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20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!” 21 Then Jotham ran away[a] to Beer and lived there to escape from[b] Abimelech his half-brother.[c]

God Fulfills Jotham’s Curse

22 Abimelech commanded[d] Israel for three years.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:21 tn Heb “fled and ran away and went.”
  2. Judges 9:21 tn Heb “there from before.”
  3. Judges 9:21 tn Heb “his brother.”
  4. Judges 9:22 tn The Hebrew verb translated “commanded” (שָׂרַר, sarar), which appears only here in Judges, differs from the ones employed earlier in this chapter (מָשַׁל [mashal] and מָלַךְ [malakh]).sn Abimelech commanded Israel. Perhaps while ruling as king over the city-state of Shechem, Abimelech also became a leader of the Israelite tribal alliance (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 175).

20 But if you have not, let fire come out(A) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem(B) and Beth Millo,(C) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

21 Then Jotham(D) fled, escaping to Beer,(E) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,

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