Judges 9:8-15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

We have here the only testimony that appears to have been borne against the wicked confederacy of Abimelech and the men of Shechem. It was a sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the progress of this threatening mischief. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (Jdg. 9:5), dealt plainly with the Shechemites, and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:8

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them ,.... This is an apologue or fable, and a very fine and beautiful one; it is fitly expressed to answer the design, and the most ancient of the kind, being made seven hundred years before the times of Aesop, so famous for his fables, and exceeds anything written by him. By the trees are meant the people of Israel in general, and the Shechemites in particular, who had been for some time very desirous of a king, but could not persuade... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:9

But the olive tree said unto them ,.... In reply to the request of the trees: should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man ; by "fatness" oil is meant, pressed out of the fruit of the olive tree, and which was much made use of both in the burning of the lamps in the tabernacle, and in many sacrifices, as the meat offerings and others, whereby God was honoured; and it was also made use of in the investiture of the greatest personages with the highest offices among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:10

And the trees said to the fig tree ,.... Another useful and fruit bearing tree, and to which also good men are sometimes compared, see Song of Solomon 2:13 , come thou, and reign over us : which Jarchi applies to Deborah, but may be better applied to one of Gideon's sons, who, though they had not a personal offer of kingly government themselves, yet it was made to them through their father, and refused, as for himself, so for them; and had it been offered to them, they would have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:11

And the fig tree said unto them ,.... Rejecting the offer made: should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit ; for such the fruit of the fig tree is, sweet and good: so Julian F4 Opera, par. 2. ep. 24. Sarapioni, p. 142. the emperor shows from various authors, Aristophanes, Herodotus, and Homer, that nothing is sweeter than figs, excepting honey, and that no kind of fruit is better, and, where they are, no good is wanting: and go to be promoted over the trees ? the same is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:12

Then said the trees unto the vine ,.... Another emblem of good and useful men; and it may be observed, that Jotham takes no notice of any trees but fruitful ones till he comes to the bramble, and them only such as were well known, and of the greatest use, in the land of Judea, as olives, figs, and vines, see Deuteronomy 8:8 . come thou, and reign over us ; this Jarchi applies to Gideon; but since there are three sorts of trees brought into the fable, and when the kingdom was offered to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:13

And the vine said unto them ,.... By way of denial and refusal, as the other two: shall I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man ; which being used in the drink offerings was acceptable to God, and of a sweet savour to him, Numbers 15:7 and being drank by than, revives, refreshes, and makes glad, when before sorrowful, drooping, faint, and weary, Psalm 104:15 though some by Elohim, rendered God, understand great personages, as men of quality, magistrates, &c.; and by man the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:14

Then said all the trees unto the bramble ,.... Perceiving they could not prevail upon any of the useful and fruitful trees to take the government of them, they unite in a request to a bramble, scarce to be called a tree, and however a very barren and fruitless one, yea, hurtful and distressing: come thou, and reign over us ; this respects Abimelech, and describes him as a mean person, the son of a concubine, as having no goodness in him, not any good qualifications to recommend him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:15

And the bramble said unto the trees ,.... Accepting of their offer at once: if ye in trust anoint me king over you ; suspecting they were not hearty and cordial in their choice and call to the kingly authority over them: then come and put your trust in my shadow ; promising protection to them as his subjects, requiring their confidence in him, and boasting of the good they should receive from him, as is common with wicked princes at their first entering on their office; but, alas!... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:8

The trees went forth on a time - This is the oldest, and without exception the best fable or apologue in the world. See the observations at the end of this chapter, Judges 9:56 ; (note). It is not to be supposed that a fable, if well formed, requires much illustration; every part of this, a few expressions excepted, illustrates itself, and tells its own meaning. To anoint a king - Hence it appears that anointing was usual in the installation of kings, long before there was... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:8

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