S. Abramsky, "The Leadership of Abimelech", Sivan, 163-176 (Heb.).

The authentic core of the Abimelech narrative is identified by the author as Judg. 9:1-7, 21-51. The tale as so delimited perceives of Abimelech's reign as a legitimate rule by virtue of dynastic succession, as traditional usage in the area of Shechem would require. Parallels to the use of various terms to refer to the ruler are adduced from the El Amarna letters and the Ugaritic and Alalakh tables. Archaeological finds in the area of Shechem are adduced to argue in favour of a date circa 1100 B.C.E. for the episode, at which time the town's fortifications, which had not been destroyed in the Israelite conquest, were finally toppled in the unhappy events of Abimelech's demise. (B.S.J.)