Keraia
Judges 9

Judges 9:7

Jotham’s Parable · Judges 9:7–21
Read Judges 9

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Literal
And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he lifted his voice and cried out and said to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
Latin
Quod cum nuntiatum esset Joatham, ivit, et stetit in vertice montis Garizim: elevataque voce, clamavit, et dixit: Audite me, viri Sichem; ita audiat vos Deus.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Judges 9:7

Mount Gerizim was the mountain of blessing, opposite Mount Ebal, the mountain of cursing (Deuteronomy 11:29). Gerizim, located just south of Shechem, served as a natural stage for Jotham’s speech and allowed him to escape afterward.

Judges 9:7–21

Jotham shared a fable, where plants and animals act like humans, to illustrate the situation (Judges 9:7–15). He then cursed Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Judges 9:16–21). If they had acted dishonestly, it would become clear (Judges 9:56–57).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Preaching to a Tough Crowd Shechem

Events

People

Jotham: Youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre

Places

Mount Gerizim: Mountain in Samaria; site of blessings and Jotham's parable Shechem: City in Canaan, later allotted to Ephraim

Glossary

Arumah Baal-Berith Beth-Millo Curse, Cursed Jotham Judges, Book of Millo Riddle Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Gerizim: Jotham Addresses the Shechemites From, Against the Conspiracy of Abimelech Jotham: Son of Gideon: Rebukes the Shechemites with the Parable About the Trees Judge: Abimelech Mountains: Gerizim Sarcasm by Jotham the Tribe of Manasseh: Remarkable Persons of Jotham