The curse of Jotham

Judges 9:8-15. Jotham gave a curse against the people of Shechem and Abimelech, because they chose Abimelech, as the new Judge or King. Abimelech then killed all of his seventy brothers other than the youngest one of his brothers who escaped.
Click on Abimelech for more of the story.
The curse of Jotham the son of Jerub-Baal or Gideon on his half-brother Abimelech came to pass about three to five years later, when God sent an evil spirit on Abimelech and the people of Shechem.

Background Reading:

The curse of the Trees

8 “Once upon a time the trees went out
to consecrate a king for themselves.

“So they told the olive tree,
‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree asked them,
‘Should I stop producing my rich oils
by which both God and men are honored
and go take dominion over trees?’

10 “So the trees told the fig tree,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree asked them,
‘Should I leave my sweet, good fruit
and go take dominion over trees?’

12 “So the trees told the grape vine,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
13 But the grape vine asked them,
‘Should I leave my new wine,
which cheers God and man,
and go take dominion over trees?’

14 “So all the trees told the bramble bush,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
15 Then the bramble bush replied to the trees,
‘If you really are consecrating me to rule you,
come and put your confidence in my shade;
but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush
and burn up the cedars of Lebanon…’
Judges 9:8-15


Other slides in this module: