Judges 9:7-9

Expanded Bible

Jotham’s Story

⁷ When Jotham heard this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted to the people: “Listen to me, you ·leaders [leading citizens; lords] of Shechem, so that God will listen to you! ⁸ One day the trees decided to ·appoint [^Lanoint] a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘·You be king [Rule; Reign] over us!’

⁹ “But the olive tree said, ‘Men and gods are honored by my oil. Should I ·stop making it [^Lcease my fatness/abundance] and go and sway over the other trees?’ [^CAncient kings were sometimes compared to trees, providing shelter and protection for their subjects.]