Judges 9:3-15

Judges 9:3-15

[3] And his mother's  brethren  spake  of him in the ears  of all the men  of Shechem  all these words:  and their hearts  inclined  to follow  Abimelech;  for they said,  He is our brother.  [4] And they gave  him threescore and ten  pieces of silver  out of the house  of Baalberith,  wherewith Abimelech  hired  vain  and light  persons,  him.  [5] And he went  unto his father's  house  at Ophrah,  and slew  his brethren  the sons  of Jerubbaal,  being threescore and ten  persons,  upon one  stone:  notwithstanding yet Jotham  the youngest  son  of Jerubbaal  was left;  for he hid  himself. [6] And all the men  of Shechem  gathered together,  and all the house  of Millo,  and made  Abimelech  king,  by the plain  of the pillar  that was in Shechem.  [7] And when they told  it to Jotham,  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. [8] The trees  went forth  on a time to anoint  a king  over them; and they said  unto the olive tree,  Reign  thou over us. [9] But the olive tree  said  unto them, Should I leave  my fatness,  wherewith by me they honour  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [10] And the trees  said  to the fig tree,  thou, and reign  [11] But the fig tree  said  unto them, Should I forsake  my sweetness,  and my good  fruit,  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [12] Then said  the trees  unto the vine,  thou, and reign  over us. [13] And the vine  said  unto them, Should I leave  my wine,  which cheereth  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [14] Then said  all the trees  unto the bramble,  thou, and reign  [15] And the bramble  said  unto the trees,  If in truth  ye anoint  me king  over you, then come  and put your trust  in my shadow:  and if not, let fire  come out  of the bramble,  and devour  the cedars  of Lebanon.