“70 pieces of silver.” It is as if the men of Shechem are giving Abimelech 1 piece of silver for each person they will murder (except Abimelech was excepted).

“the house of Baal-berith.” The “house” is the temple, and “Baal-berith” means “Baal of the covenant” or “Lord of the covenant.” So the people of Shechem had a temple to Baal and called him the Lord of the covenant. No wonder they did not mind supporting Abimelech in the murder of Gideon’s sons.