Keraia
Judges 9

Judges 9:8

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

Translations

Modern
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Traditional
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Literal
The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Latin
Ierunt ligna, ut ungerent super se regem: dixeruntque olivæ: Impera nobis.

Original

Hebrew
English
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

Notes

Judges 9:8–13

  • Olives, figs, and grapes were essential to Canaan's agriculture. They provided important crops and enhanced the landscape's beauty.

  • To wave back and forth over the trees meant being visible and active but achieving nothing.

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Allegory of the Trees Seeking a King Anointing in Consecration of Kings Jotham: Son of Gideon: Rebukes the Shechemites with the Parable About the Trees Judge: Abimelech Olive: Fable of Parables of the Trees Parables: Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament Sacred Anointing: Persons Who Received: Kings Sarcasm by Jotham