士師記 9:8 JC

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:7-21

7-21 There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the Lord was their King. Those who bear fruit for the public good, are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more than those who merely make a figure. All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 9:7-21

The Parable of Jotham v. 7. And when they told it, the entire story concerning the election of Abimelech, to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of Mount Gerizim, overlooking Shechem from the south, and lifted up his voice, and cried and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you, a summons after the manner of the prophets. Now follows his parable. v. 8. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them, no special reason being given for this... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 9:1-21

FIFTH SECTIONThe Usurped Rule Of Abimelech, The Fratricide And Thorn-bush King.__________________The election and coronation of Abimelech. Jotham’s parable.Judges 9:1-21.1And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with [spake unto] them, and with [unto] all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men [lords]1 of Shechem, Whether [Which] is better for you, either [omit: either] that all... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

the Bramble King Judges 9:7-21 Men must have leadership. The reason lies deep in human nature. The French Revolutionaries destroyed the royal family, but Robespierre, Danton and Marat were practically enthroned in the position from which Louis was hurled. In Oliver Cromwell’s commonwealth, he exercised the royal prerogative. Some of us enthrone the fatness of the olive, some the sweetness of the fig, and some the good cheer of the vine. In other words, the guiding ideal of some souls is... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:1-57

The closing statement of the previous chapter constitutes the introduction to this. The words, "As soon as Gideon was dead" and the declaration that then the people returned to evil courses reveal, first of all, the strength of Gideon and the fact that he had very largely exercised a benificent influence. They show, also, how practically worthless was the external obedience of the people. Judgment this time cake from within rather than from without. Abimelech, a natural son of Gideon, a man... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Judges 9:8

KING BRAMBLE‘The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.’ Judges 9:8 I. From the answer of the olive tree we learn that usefulness is better than honour.—Usefulness, if it be of the higher kind, is attained through long growing and long striving. But when it is attained, when there is a normal regulated usefulness flowing steadily out of a man’s life, when he serves God and man where he is and by what he is, the offer of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:8-9

“The trees went forth at one time to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘You reign over us.’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honour God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?’ ” These words were a direct mockery of kingship. They revealed it to be a useless exercise taking men away from more important things. The efforts of the olive were far better spent in producing oil than waving uselessly over the trees.... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:7-21

Judges 9:7-Ecclesiastes : . Jotham’ s Fable.— Only in an apologue could Jotham, the sole survivor of Abimelech’ s massacre, express what was in his bitter, broken heart. The point of his fable is easily caught. His father and his brothers were the fruitful trees— olive, fig-tree and vine— who declined to rule over the other trees; his half-brother is the bramble who has accepted the kingship, but who will presently set on fire the cedars of Lebanon. If the Shechemites have acted in good faith... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 9:8

A parabolical discourse, usual among the ancients, especially in the eastern parts; wherein, under the names of trees, men are represented. To anoint a king, i.e. to make a king, which was oft done among the Israelites, and some others, with the ceremony of anointing. By the olive tree he understands Gideon. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Judges 9:1-21

ABIMELECH MADE KINGJudges 9:1-21CRITICAL NOTES.—Judges 9:1. And Abimelech.] Some little time may have elapsed after Gideon’s death, so that the air was again filled with tendencies to idolatry. Before certain acts can be done, the times must be ripe for them. Abi signifies “my father,” Melech “a king.” The name was probably given by the mother, who was probably a woman of energetic or aspiring spirit, if it is her character that we see reflected in her eon. Probably, being an only son, she... read more