Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 9:7

7 ¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim , and lift up his voice, and cried , and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem , that God may hearken unto you .

Which lay near Shechem, and near Mount Ebal. The Valley between these two Mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, was a famous place, employed for a Religious use, even for the Solemn reading of the Law, and its Blessings and Curses, Deut. 11. 29. and 27. 12. Ios. 8. 33. and therefore it is probable it was still used, even by the Superstitious and Idolatrous Israelites for such like occasions, who delighted to use the same places which their Religious Ancestors had Consecrated and used.

So as they that stood in the Valley might hear him, though not suddenly come at him to take him.

Who are here met together upon a solemn occasion, as Iosephus notes, Abimelech being absent.

When you cry unto him for Mercy; so he conjures and perswades to give him patient Audience, as they did.