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Judges
Jotham tells a story where trees seek a king, and the productive trees refuse while the bramble agrees to rule (Judges 9:7–15). He applies it as a warning about Shechem’s choice of Abimelech and speaks a curse-like verdict of mutual destruction if they acted in wrongdoing (Judges 9:16–20).
7When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign you over us.
9But the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
10The trees said to the fig-tree, Come you, and reign over us.
11But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
12The trees said to the vine, Come you, and reign over us.
13The vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
14Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come you, and reign over us.
15The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
17(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18and you are risen up against my father`s house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
19if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.