6. The leaders of Shechem, including the priests and the military officers, met at the tree next to the sacred rock in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.
7. Jotham heard what they were doing. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted down to the people who were there at the meeting:Leaders of Shechem,listen to me,and perhaps Godwill listen to you.
8. Once the trees searchedfor someone to be king;they asked the olive tree,“Will you be our king?”
9. But the olive tree replied,“My oil brings honourto people and gods.I won't stop making oil,just so my branches can waveabove the other trees.”
10. Then they asked the fig tree,“Will you be our king?”
11. But the fig tree replied,“I won't stop growingmy delicious fruit,just so my branches can waveabove the other trees.”
12. Next they asked the grapevine,“Will you be our king?”
13. But the grapevine replied,“My wine brings cheerto people and gods.I won't stop making wine,just so my branches can waveabove the other trees.”
14. Finally, they wentto the thorn bush and asked,“Will you be our king?”
15. The thorn bush replied,“If you really want meto be your king,then come into my shadeand I will protect you.But if you're deceiving me,I'll start a firethat will spread out and destroythe cedars of Lebanon.”After Jotham had finished telling this story, he said:
16-18. My father Gideon risked his life for you when he fought to rescue you from the Midianites. Did you reward Gideon by being kind to his family? No, you did not! You attacked his family and killed all seventy of his sons on that rock.And was it right to make Abimelech your king? He's merely the son of my father's slave girl. But just because he's your relative, you made him king of Shechem.
19. So, you leaders of Shechem, if you treated Gideon and his family the way you should have, then I hope you and Abimelech will make each other very happy.
20. But if it was wrong to treat Gideon and his family the way you did, then I pray that Abimelech will destroy you with fire, and I pray that you will do the same to him.
21. Jotham ran off and went to live in the town of Beer, where he could be safe from his brother Abimelech.