 9:25 (ESV)

25 And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

This will give Abimelech a political black eye, with people reacting negatively on account of this king who cannot even guarantee safe transit across his territory.1