9. But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop yielding my oil, that honors God and man, and go wave over the trees?’
10. Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’
11. But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I stop yielding my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go wave over the trees?’
12. So the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’
13. But the vine said to them, ‘Should I stop yielding my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go wave over the trees?’
14. Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’
15. And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If you truly are going to anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16. “So now, if you have acted in truth and integrity by making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt kindly with Jerubbaal and his household, and have done for him as he deserved—
17. for my father fought for you, and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,
18. but you have risen up against my father’s household today and have slain his sons—70 men on one stone—and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the lords of Shechem just because he is your brother—
19. if you then have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his household today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
20. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!”
21. Then Jotam ran away and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech.
22. After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,
23. God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. So the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech—
24. in order that the violence done to Jerubbaal’s 70 sons might come due, so their blood might be laid on their brother Abimelech who slew them, and on the lords of Shechem who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
25. So the lords of Shechem set up ambushers on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed anyone who passed by them along that road. So it was reported to Abimelech.
26. Now Gaal son of Ebed had come with his relatives and moved to Shechem, and the lords of Shechem put their trust in him.
27. When they went out into the field, they gathered grapes of their vineyards, trod them and had a party. Then they went into the house of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.