Jueces 9:9

9 Pero el olivo se negó diciendo:
“¿Dejaría yo de producir el aceite de oliva
que bendice a Dios y a la gente,
solo para mecerme por encima de los árboles?”.

Jueces 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:9

But the olive tree said unto them
In reply to the request of the trees:

should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man;
by "fatness" oil is meant, pressed out of the fruit of the olive tree, and which was much made use of both in the burning of the lamps in the tabernacle, and in many sacrifices, as the meat offerings and others, whereby God was honoured; and it was also made use of in the investiture of the greatest personages with the highest offices among men, as kings, priests, and prophets, as well as eaten with pleasure and delight by all sorts of men, and even by the greatest, and so men are honoured by it:

and go to be promoted over the trees;
desert so useful a station, in which it was planted and fixed, to move to and fro, as the word signifies, and reign over trees; suggesting that it was unreasonable, at least not eligible to a good man to desert a private station in life, to which he was called of God, and in which he acted with honour and usefulness to others, and take upon him a public office, attended with much care and trouble, and with neglect of private affairs, and with the loss of much personal peace and comfort.

Jueces 9:9 In-Context

7 Parábola de Jotam
Cuando Jotam se enteró, subió a la cima del monte Gerizim y gritó:
«¡Escúchenme, ciudadanos de Siquem!
¡Escúchenme a mí si quieren que Dios los escuche a ustedes!

8 Cierta vez los árboles decidieron elegir un rey.
Primero le dijeron al olivo:
“¡Reina sobre nosotros!”.

9 Pero el olivo se negó diciendo:
“¿Dejaría yo de producir el aceite de oliva
que bendice a Dios y a la gente,
solo para mecerme por encima de los árboles?”.

10 »Entonces le dijeron a la higuera:
“¡Reina sobre nosotros!”.

11 Pero la higuera también se negó diciendo:
“¿Dejaría yo de producir mi dulce fruto,
solo para mecerme por encima de los árboles?”.