Judges 9:7-15 — Jotham’s Parable - Must Read

When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and 7 
shouted, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to 
listen to you! 



Once upon a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they said to the olive 8 
tree, ‘Be our king!’ 


But the olive tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that 9 
blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 
“Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’ 

10 But the fig tree also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit 11 
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 

11“Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’ 12 
But the grapevine also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the wine 13 
that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 
“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said, ‘Come, you be 

14 our king!’ 
And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your 

15  king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and 
devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ ”

To understand the story, let's cover a bit of history.

After Gideon defeated the Midianites, the Israelites wanted to make him king, but he refused (Judges 8:22-23).

He judged Israel and then his seventy sons split the duty after him. However, one son, Abimelech, decided he wanted it all (Judges 9:1-4). 

After securing financing for mercenaries, Abimelech killed his brothers, but the youngest son escaped and it is he who tells this story (Judges 9:5-6).

The trees represent the people of Israel, especially the leaders.

The olive is the most valued tree because it produces fruit and oil. 

The oil is used in the service of both God and man. When the olive tree probably represents Gideon and his refusal.

The fig tree produces fruit that is eaten by men, but it too refuses. The fig tree probably represents righteous men and most see this as referring to Gideon's sons.

The grapevine whose produce is used by God in sacrifices and by men. The grapevine probably represents the priests, who also refuse.

Finally the bramble, a thorn bush, is asked. The bramble is Abimelech. 

A bramble bush doesn't have much shade worth mentioning and trees wouldn't be able fit under a bramble bush. 

Bramble bushes easily burn, yet the arrogant bramble is threatening to burn the towering trees -- those more noble than the bramble.

Each tree and even the vine, which is not a tree, knew its place and knew that it was contributing to society without having to run society.

Yet, Abimelech, the useless bramble, seeks to destroy whoever is greater than himself because he isn't able to rule over others.

The people wanted a king but what they got was a dictator who would destroy them.