Thus, these impressive verses give the explanation of the whole narrative. They are inserted to show that God punishes both individual and national…

And all the evil of the men of Shechem
In aiding Abimelech to slay his brethren, and in making him king after so fou…

The Shechemites were ruined by Abimelech; now he is reckoned with, who was their leader in villainy. Evil pursues sinners, and sometimes overtakes …