Jotham’s Parable

When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out

“ Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem,

and may God listen to you.

8 

One day the trees set out

to anoint a king for themselves.

They said to the olive tree,

‘Reign over us.’

9 

But the olive tree replied

‘Should I stop giving my oil

that honors both God and man,

to hold sway over the trees?’

10 

Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘Come and reign over us.’

11 

But the fig tree replied

‘Should I stop giving my sweetness

and my good fruit,

to hold sway over the trees?’

12 

Then the trees said to the grapevine,

‘Come and reign over us.’

13 

But the grapevine replied

‘Should I stop giving my wine

that cheers [both] God and man,

to hold sway over the trees?’

14 

Finally all the trees said to the thornbush,

‘Come and reign over us.’

15 

But the thornbush replied

‘If you really are anointing me as king over you,

come and find refuge in my shade.

But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush

and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 

Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian, 18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother —19 if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, [then] may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you

20 

But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem vvv and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

21 

Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

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