Judges 9:4-14

4 So the leaders of Shechem gave Abimelech about one and three-quarter pounds of silver from the temple of the god Baal-Berith. Abimelech used the silver to hire some worthless, reckless men, who followed him wherever he went.

5 He went to Ophrah, the hometown of his father, and murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Gideon. He killed them all on one stone. But Gideon's youngest son, Jotham, hid from Abimelech and escaped.

6 Then all of the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree standing in Shechem. There they made Abimelech their king.

7 When Jotham heard this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted to the people: "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God will listen to you!

8 One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, 'You be king over us!'

9 "But the olive tree said, 'Men and gods are honored by my oil. Should I stop making it and go and sway over the other trees?'

10 "Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be king over us!'

11 "But the fig tree answered, 'Should I stop making my sweet and good fruit and go and sway over the other trees?'

12 "Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be king over us!'

13 "But the vine answered, 'My new wine makes men and gods happy. Should I stop making it and go and sway over the trees?'

14 "Then all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be king over us.'

Judges 9:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 9

This chapter contains an account of the craft and cruelty of Abimelech, by which he got himself made king of the Shechemites, Jud 9:1-6 of the parable of Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, concerning the trees, in which he exposes their folly in making Abimelech king, and foretells the ruin of them both, Jud 9:7-21 of the contentions which arose between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, increased by Gaal the son of Ebed, Jud 9:22-29 who was drawn into a battle with Abimelech, and beaten and forced to fly, Jud 9:30-41 but the quarrel between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ceased not, but still continued, which issued in the entire ruin of the city and the inhabitants of it, Jud 9:42-49 and in the death of Abimelech himself, according to Jotham's curse, Jud 9:50-57.