El Amarna 252 is a letter from Labayu, king of Shechem, to the king of Egypt, probably Amenhotep III. It is defiant in tone, suggesting Labayu had a measure of independence from Egypt and self governance. The Shechem of the Amarna letters has city lords and a mayor. Similarly, the city lords of Judg 9, the "men of Shechem," exercise the power to make Abimelech king (9:6), then later challenge his rule (9:23). The Amarna letters criticize Shechem for cooperating with Habiru. In the biblical story Shechem seems to have cooperated with Israel, and in Judg 9:26, 41, the elders cooperate with a smaller group of mercenaries, "Gaal and his brothers."