15. The thorn bush answered, ‘If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you don't, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’
16. “Now then,” Jotham continued, “were you really honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Did you respect Gideon's memory and treat his family properly, as his actions deserved?
17. Remember that my father fought for you. He risked his life to save you from the Midianites.
18. But today you turned against my father's family. You killed his sons — seventy men on a single stone — and just because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem.
19. Now then, if what you did today to Gideon and his family was sincere and honest, then be happy with Abimelech and let him be happy with you.
20. But if not, may fire blaze out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Bethmillo. May fire blaze out from the men of Shechem and Bethmillo and burn Abimelech up.”
21. Then because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech, Jotham ran away and went to live at Beer.
22. Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.
23. Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against him.
24. This happened so that Abimelech and the men of Shechem, who encouraged him to murder Gideon's seventy sons, would pay for their crime.
25. The men of Shechem put men in ambush against Abimelech on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who passed their way. Abimelech was told about this.
26. Then Gaal son of Ebed came to Shechem with his brothers, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27. They all went out into their vineyards and picked the grapes, made wine from them, and held a festival. They went into the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and spoke scornfully of Abimelech.
28. Gaal said, “What kind of men are we in Shechem? Why are we serving Abimelech? Who is he, anyway? The son of Gideon! And Zebul takes orders from him, but why should we serve him? Be loyal to your ancestor Hamor, who founded your clan!