Dictionary Summary:The youngest of Gideon’s seventy sons. He escaped when the rest were put to death by the order of Abimelech ([Judg. 9:5](/judg#Judg.9.5)). When “the citizens of Shechem and the whole house of Millo” were gathered together “by the plain of the pillar” (i.e., the stone set up by Joshua, 24:26; comp. [Gen. 35:4](/gen#Gen.35.4)) “that was in Shechem, to make Abimelech king,” from one of the heights of Mount Gerizim he protested against their doing so in the earliest parable, that of the bramble-king. His words then spoken were prophetic. There came a recoil in the feelings of the people toward Abimelech, and then a terrible revenge, in which many were slain and the city of Shechem was destroyed by Abimelech ([Judg. 9:45](/judg#Judg.9.45)). Having delivered his warning, Jotham fled to Beer from the vengeance of Abimelech (9:7-21). ²