The book of Judges, which is believed to have been written by the prophet Samuel around 1050 - 1000 BC, presents us with a sad and turbulent period in Israel's history. Jotham’s application in Judges 9:16 forms a perfect parallel to the speech of the thorn-bush in Judges 9:15. But unfortunately we have one more chapter left. Judges Map. He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”. Yet, we should remember that Jesus was not the only one to use parables and that they can be found throughout scripture. Well, site uncertain) where he hid from his brother’s wrath. Such a one was Abimelech, and yet chosen to the government by the trees, by all the trees; this election seems to have been more unanimous than any of the others. And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood at the entering of the gate of the city: and two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and they killed them. And just as a bramble can catch fire easily and burn down a forest, so would Abimelech be the means of the Shechemites’ destruction (7-21).In due course trouble arose between Abimelech and the Shechemites. The noble Gideon and his worthy sons had declined the proffered kingdom. If we turn away our ear from hearing the law, our prayer will be an abomination,Proverbs 28:9. But Jotham hid himself. It is chiseled out to where it's round, has a hole in the middle of it and then the stick or the post would go through the center of the millstone and it would roll. I wish it was the end. 11 After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; he judged Israel for ten years. Judges 9:14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. Furthermore we can see what had become of Shechem (cf. Jotham did not go about to raise an army out of the other cities of Israel (in which, one would think, he might have made a good interest for his father's sake), to avenge his brethren's death, much less to set up himself in competition with Abimelech, so groundless was the usurper's suggestion that the sons of Gideon aimed at dominion (Judges 9:2; Judges 9:2); but he contents himself with giving a faithful reproof to the Shechemites, and fair warning of the fatal consequences. Judges 9:15 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Judges 9:15, NIV: "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!'" I don't want them, I don't want them to say a woman killed me." And in Thebez there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women, fled to the tower there in Thebez. [Note: Idem, Judges . … Judges 9:15 Commentaries: "The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'. stood in the top of mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice --The spot he chose was, like the housetops, the public place of Shechem; and the parable [ Judges 9:8-15 ] drawn from the rivalry of the various trees was appropriate to the diversified foliage of the valley below. The story of Abimelech connects directly with the story of Gideon. The vile, base-born Abimelech had accepted it, and his act would turn out to the mutual ruin of himself and his subjects. Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day. For a good useful man some would even dare to die. Accepting of their offer at once: if ye in trust anoint me king over you; suspecting they were not hearty and cordial in their choice and call to the kingly authority over them: then come and put your trust in my shadow; promising protection to them as his subjects, requiring their confidence in him, and boasting of the good they should receive from him, as is common with wicked princes at their first entering on their office; but, alas! 20. and 21. of the Gospel of St. John. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? It was a sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the progress of this threatening mischief. 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 7. he . It is the God-given arena where the gifts of freedom and security are constantly threatened both from without and from within and are preserved or lost by real people. (1-3) Samson’s rage at discovering that his wife is given to another. Now when Jotham heard that they had made Abimelech king, he went to the top of mount Gerizim ( Judges 9:5-7 ). It is intimated, [1.] The bramble was too low to give shelter to any tree; and so far from being able to consume others, that the smallest fire will reduce it to ashes, and that in the shortest time. Here Gideon had become your deliverer and he freed you from the hand of the Midianites and now this is the way you treat, you know, Gideon and his offspring. We’ll cover the 4th and 5th chapters in this book today. Abraham was reminded that nothing is too wonderful for the Lord and Joshua discovered that God did wonderful things in the midst of His people. "the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech" This is the divine action related to Jotham's curse in Jdgs. In spite of his stupid mistakes, his lustful and sensual life, and his bitter revenge against his enemies, he nevertheless loved the Lord. 19, that Samson's spirit came again, and he revived, or came to life again, after being on the very point of death; and, adds the writer, he judged Israel after this for twenty years. So Abimelech was wiped out. See Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:10. Let fire come out of the bramble — A strong catachresis. “And when they saw him, they fetched thirty friends, and they were with him.” The parents or relations of the bride are the subject of the first clause. No way. or, as the margin reads it, go up and down for the trees? He reminds them of the many good services his father had done for them, Judges 9:17; Judges 9:17. See what great swelling words of vanity he speaks (Judges 9:15; Judges 9:15), what promises he makes to his faithful subjects: Let them come and trust in my shadow: a goodly shadow to trust in! In other words, let there come strife between the men of Shechem and Abimelech. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 3. ', To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible. In like manner, the allusion in Judges 9:13 is to the drink-offerings of wine. By contrast Abimelech is like a bramble: he can give neither shelter nor protection. Judges 15:20 Forerunner Commentary Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown John Wesley's Notes Matthew Henry People's Commentary (NT) Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) Scofield: Definitions: Interlinear: Library: Topical Studies: X-References: Verse Comparison: Judges 9:15. Judges 6:30-40 Confirming the Will of God. Judges 6:11-24 The Commission of Gideon. 9:15 If in truth - If you deal truly and justly in making me king. (Read Judges 7:1-8.) and Zebul his officer? if a man attempts: to put himself under it for shelter, he will find it will be of no use to him, but harmful, since, the nearer and closer he comes to it, the more he will be scratched and torn by it: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon; signifying, that if they did not heartily submit to his government, and put confidence in him, and prove faithful to him, they should smart for it, and feel his wrath and vengeance, even the greatest men among them, comparable to the cedars of Lebanon; for thorns and brambles catching fire, as they easily do, or fire being put to them, as weak as they are, and placed under the tallest and strongest cedars, will soon fetch them down to the ground; and the words of the bramble, or Abimelech, proved true to the Shechemites, he is made to speak in this parable. if a man attempts: to put himself under it for shelter, he will find it will be of no use to him, but harmful, since, the nearer and closer he comes to it, the more he will be scratched and torn by it: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon; signifying, that if they did not heartily submit to his government, and put confidence in him, and prove faithful to him, they should smart for it, and feel his wrath and vengeance, even the greatest men among them, comparable to the cedars of Lebanon; for thorns and brambles catching fire, as they easily do, or fire being put to them, as weak as they are, and placed under the tallest and strongest cedars, will soon fetch them down to the ground; and the words of the bramble, or Abimelech, proved true to the Shechemites, he is made to speak in this parable. 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?’. Wesley's Notes for Judges 9:15. The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon. . The olives are among the most beautiful trees that grow in the Holy Land. what shadow or protection can there be in a bramble? See Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2; Luke 7:34; 1 Timothy 5:10, etc. A. Jotham, having given them this admonition, made a shift to escape with his life, Judges 9:21; Judges 9:21. Judges 9:15 — New Century Version (NCV) 15 “But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to appoint me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade! Now Mount Gerizim is a pretty good, you know, climb to get up to the top of the mountain and he knew that he had a good running distance on the guy. And so he said if you would just commit yourself to me I would remove Abimelech. Abdon. So Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait at Shechem and four companies. The allusion is far more probably to the use of thorns for fuel: Exodus 22:6, âIf fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn . The people tried to make Gideon their king and he refused. (2.) And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains, And Zebul said, No that's just an illusion, [that's just the sun rising and the sun coming down, it looks like people,] just an illusion that you see. The acoustics are quite interesting in many areas of the land. . Come and put your trust in any shadow — The vain boast of the would-be sovereign; and of the man who is seeking to be put into power by the suffrages of the people. 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. While Judges covers a period of Israel's history of 350 years or so, the events are not necessarily chronological. Commentary on Judges 9:30-49 (Read Judges 9:30-49) Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. So Abimelech chased him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even to the entering of the gate. Commentary on Judges 14:5-9. 2 Samuel 17:18-21). Hey, no he wasn't so meek and mild. In them Jotham points out the base ingratitude of the people in raising Abimelech upon the ruin of Gideon’s house, and foretells the retribution which would fall upon both parties. They had not done to him according to the deserving of his hands,Judges 9:16; Judges 9:16. It is generally recognized as the first parable in the Bible. You said, you know, if he were just here I'd handle him.". The reason which all these fruit-trees gave for their refusal was much the same. Note, Those who expect God to hear their prayers must be willing to hear reason, to hear a faithful reproof, and to hear the complaints and appeals of wronged innocency. Judges 6:25-29 Destroying the Pagan Altar. 89-95.]. His parable is very ingenious--that when the trees were disposed to choose a king the government was offered to those valuable trees the olive, the fig-tree, and the vine, but they refused it, choosing rather to serve than rule, to do good than bear sway. what shadow or protection can there be in a bramble? Jotham (lit. And I don't know what phenomena it is that creates it but sound would have to carry for Jesus to be able to address such large multitudes of people.Even down by the beach there is Caesarea right near the Mediterranean in an amphitheater that is there that was built by the Romans. The fact of Samson's reference to himself in this line as God's servant reveals the true heart of the man. Yahweh is perfect, honest) stood on the same mountain where six of Israel’s tribes had declared the blessings of abiding by the Law of Yahweh and denounced the Shechemites for their foolish and wicked actions. And as I say, from the top of Gerizim you've got a good lead on anybody that might want to chase you. And Jotham ran away, and he fled, to Beer, and dwelt there, for the fear of Abimelech his brother. "And the olive tree said, "Should I leave my fatness and so forth and rule over you? If not.âThe bramble is not only eager to be king, but has spiteful and dangerous threatsâthe counterpart of those, doubtless, which had been used by Abimelechâto discourage any withdrawal of the offer. The bramble is a worthless plant, not to be numbered among the trees, useless and fruitless, nay, hurtful and vexatious, scratching and tearing, and doing mischief; it began with the curse, and its end is to be burned. After the death of Gideon, this Abimelech who was the son of his concubine in Shechem. 12 Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. Yet he threatens with as much confidence as he promises: If you be not faithful, let fire come out of the bramble (a very unlikely thing to emit fire) and devour the cedars of Lebanon--more likely to catch fire, and be itself devoured. Accepting of their offer at once. There are many wonderful things in the Word of God. Judges 8:1-12 The Surprise Attack.