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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 9:8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/9-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/07_Jdg_09_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 9:8 - Jotham's Parable" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. 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They said to the olive tree, &#8216Be our king.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The trees went forth <i>on a time</i> to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, &#8216Reign over us!&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The trees surely went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, &#8220Reign over us.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Once the trees searched for someone to be king; they asked the olive tree, "Will you be our king?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Once upon a time the trees went out to consecrate a king for themselves. "So they told the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ?Reign over us.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign you over us.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The trees have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The trees going forth went to anoint over them a king; and they will say to the olive, Reign thou over us.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Once upon a time the trees went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The trees were going and went that they would anoint a King over them, saying to the olive tree: ‘Reign over us’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree: Reign thou over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive, Reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/9-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=2702" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Jotham's Parable</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7</span>When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: hā·‘ê·ṣîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">One day the trees</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: hā·lō·wḵ (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">set out</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: hā·lə·ḵū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4886.htm" title="4886: lim·šō·aḥ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To smear, anoint. A primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. To anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint.">to anoint</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">a king</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">for themselves.</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">They said</a> <a href="/hebrew/2132.htm" title="2132: laz·za·yiṯ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Olive tree, olive. Probably from an unused root; an olive, the tree, the branch or the berry.">to the olive tree,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: mə·lō·ḵå̄h (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">‘Reign</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lê·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">over us.’</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-33.htm">Matthew 21:33-41</a></span><br />Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a></span><br />I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-9.htm">Luke 20:9-16</a></span><br />Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. / So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-1.htm">John 15:1-8</a></span><br />“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/17-22.htm">Ezekiel 17:22-24</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/80-8.htm">Psalm 80:8-16</a></span><br />You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-17.htm">Romans 11:17-24</a></span><br />Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Isaiah 61:3</a></span><br />to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/11-16.htm">Jeremiah 11:16-17</a></span><br />The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed. / The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Hosea 10:1</a></span><br />Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-1.htm">Mark 12:1-9</a></span><br />Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. / But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/27-2.htm">Isaiah 27:2-6</a></span><br />In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard. / I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it; / I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Psalm 1:3</a></span><br />He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a></span><br />By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-16.htm">John 15:16</a></span><br />You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign you over us.</p><p class="hdg">the trees.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/14-9.htm">2 Kings 14:9</a></b></br> And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that <i>was</i> in Lebanon sent to the cedar that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/17-3.htm">Ezekiel 17:3</a></b></br> And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/4-10.htm">Daniel 4:10</a></b></br> Thus <i>were</i> the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof <i>was</i> great.</p><p class="hdg">olive tree.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/8-22.htm">Judges 8:22,23</a></b></br> Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/28-40.htm">Anoint</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-1.htm">Diligently</a> <a href="/joshua/24-13.htm">Olive</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-40.htm">Olive-Tree</a> <a href="/judges/6-39.htm">Once</a> <a href="/judges/9-6.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/judges/9-6.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/judges/5-1.htm">Time</a> <a href="/judges/9-6.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/judges/3-13.htm">Trees</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Anoint</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-18.htm">Diligently</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Olive</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Olive-Tree</a> <a href="/judges/16-18.htm">Once</a> <a href="/judges/9-10.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/judges/9-47.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/judges/10-1.htm">Time</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Trees</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-1.htm">Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-7.htm">Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-22.htm">Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-30.htm">Zebul reveals it</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-34.htm">Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">46. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-46.htm">He burns the hold of the god Berith</a></span><br><span class="reftext">50. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-50.htm">At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone</a></span><br><span class="reftext">56. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-56.htm">Jotham's curse is fulfilled.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves.</b><br>This phrase introduces a parable told by Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, to the people of Shechem. The use of trees in this parable is symbolic, representing the leaders or people of Israel. The act of anointing a king reflects the desire for centralized leadership, a theme that recurs throughout Israel's history, culminating in the anointing of Saul as the first king. The parable serves as a critique of Abimelech's illegitimate kingship, highlighting the dangers of self-appointed leadership. The imagery of trees seeking a king underscores the unnaturalness of their quest, as trees do not require a king, just as Israel was meant to be led by God rather than a human monarch.<p><b>They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’</b><br>The olive tree is a significant symbol in the Bible, often representing peace, prosperity, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was a valuable resource in ancient Israel, providing oil for anointing, cooking, and lighting. By asking the olive tree to reign, the parable suggests that the people sought a leader who could bring prosperity and blessing. However, the olive tree's refusal in the subsequent verses highlights the idea that those who are truly valuable and productive may not seek or accept positions of power. This reflects the biblical principle that true leadership is characterized by service and humility, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_trees.htm">The Trees</a></b><br>Symbolic representation of the people of Shechem seeking a leader or king. In the parable, they represent the various factions or groups within Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_olive_tree.htm">The Olive Tree</a></b><br>Represents a potential leader or king. The olive tree is significant in Israelite culture, symbolizing peace, prosperity, and blessing.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jotham.htm">Jotham</a></b><br>The speaker of the parable, the youngest son of Gideon (Jerubbaal), who survived the massacre of his brothers by Abimelech.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>Though not directly mentioned in this verse, he is the context of the parable. He is the son of Gideon who seeks to become king through treachery and violence.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>The location where the events unfold, a city with historical significance in Israel's history, often associated with covenant and leadership.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_ambition.htm">The Dangers of Ambition</a></b><br>The parable warns against the pursuit of power for selfish reasons. True leadership should be rooted in service and humility, not ambition and self-promotion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_olive_tree.htm">Symbolism of the Olive Tree</a></b><br>The olive tree's refusal to reign highlights the value of fulfilling one's God-given purpose rather than seeking positions of power. Believers are called to bear fruit in their unique roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_leadership.htm">God's Sovereignty in Leadership</a></b><br>The account reminds us that God is the ultimate authority. Human attempts to establish leadership apart from His will can lead to chaos and destruction.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_parables.htm">The Role of Parables</a></b><br>Jotham's use of a parable to convey truth demonstrates the power of accounttelling in teaching moral and spiritual lessons. Believers can use creative means to communicate God's truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_leadership.htm">Community and Leadership</a></b><br>The trees' quest for a king reflects the community's role in choosing leaders. Believers should seek leaders who align with God's principles and values.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_god's_cycle_conflict_with_free_will.htm">Does the cyclical pattern of God sending deliverers (Judges 3:7-11) conflict with the notion of human free will or moral responsibility?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/jehoiachin's_reign_duration.htm">How long did Jehoiachin reign? (2 Kings 24:8 vs. 2 Chronicles 36:9)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_2_chr_8_2_and_1_kgs_9_11-13_align.htm">In 2 Chronicles 8:2, Solomon rebuilds cities given by Hiram, yet 1 Kings 9:11-13 implies those cities were unacceptable to him; how can both accounts be accurate?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_abimelech,_gideon's_son.htm">Who was Abimelech, son of Gideon, in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">The trees went forth.</span>--As in this chapter we have the first Israelite "king" and the first massacre of brethren, so here we have the first fable. Fables are extremely popular in the East, where they are often current, under the name of the slave-philosopher Lokman, the counterpart of the Greek 'sop. But though there are many apologues and parables in Scripture (<span class= "ital">e.g., </span>in the Old Testament, "the ewe lamb," <a href="/context/2_samuel/12-1.htm" title="And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.">2Samuel 12:1-4</a>; Psalms 80; <a href="/context/isaiah/5-1.htm" title="Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:">Isaiah 5:1-6</a>, &c), there is only one other "fable," and that is one closely akin to this (<a href="/2_kings/14-9.htm" title="And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and stepped down the thistle.">2Kings 14:9</a>). St. Paul, however, in <a href="/context/1_corinthians/12-14.htm" title="For the body is not one member, but many.">1Corinthians 12:14-19</a>, evidently refers to the ancient fable of Menenius Agrippa, about the belly and the members (Liv. 2:30). A "fable" is a fanciful story, to inculcate prudential morality. In the Bible "trees" seem to be more favourite <span class= "ital">dramatis person? </span>than the talking birds and beasts of other nations. "Went forth" is the emphatic phrase "going, they went." The scenery immediately around Jotham would furnish the most striking illustration of his words, for it is more umbrageous than any other in Palestine, and Shechem seems to rise out of a sea of living verdure. The aptitude for keen and proverbial speech seems to have been hereditary in his family (Joash, <a href="/judges/6-31.htm" title="And Joash said to all that stood against him, Will you plead for Baal? will you save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one has cast down his altar.">Judges 6:31</a>; Gideon, <a href="/judges/8-2.htm" title="And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?">Judges 8:2</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The trees</span>, etc. This is the earliest example of a <span class="accented">fable</span> in Scripture; indeed the only one except that in <a href="/2_kings/14-9.htm">2 Kings 14:9</a>. It is remarked that in the Indian and Greek fables the animals are the <span class="accented">dramatis personae</span>, the fox, the lion, the ass, etc.; whereas in the only two specimens of Hebrew fable remaining to us, the members of the vegetable kingdom, the olive, the fig, the vine, the bramble, the cedar, the thistle, are the actors and speakers. The <span class="accented">parable</span>, of which <a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a> is a beautiful example, is quite different in its structure. Like the inimitable parables of our Saviour in the New Testament, it sets forth Divine troth under an image, but the image and all its parts are in strict accordance with nature. In the Scripture <span class="accented">allegory</span> real persons and their actions prefigure the actions and the persons which they are intended to represent (see <a href="/matthew/12-39.htm">Matthew 12:39, 40</a>; <a href="/galatians/4-21.htm">Galatians 4:21-31</a>; <a href="/hebrews/11-19.htm">Hebrews 11:19</a>). Allegorical personages may, however, be fictitious, as in the 'Pilgrim's Progress.' The general meaning of this fable is clear. The trees worthy to reign for their intrinsic excellence refused the proffered kingdom one after another. The vilest and most unworthy accepted it. The result would be that a fire would burst out from the despicable bramble, and set fire to the lofty cedar tree. Thus Gideon refused the kingdom, and his sons had virtually refused it likewise. The base-born Abimelech had accepted it, and the result would be a deadly strife, which would destroy both the ungrateful subjects and the unworthy ruler. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/9-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">One day the trees</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֵצִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ê·ṣîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tree, trees, wood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">set out</span><br /><span class="heb">הָל֤וֹךְ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·lō·wḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to anoint</span><br /><span class="heb">לִמְשֹׁ֥חַ</span> <span class="translit">(lim·šō·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4886.htm">Strong's 4886: </a> </span><span class="str2">To rub with oil, to anoint, to consecrate, to paint</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a king</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֑לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for themselves.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">They said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the olive tree,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַזַּ֖יִת</span> <span class="translit">(laz·za·yiṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2132.htm">Strong's 2132: </a> </span><span class="str2">An olive, the tree, the branch, the berry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Reign</span><br /><span class="heb">מָלְכָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(mā·lə·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over us.’</span><br /><span class="heb">עָלֵֽינוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·lê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/9-8.htm">Judges 9:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/9-8.htm">OT History: Judges 9:8 The trees went forth on a time (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/9-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 9:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 9:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/9-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 9:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 9:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>