Judges 9:21

*Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.* (v.21)

Here, the text presents Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal, who lived around the 12th century BC in Israel’s early history). Jotham had just delivered a parable on Mount Gerizim, warning the people of Shechem about the dangers of following Abimelech as their king. In this single verse, we see him suddenly forced to flee in order to preserve his life. By stating that Jotham “escaped and fled,” Scripture shows that his only recourse against his murderous half-brother Abimelech was to find refuge somewhere else. The place he went to is called Beer, which means “well,” indicating that it may have been an outlying settlement or location with a spring—a safe distance from Shechem’s turmoil (v.21).

The verse underscores the seriousness of the threat posed by Abimelech, who killed nearly all of his half-brothers to secure power for himself. Jotham alone survived the massacre, delivering a powerful word of warning to the citizens of Shechem just before running away. By distancing himself from the city, Jotham places himself out of immediate danger, illustrating that sometimes wisdom consists in removing oneself from violent or unjust circumstances rather than staying and facing certain harm. This flight also echoes a larger theme seen throughout Scripture—God often preserves a faithful remnant who choose righteousness when confronted by tyranny and wrongdoing (1 Kings 19:18).

From a broader biblical perspective, Jotham’s decision to flee foreshadows the concept of seeking refuge from oppression—one that resonates in the New Testament with Jesus’s own flight to Egypt as a child, when King Herod sought to kill Him (Matthew 2:13–14 NASB‑95). God frequently provides ways of escape for His servants (1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB‑95). Jotham’s life is preserved here so his testimony might continue to bear witness to God’s justice, even as corruption overtook Shechem through Abimelech’s violent reign.

Jotham’s prudent retreat from Abimelech’s clutches reflects God’s hand at work, ensuring the line of Gideon was not entirely cut off.