Abimelech, the Bramble King (4): Jotham's Fable (Judges 9:7-21) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Idea of a Fable
II. The Point of This Fable
III. The Application of This Fable
Dale Ralph Davis: “The fable [in Judges 9] does not stress the worthlessness of kingship but the worthlessness of Abimelech; the concern is not that the worthy candidates depreciate the offer of kingship but that a bramble accepts it. The problem is not kingship but character of the king and his cronies, as Jotham makes clear in verses 16-20. Jotham’s theme is the foolishness and peril of accepting clearly unqualified leadership. Brambles make good fuel but poor kings; they burn better than they reign” (Judges: Such a Great Salvation, p. 123).
Keil and Delitzsch on Judges 9:7-21: “The noble fruit-trees would not tear themselves from the soil in which they had been planted and had borne fruit, to soar [‘be promoted,’ AV] ... above the trees ... The explanation given in the Berleb. Bible, ‘We have here what it is to be a king, to reign or be lord over many others, namely, very frequently to do nothing else than float about in such restlessness and distraction of thoughts, feelings, and desires, that very little good or sweet fruit ever falls to the ground,’ if not a truth without exception so far as royalty is concerned, is at all events perfectly true in relation to what Abimelech aimed at and attained, to be a king by the will of the people and not by the grace of God. Wherever the Lord does not found the monarchy, or the king himself does not lay the foundations of his government in God and the grace of God, he is never anything but a tree, moving about above other trees without a firm root in a fruitful soil, utterly unable to bear fruit to the glory of God and the good of men.”