20. But if not, may fire blaze out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Bethmillo. May fire blaze out from the men of Shechem and Bethmillo and burn Abimelech up.”
21. Then because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech, Jotham ran away and went to live at Beer.
22. Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.
23. Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against him.
24. This happened so that Abimelech and the men of Shechem, who encouraged him to murder Gideon's seventy sons, would pay for their crime.
25. The men of Shechem put men in ambush against Abimelech on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who passed their way. Abimelech was told about this.