Judges 9:22

God Fulfills Jotham’s Curse

9:22 Abimelech commanded ¹  Israel for three years.

Judges 12:8

Order Restored

12:8 After him Ibzan of Bethlehem ²  led ³  Israel.

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¹ tn The Hebrew verb translated “commanded” (שָׂרַר, sarar), which appears only here in Judges, differs from the ones employed earlier in this chapter (מָשַׁל [mashal] and מָלַךְ [malakh]).

sn Abimelech commanded Israel. Perhaps while ruling as king over the city-state of Shechem, Abimelech also became a leader of the Israelite tribal alliance (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 175).

² map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

³ tn Traditionally, “judged.”