What does Judges 9:21 mean?

"And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother." - Judges 9:21

Judges 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."

The verse Judges 9:21 from the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."

This verse is part of the story of Abimelech, one of the judges of Israel. Abimelech was the son of Gideon, and after Gideon's death, he sought to become the ruler of Israel. In his quest for power, Abimelech murdered his seventy brothers, with the exception of Jotham, who managed to escape. After Abimelech's rise to power, the people of Shechem eventually turned against him, and he responded by laying siege to their city. Jotham's flight to Beer signifies his fear of Abimelech's wrath and his desire to escape the violence and bloodshed that had come to characterize his brother's reign.

The story of Abimelech and Jotham illustrates themes of power, betrayal, and the consequences of violence. Abimelech's ruthless pursuit of power, including the murder of his own brothers, reflects the corrupting influence of ambition and the destructive nature of unchecked authority. Jotham's flight to Beer highlights the fear and instability that often accompany oppressive leadership. The passage serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing power at any cost and the harm that it can bring to both individuals and communities.

The context of this verse is important for understanding its significance. In the book of Judges, the Israelites are depicted as struggling to establish and maintain a cohesive and just society. The narrative is marked by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, with various leaders, or judges, emerging to help the people in times of crisis. The story of Abimelech serves as a cautionary example of the consequences of moral and political corruption within the Israelite community.

The symbolism in this verse is also noteworthy. Jotham's flight to Beer represents a journey toward safety and a desire to distance himself from the chaos and violence that had engulfed his family and his homeland. The city of Beer itself has symbolic significance as a place of refuge and renewal. In the Bible, beer is often associated with refreshment and nourishment, and Jotham's decision to dwell there can be seen as a symbolic act of seeking solace and restoration in the midst of turmoil.

Overall, Judges 9:21 is a passage that speaks to the destructive effects of power and violence, as well as the human desire for safety and refuge in times of strife. Through the story of Jotham's flight to Beer, the verse conveys important themes about the pursuit of power, the consequences of betrayal, and the longing for peace and stability. In its broader context within the book of Judges, this verse contributes to the Bible's exploration of the complexities of human nature and the challenges of creating a just and harmonious society.

Judges 9:21 Artwork

Judges 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."

Judges 21:9 - "For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there."

Matthew 9:21

Matthew 9:21-22

Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"

Judges 9:50 - "¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it."

Judges 21:17 - "And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel."

Judges 18:21 - "So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them."

Judges 9:22 - "¶ When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,"

Judges 15:9 - "¶ Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi."

Judges 9:39 - "And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech."

Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."

Judges 9:10 - "And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us."

Judges 9:42 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech."

Judges 9:12 - "Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us."

Judges 9:47 - "And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together."

Psalms 98:9 - "Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity."

Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Judges 9:32 - "Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:"

Judges 9:14 - "Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us."

Judges 13:21 - "But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD."

Judges 21:4 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings."

Judges 7:21 - "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."

Judges 21:21 - "And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin."

Exodus 22:9 - "For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour."

Judges 9:46 - "¶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith."