10. Then the trees said to the fig tree,‘Come; you reign over us!’
11. But the fig tree answered them,‘Must I give up my sweetnessand my sweet fruit,and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
12. Then the trees said to the vine,‘Come you, reign over us.’
13. But the vine answered them,‘Must I give up my winethat cheers gods and human beings,and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
14. Then all the trees said to the buckthorn,‘Come; you reign over us!’
15. The buckthorn answered the trees,‘If you are anointing me in good faith,to make me king over you,come, and take refuge in my shadow.But if not, let fire come from the buckthornand devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16. “Now then, if you have acted in good faith and integrity in appointing Abimelech your king, if you have acted with good will toward Jerubbaal and his house, and if you have treated him as he deserved—
17. for my father fought for you at the risk of his life when he delivered you from the power of Midian,
18. but you have risen against my father’s house today and killed his seventy sons upon one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your kin—
19. if, then, you have acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech and may he in turn rejoice in you!
20. But if not, let fire come forth from Abimelech and devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come forth from the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”
21. Then Jotham fled and escaped to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.