Judges 9:7-17

7 When Jotham heard about this, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, and God may listen to you!

8 Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, "Be our king.'

9 The olive tree answered, "In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and human beings.'

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, "You come and be our king.'

11 But the fig tree answered, "In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit.'

12 So the trees then said to the grapevine, "You come and be our king.'

13 But the vine answered, "In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my wine, that makes gods and human beings happy.'

14 So then all the trees said to the thorn bush, "You come and be our king.'

15 The thorn bush answered, "If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you don't, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'

16 "Now then," Jotham continued, "were you really honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Did you respect Gideon's memory and treat his family properly, as his actions deserved?

17 Remember that my father fought for you. He risked his life to save you from the Midianites.

Judges 9:7-17 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.