Abimelech only speaks three times in the narrative: in Judges 9:2, Judges 9:48, Judges 9:54. Every time he speaks, his words are self-focused and egoistic: he wants to rule (Judges 9:2), he wants to be followed in his ferocity (Judges 9:48), and he wants to escape the ignominy of dying at the hand of a woman (Judges 9:54).
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2 “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”