2. “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!”
3. So Abimelech’s uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to this proposal, the people of Shechem decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative.
4. They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some reckless troublemakers who agreed to follow him.
5. He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.
6. Then all the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pillar at Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
7. When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted,“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
8. Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.First they said to the olive tree,‘Be our king!’
9. But the olive tree refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing the olive oilthat blesses both God and people,just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10. “Then they said to the fig tree,‘You be our king!’
11. But the fig tree also refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruitjust to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12. “Then they said to the grapevine,‘You be our king!’
13. But the grapevine also refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing the winethat cheers both God and people,just to wave back and forth over the trees?’