This verse closes the episode concerning Jotham, who managed to hide himself once from Abimelech (verse 9.5). Once again he runs away and hides. Though Jotham flees, he remains a hero for speaking the truth and defying his murderous brother.

And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer describes Jotham’s flight. This is the last time he will appear on the scene. Besides the fulfillment of his curse (verse 9.57), Jotham is never heard of again. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And is better translated “Then” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) to introduce the next event in the story. The three verbs ran away, fled and went emphasize Jotham’s flight. Translators should use natural verbal expressions that catch some of the emphasis here. Contemporary English Version says “ran off and went.” The location of the town of Beer is unknown, but the meaning of this name in Hebrew is “well.”

And dwelt there means Jotham took up residence in Beer. We may say “and he settled there.” Jotham defied Abimelech, who had massacred the family of his father, so Abimelech would certainly be on the outlook for him to kill him. But evidently Abimelech never found him.

For fear of Abimelech his brother is literally “from the face of Abimelech his brother.” Revised Standard Version‘s rendering seems to give unnecessary emphasis to Jotham’s fear. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “because of his brother Abimelech,” New Jerusalem Bible has “to be out of his brother Abimelech’s reach,” and Contemporary English Version translates “where he would be safe from his brother Abimelech.” We may also say “on account of his brother Abimelech.” In some languages this phrase may occur near the beginning of the verse (see first model below). Abimelech his brother are poignant and ironic words used to conclude this episode. Jotham was the youngest son of a great man, Gideon, but he had to flee from his own flesh and blood. Though translators may be tempted to reduce this phrase to “Abimelech,” it is better to retain the words his brother here.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Then, because of Abimelech, his brother, Jotham ran away, fleeing to the town of Beer, where he settled down to live.

• Then Jotham fled and went to stay in a town called Beer, far away from his brother Abimelech.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .