Judges 9:22
After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
BSB
ASV
And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
KJV
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
Had reigned - Rather, “had ruled.” It is not the phrase used in Jdg 9:6. It looks as if the Shechemites alone had made him king, and the rest of Israel had submitted to his dominion, without allowing his title of king.
None could "reign" in Israel, except by rebellious usurpation; and hence the reign of Abimelech is expressed in the original by a word signifying "despotism," not that which describes the mild and divinely authorized rule of the judge.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.