Judges 9:8–15

8 “The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’

10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’

11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’

12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’

13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway 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 in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

I have always been intrigued by this passage.
As a teen, I memorized this passage not because I fully understood it, but because it fascinated me. I remember thinking, “I get the olive tree part… it definitely refers to the anointing!” I even imagined myself quoting that verse aloud like it was a badge of revelation.

The King James version says, “Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor both God and man and go to be promoted over the trees?” and that was my favorite!. It sounded deep. It sounded powerful.

But as the years passed and as I read and re-read this passage, I realized this parable goes far beyond poetic symbolism. It’s not just an ancient riddle tucked in the pages of Judges. It’s a piercing commentary on leadership, calling, compromise, and what happens when we elevate the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

It’s a warning. It’s a mirror. 

Let’s take a walk through it.

The trees (representing people) wanted a king.
They went to the olive tree – fruitful, anointed, honored. The olive tree said no.
They tried the fig tree – sweet, nurturing, nourishing. The fig tree declined.
They approached the vine – joyful, producing wine, symbolic of celebration. It also declined.

Then… they asked the bramble/thornbush .

And the bramble?
The one who had no fruit, no shade, no real benefit?
It said: “Come, rest in my shadow. But if you don’t, let fire come out of me and consume you.”

Wait, what?!

A bramble with no branches is suddenly issuing threats?
That’s not leadership. That’s manipulation.
That’s Abimelek, the power-hungry son of Gideon who killed his 70 brothers to seize the throne.

Let’s Set the Scene:

After Gideon (also called Jerubbaal) died, the nation of Israel spiraled once again into idolatry and disobedience.
But before that, Gideon had many sons – seventy to be exact, born from his many wives.
And then there was Abimelek.

Abimelek wasn’t born from one of those wives.
His mother was a concubine from Shechem, a city with strong Canaanite roots.
Yet Abimelek had ambition. Not purpose. Not calling. Just ambition.

While his father had refused to be made king (“The Lord will rule over you,” Gideon said in Judges 8:23), Abimelek had no such hesitation.

So what did he do?

Abimelek went to his mother’s relatives in Shechem and made this pitch:

“Would you rather be ruled by 70 men – Gideon’s sons – or by one of your own blood?”
(Judges 9:2 paraphrased)

He used family ties to stir political favor.
He manipulated bloodlines into a campaign slogan.
And the people bought it.

 and then…. He hired thugs and shed blood.

The people of Shechem gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal (yes – idolatry funded this coup).
And with it, Abimelek hired “worthless and reckless men” who helped him murder all 70 of his brothers – on one stone.
One by one.
A throne paved with blood.

Except one brother escaped.
His name was Jotham.

The Preacher on the Mountain

When Jotham heard what Abimelek had done, he climbed up Mount Gerizim and raised his voice.

And instead of a sword, he spoke a story, a parable about trees looking for a king.

They asked the olive tree to reign – but it declined.
Then the fig tree – it declined.
Then the vine – it also said no.

Finally, they asked the bramble, a thornbush. 

Useless. Fruitless. Flammable.

The bramble accepted.
But it came with a warning:

“Come rest in my shade… but if not, let fire come out of me and consume even the mighty cedars.” (Judges 9:15)

Translation?
If you’re not loyal to me, I’ll burn everything down.

Doesn’t that sound like the threat of a tyrant?
Because that’s exactly what Abimelek would become.

The Fallout: Fire from the Bramble

For three years, Abimelek ruled over Shechem.
Not as a shepherd but as a self-serving dictator.
Eventually, God “sent an evil spirit” between Abimelek and the people of Shechem.
They turned on each other.
Rebellion rose. And so did the chaos.

Abimelek tried to crush it but in the end, he died humiliated, crushed by a millstone thrown by a woman from a tower. (Judges 9:53)

He begged his armour-bearer to kill him quickly so no one could say he’d been slain by a woman.
How poetic that the man obsessed with image died in disgrace.

What This Still Preaches Today:

 True authority doesn’t chase thrones.
The olive tree didn’t need applause. It had purpose.
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” – Proverbs 27:2
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11

The fruitful are often the ones who say no.
They knew that leadership might require leaving their lane.
Not every opportunity is an assignment.
Some thrones will make you abandon the very fruit God called you to bear.

When the wise say no, the ambitious rise.
The bramble was the only one who said yes and look what followed.
When we elevate charisma over character, charm over calling, we get fire, not fruit.
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep…” – Jeremiah 23:1
“They set up kings, but not by Me.” – Hosea 8:4

Bramble leaders burn.
Abimelek led through fear, not faith.
His leadership scorched everything.
He had a crown, but no calling.

And Jotham?
He was the prophetic voice crying from the mountain.
He spoke truth when others bowed to convenience.

Dear Yahweh’s Delight,

If you’ve been anointed to bear oil, don’t trade honoring God for a title.
If you’re called to nourish like the fig tree, don’t abandon your sweetness for sway.
If you bring joy like the vine, stay rooted in your lane.

Let the brambles burn themselves out.
You just keep producing.

Because when Heaven chooses leaders, it looks for hearts not hype.

“By their fruit you will recognize them.” – Matthew 7:16
“I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…”  – John 15:16
“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” – 2 Samuel 23:3