They gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
"At least Gideon had said the right thing about God’s sole sovereignty: ’the LORD will rule over you’ (Judges 8:23). Abimelech, on the other hand, leaves the LORD out of the picture entirely." [Note: McCann, p. 72.] 