seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Judges 9:7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
Abimelek killed all those brothers, and the one that was left alive.... warned everyone about him. Abimelek's brother Jotham got up on the mountain top and warned the people.
This is from Bibletrack.org.
Some brother, huh? Gideon's son, Abimelech, goes for a power grab, kills 69 of 70 of his brothers and grabs the kingship of Shechem (his mom's hometown). That must have just been a starting place for Abimelech; he must have had his eyes on a bigger kingship, but you gotta start somewhere. Gideon had a bunch of wives and concubines and subsequently, sons. The sole surviving brother, Jotham, tells it like it is to the leaders of Shechem from the top of the Mount Gerizim (remember, that was that blessings mountain of Joshua 8). Shechem was in the valley at the foot of the mountain. He hollers out the whole ruthless truth about his power-hungry brother, Abimelech. One could stand on the top of that mountain and broadcast clearly and loudly into Shechem beneath. He then high tails it for his life after speaking his peace.
Jotham speaks to the men of Shechem by giving them a parable in verses 7-15. His olive tree/fig tree parable didn't flow that well...kinda hard to follow. It's a good thing he gives the interpretation of his parable in verses 16-20. It is important to notice the curse that Jotham pronounces on Abimelech and the men of Shechem (verse 20). It took three years, but this curse finally is fulfilled and noted so in verse 57
.Jotham speaks to the men of Shechem by giving them a parable in verses 7-15. His olive tree/fig tree parable didn't flow that well...kinda hard to follow. It's a good thing he gives the interpretation of his parable in verses 16-20. It is important to notice the curse that Jotham pronounces on Abimelech and the men of Shechem (verse 20). It took three years, but this curse finally is fulfilled and noted so in verse 57
Good for Jotham. He knew his brother was evil and, in spite of the danger, he shouted it from the mountain top.
Sometimes people should listen to the little guy [or child] because what they have to say should be shouted from the mountain top.
