And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Jotham alone stood against Abimelech's wickedness, though God sent neither prophet nor judgment to awaken the Shechemites from their stupor. This young man, preserved by special providence when his brothers fell, gave faithful reproof from Mount Gerizim, not seeking to raise armies or claim power, but warning them plainly of ruin to come.
AI summary
Commenting on Judges 9:7-21
And Jotham ran away, and fled,.... Having delivered his fable, and the application of it, he made his escape, having the advantage of being on the top of a mountain, at some distance from the people, and perhaps they might not be inclined to do him any harm: and went to Beer; which some take to be the same with Baalathbeer in the tribe of...
Jotham chose Mount Gerizim precisely because it rises as a wall above Shechem's valley, where his voice could carry with perfect clarity to the city below. Eastern people love parables to convey reproofs they cannot speak plainly, and the parable of rival trees fitted the very landscape before them.
AI summary
Commenting on Judges 9:7-21