Judges 9:7-21

Living Bible

⁷ When Jotham heard about this, he stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted across to the men of Shechem, “If you want God’s blessing, listen to me! ⁸ Once upon a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they asked the olive tree, ⁹ but it refused.

“‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses God and man, just to wave to and fro over the other trees?’ it asked.

¹⁰ “Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’

¹¹ “But the fig tree also refused. ‘Should I quit producing sweetness and fruit just to lift my head above all the other trees?’ it asked.

¹² “Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You reign over us!’

¹³ “But the grapevine replied, ‘Shall I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and man, just to be mightier than all the other trees?’

¹⁴ “Then all the trees finally turned to the thorn bush. ‘You be our king!’ they exclaimed.

¹⁵ “And the thorn bush replied, ‘If you really want me, come and humble yourselves beneath my shade! If you refuse, let fire flame forth from me and burn down the great cedars of Lebanon!’

¹⁶ “Now make sure that you have done the right thing in making Abimelech your king, that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. ¹⁷ For my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the Midianites, ¹⁸ yet you have revolted against him and killed his seventy sons upon one stone. And now you have chosen his slave girl’s son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative. ¹⁹ If you are sure that you have done right by Gideon and his descendants, then may you and Abimelech have a long and happy life together. ²⁰ But if you have not been fair to Gideon, then may Abimelech destroy the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may they destroy Abimelech!”

²¹ Then Jotham escaped and lived in Beer for fear of his brother, Abimelech.