Hear Me, That GOD May Hear You!

"Then all the lords of Shechem and the whole council assembled together by the oak at the pillar in Shechem, and proclaimed Abimelech king.

When Jotham was told about this, he went to the top of Mount Gerizim.  There he cried out to them, 'Listen to me, lords of Shechem, that GOD may listen to you!

The trees once set out to find and anoint a king.  They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'  The olive tree answered, 'Am I going to renounce the oil by which--thanks to me--gods and people are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'

The trees said to the fig tree: 'Come and reign over us.'  The fig tree answered them, 'Am I going to renounce my sweetness and my delicious fruit, to hold sway over the trees?'

The trees said to the vine: 'Come and reign over us.'  The vine answered, 'Am I going to renounce my juice which cheers gods and people to hold sway over the trees?'

Then the trees said to the bramble bush: 'Come, reign over us.'  The bramble bush answered the trees, 'If you come in sincerity to anoint me as your king, then come near and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire break out of the bramble bush to devour even the cedars of Lebanon.'" - Judges 9:6-15 

(An ancient fable was inserted and placed in the mouth of Jotham whereby the authority of the kings was vehemently criticized: the most useless persons, it claims, are those who are willing to reign.

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